Scrooged (1988)

As we continued on with our Christmas Movie Marathon, we tried to figure out what would be the best film to watch on Christmas Eve. Finally, we decided to go with the film we’ve been watching on Christmas Eve for years- Scrooged.

Since we’ve watched this every Christmas Eve for the past few years, we already knew how much we enjoyed the film – but how would it turn out when we broke it down in a review?

Bill Murray was at the height of his career in the 80’s. With films like Ghostbusters and Stripes, he was box office gold. He continues that success with Scrooged, and turns in a fun performance as high-powered executive Frank Cross.

His character is unabashedly self-centered, and is one of those guys viewers would normally be rooting against. But, thanks to Bill Murray, the viewer just laughs at the character’s self-centered ways even as they detest some of his actions – only to then revel in the way Cross seems to be losing his grip on reality as he is constantly barraged by a myriad host of ill-tempered ghosts.

The ghosts themselves are played with wild abandon by the likes of David Johansen and Carol Kane. These two seem to really get into abusing Cross even as they show him life lessons of the heart, and inject a lot of humor into their performances.

Karen Allen, who would turn up again 20 years later in Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull (2008), is heart-warming in her role of the humanitarian girlfriend Cross left behind on his way to the top. While at first these two wildly different characters don’t seem to mesh well, they do end up making a good on-screen couple. Karen’s humanitarian manages to pull out the softer side behind the self-centered exterior in Cross, and makes the both of them more likable because of it.

Bobcat Goldthwait, as a ex-employee of Frank Cross, seems perfectly suited for his role, as his excited vocal antics seem to fit perfectly with a down-on=his-luck guy whho’s starting to lose his mind. While he spends most of the film being abused by everything from the elements to other bums on the street, his maniacal confrontation with Cross near the end of the film has got to be a high point in his career.

Right from the start, as the viewer gets an insight into the Christmas lineup at fictious network IBC (including “The Night The Reindeer Died”, starring Lee Majors), the viewer knows this isn’t going to be a typical Christmas flick. And when Cross explodes onto the scene, they know they’re in for some fun.

Thankfully, the movie manages to keep that fun going throughout most of the film, interjecting copious amounts of humor into what is a overdone tale. By the time the Muppets have given their take on a tale, usually that means further remakes are out of the picture, but Scrooged manages to make the tale almost fresh again thanks to the humor they toss in.

Sure, the ending is a bit on the cheesy side (okay, more than a bit), but by then the charm of the film has caught the viewer, and they might find themselves singing along with the big hit of the film, “Put A Little Love In Your Heart”, all caught up – in spite of themselves – in the good-feeling Christmas vibe.

If you still haven’t seen Scrooged, check it out today. But be sure to buy your own copy – this is one film you’re going to want to include this on your own Christmas Movie Marathon next year.