scrooged (richard donner, 1988)

The grandson and his family were over on xmas day, so we had to watch a movie. Some version of A Christmas Carol seemed to be in order, and when asked for my opinion, I volunteered Scrooged, so that's what we watched. My memory is that it was a fun movie, and I was right ... the whole family seemed to enjoy it. I was surprised to find it "boasts" a Metascore of only 38/100. Among the critics' comments: "appallingly unfunny", "as funny as a mugging", and "an exercise in hypocrisy". At least Pauline Kael liked it: "The heartlessness of the film's beauty is exciting."

Sure, the sentimental ending feels bogus, but I've always thought that about the story of Scrooge ... I don't think it's worse here. Bill Murray is great, and the supporting cast is filled with people that I, at least, thought were mostly wonderful: David Johansen, Carol Kane, Bobcat Goldthwait, Michael J. Pollard, Alfre Woodard, Robert Goulet, Buddy Hackett, even Mary Lou Retton. It's loony, of course, but until the "happy" ending, we're allowed to see Scrooge's attitudes from a comic perspective, and it's a smart touch to have Scrooge be a ratings-obsessed television executive. You could double that 38/100 Metascore and come closer to the actual enjoyment Scrooged offers.