Scrooged (Blu-

WONDERFUL!!! worked like it was new.

Classic and hilarious. My must watch every Christmas season.

The best Christmas movie ever. Period.

classic xmas film

:)

Bill Murray lends his comedic talents to this contemporary version of the Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, with somewhat skewered results in Scrooged, directed by Richard Donner from a screenplay by Mitch Glazer and Michael O Donoghue. This time around, Ebenezer is one Frank Cross (Murray), programming executive for a major television network with an office in New York. Above all else, Cross covets the ratings he can add to his coffers, and this year hes going all out with a live broadcast of A Christmas Carol planned for Christmas Eve, starring Buddy Hackett as Scrooge and Mary Lou Retton as Tiny Tim. And thats just a taste of the kind of humor this film has to offer. Theres more, much more, and its all handled with aplomb by Donner, Murray and a great supporting cast. Whatever genre hes working in, Donner knows his stuff and knows how to deliver the goods. Here he wisely lets Murray lead the way, but keeps his star on task and the film moving along with a tempered pace and great timing. The story remains the same, but placing Scrooge-- Cross-- in the entertainment industry was a stroke of genius, and it all works exceedingly well, as it gives the audience a medium with which it can readily identify. Lets face it, television is a part of our culture, like it or not, and its here to stay; and in this instance, using it as a setting for this story offers a tableau vivant rich with possibilities that are tapped to the fullest. Theres a promo for the upcoming live broadcast like youve never seen before; theres the inside industry jokes, like Network executive Preston Rhinelander (Robert Mitchum) urging programming for cats; Marleys ghost becomes Lew Hayward (John Forsythe) the exec who sold his soul for ratings; the casting of Hackett and Retton; but most of all, it puts Murray right in his element. Murray gets right to the heart of the character, imbuing Cross with a sense of jaded, dubious and sarcastic paranoia that so perfectly fits the psychological make-up of an executive in a business where youre only as good as yesterdays ratings. And Murray plays him to the hilts; he has the tone and the body language, and nobody can look askance like he can, a nuance he makes the most of here. its an original take on a familiar character, and in Murrays skin Cross becomes a memorable and entirely believable figure, from his credible ruthlessness (he fires an underling, Eliot Loudermilk--played by Bob Goldthwait-- just before Christmas for disagreeing with his vision) to his epiphany on Christmas Eve. The terrific supporting cast includes Karen Allen as Claire, the girl Frank lets slip away as he follows the sirens song of career; John Glover (Bryce Cummings) as Franks new assistant, plotting his way to the top; Alfre Woodard (Grace) as Franks secretary, a single mom with a sick child; Michael J. Pollard (Herman); Nicholas Phillips (Calvin); John Murray (James); Brian Doyle-Murray (Earl Cross); David Johansen, as the cab-driving Ghost of Christmas Past; and Carol Kane, who turns in an unforgettable, hilarious, scene-stealing performance as the Ghost of Christmas Present. Theres plenty of laughs and some touching moments in Scrooged, which is a wonderfully entertaining holiday treat, especially if you want your Christmas Carol served up just a little bit differently this year. And the speech Murray gives at the end, once hes had his revelation, is worth the price of admission alone; its one of those things Murray does best, and he really connects with the audience, especially when he finishes up by leading everyone involved (including the audience) in song. This is a movie that has become an annual event for many since its arrival on video; give yourself a present this year and put this one under your tree. Youll be glad you did. Like the song at the end (sung by Annie Lennox and Al Green), itll Put A Little Love In Your Heart.

This is one of the best Christmas movies, and should be in everybodys collection.

Fun ride with a good cast.

Wow. Never has a movie with a Tab product placement been more awesome! As an all-time A Christmas Carol fan, this is the best modern retelling of the story. Brilliant script, excellent casting, and the best use of Bob Goldthwait since One Crazy Summer -- what a movie! A must for any Christmas Carol fan!

Classic for holidays