The Flick:

Scrooged is a 1988 comedy, a modernization of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The film was produced and directed by Richard Donner, and the cinematography was by Michael Chapman. The screenplay was written by Mitch Glazer and Michael O’Donoghue. The original music score was composed by Danny Elfman. The cast includes Bill Murray, Karen Allen, Bobcat Goldthwait, John Forsythe, Carol Kane, John Houseman, and Robert Mitchum. Murray’s brothers, Brian, John, and Joel also appear in the film.

Scrooged opens with Frank Cross, the cynical television programming executive, watching promos for the station’s Christmas Specials. Frank seems to have a different vision for advertising and marketing. He would rather shock and terrify the audience into watching, even if he has to scare them to death. When one of his employees, Eliot Loudermilk attempts to question is antics, Frank fires him. Although, Frank seems to be on top of the world, he is forced into realizing the error of his ways when the ghost of his former boss, Lew Hayward, visits him. Lew warns Frank that he’ll be visited by three ghost before Christmas is over and the first ghost will appear at noon the next day. When Frank doesn’t believe him, Lew decides to give him a wake up call, that Frank is sure to remember. Frank being a little shaken up still manages to forget about it the next morning. When his boss Preston Rhinelander, invites him out to lunch to meet his new assistant, the weaselly sycophant Brice Cummings who’s obviously after Frank’s job, he accepts. Once they’re at lunch, Frank notices that it’s noon and freaks out when he starts hallucinating, excuses himself to get some air and grabs a cab. This is not your average taxi driver, it’s the ghost of Christmas past and he’s here for Frank.

After a trip into the past Frank starts to realize that he’s missing the things that matter; family, friends, and his true love, Claire. When he gets back to the present he decides to visit Claire. After Frank talks to Claire he begins to feel that she’s needs to be more aggressive, even though she’s a very giving and caring individual that manages a homeless shelter. Shortly after that Frank is visited by the ghost of Christmas present, an abusive fairy. She beats Frank up and takes him to his secretary, Grace Cooley’s house, where he finds out that her husband was shot and one of her son’s witnessed the whole thing. Grace’s son hasn’t spoken a word since the murder. Frank also visits his brother’s house, whom he hasn’t seen in years. The ghost of Christmas present leaves him in an ally with a homeless guy, Herman, that he met at the shelter when he was visiting Claire. To Frank’s surprise Herman froze to death. Once Frank returns to the present in a very abrupt manner, he’s acting weirder then before. So he returns to his office to try and relax. To his surprise, Eliot busts down his office door and is carrying a shotgun while intoxicated. As Frank attempts to escape he runs into the ghost of Christmas future. He gets to see what happens to Grace’s son, Claire, and himself. Frank is so terrified that when he get back to the present, he decides to give Eliot his job back with double his pay on one condition, he holds the control station hostage so Frank can interrupt the station’s live presentation of Scrooge. Frank has something to say and he wants to share it with the whole world.

Conclusion:

Scrooged is one of my favorite holiday movies! I love that it’s a modernization of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. It’s a new twist on an old classic. Even if it was made in 88′ and everyone is drinking Tab soda. The message still can hold true in today’s society. There’s plenty of corporate scum bags out there that could afford to turn their lives around just like Frank Cross did. Every time I watch this movie, I’m still taken back by the special FX. Shout out to Thomas Burman and Rolf John Keppler! Terrific job on Lew and the Ghost of Christmas Future’s make up! Another great thing about this movie is there’s so many quotable lines. Bill Murrary is amazing, but then again, he’s always amazing! A fantastic performance by Bobcat Goldthwait as well! All I have to say is this: Best Christmas Movie Ever. If you haven’t seen this flick, what are you waiting for!

The Blu-ray:

Audio/Visual

The audio came in loud and clear and the video looked sharp and colorful. Better than ever!

Special Features

The only special feature on this disc is the films theatrical trailer.

The Flick Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Blu-ray Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Source: MovieSet