SCROOGED (1988)

Film of the Day #241 - 25 Days of Christmas Movies #20

SCROOGED
1988 • Richard Donner

Cast: Bill Murray, Karen Allen, John Forsythe, John Glover, Bobcat Goldthwait, Carol Kane, Robert Mitchum, Michael J. Pollard, Alfre Woodard, David Johansen, Brian Doyle-Murray
Screenplay: Mitch Glazer, Michael O'Donoghue; Based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Cinematography: Michael Chapman
Music: Danny Elfman
Producers: Richard Donner, Art Linson

Paramount Pictures

The Jews taught me this great word: Schmuck. I was a schmuck, and now I’m not a schmuck!

In the heart of bustling New York City, it's Christmas Eve, and the air is filled with the festive spirit. Bill Murray is Frank Cross, the heartless and ruthless president of the IBC Television. Cross is evil and selfish, much like Scrooge, prioritizing profit over compassion, and displaying a disdain for the holiday season. On Christmas Eve, the IBC Network plans to air a live, extravagant adaptation of Charles Dickens' timeless classic, Scrooge. Cross, unapologetically cynical and utterly self-centered, sees this as just another opportunity to boost ratings and capitalize on the Christmas fervor. On the eve of the live broadcast, Cross takes a familiar journey with three ghosts to his past, present, and future, in this modern update of A Christmas Carol.

Scrooged brilliantly reinvents Charles Dickens' classic tale with Bill Murray at the helm, injecting his trademark humor into the role of Frank Cross, a corporate TV executive. In this adaptation, Murray's comic chops are on full display as he navigates the landscape of corporate greed and personal redemption. Set against the glitzy backdrop of New York City in the late 1980s, Cross is a larger-than-life, wisecracking cynic with a penchant for sarcasm and a disdain for all things sentimental. As the president of the IBC Network, he's more concerned with ratings and profits than spreading holiday cheer. Murray effortlessly steps into the character, delivering one-liners and sarcastic quips in his usual deadpan and dry manner, with some exasperation thrown in.

The three ghosts make their appearances, each bringing their own unique flair to the narrative. The Ghost of Christmas Past (David Johansen) is a spectral cab driver who takes Cross on a trip down memory lane, revealing the absurdity of his past choices. It’s in this segment that we fall in love with Claire Phillips, played by the radiant and enchanting Karen Allen. We meet Claire a few scenes before in the present, but it’s in the Past that the audience really falls for her. Claire becomes the heartwarming focal point of Cross's journey into his own history. Karen Allen's infectious smile and genuine warmth captivate both the audience and the on-screen Scrooge. Their shared moments, filled with laughter and genuine connection, provide a stark contrast to the jaded and cynical Cross we've come to know in the present. As the Ghost of Christmas Past unveils the genuine love that once existed between Cross and Claire, Allen's performance is sincere in the midst of Murray’s chaos. Your heart breaks when the two go their separate ways, even though Murray is wearing a dog costume in the scene.

The Ghost of Christmas Present is a violent fairy portrayed with infectious energy by Carol Kane. This ghost takes Cross on a tour of the present, all while committing random acts of violence against Cross, who, let’s face it, deserves it. Murray's comedic timing shines as he reacts to Kane’s zany antics. Much like its literary counterpart, we see that his familial relations (in this adaptation his brother) unconditionally love him despite his less-than-admirable qualities, and Cross sees how the mistreatment of his assistant Grace affects her and her family.

The Ghost of Christmas Future is the only part in the film that isn’t funny. Throughout the run time, even in the craziest situations, we still laugh both at and with Frank Cross. But when the brooding spirit takes him on a journey to a possible future, there are few jokes cracked. Much like A Christmas Carol, this is where both the audience and Cross learn how negatively his life choices will dramatically impact both his and others’ futures. As the clock strikes midnight, Cross undergoes a transformation that is as heartwarming as it is funny. Bill Murray's blend of wit and vulnerability shines through as Cross embraces the true spirit of Christmas, redeeming himself with genuine laughter and sincerity. The film concludes with a memorable and hilarious live broadcast, turning the corporate spectacle into a heartfelt celebration of love, generosity, and, of course, comedic redemption.

I believe in it now! I believe it's going to happen to me now! I'm ready for it! And it's great. It's a good feeling, it's really better than I've felt in a long time. I, I, I'm ready. Have a Merry Christmas, everybody.

Awards & Accomplishments

• Academy Award Nomination: Best Make Up

• MTV Video Music Award Nominee: Best Video from a Film - Annie Lennox & Al Green “Put a Little Love in Your Heart”

• Saturd Award Nomination: Best Fantasy Film

Streaming: Prime, Fubo, Paramount+, Pluto TV
Digital Rental/Purchase: Available at major digital retailers
Physical Media: Available on 4K, Blu-Ray and DVD