Although I must admit I was initially apprehensive about yet another retelling of "A Christmas Carol," (what new things could they bring to the table?) I should've given writer/director Robert Zemeckis the benefit of the doubt. Having graced us with many a cinematic gem (Back to the Future, Forrest Gump), the man certainly has the chops to make good movies, and his vision of the classic Dickens story makes another successful addition to his filmography.
Everybody's familiar with literature's most (in)famous asshole Ebenezer Scrooge, and I'm not so sure a discussion of the plot is necessary. Anyone not acquainted with this story should consider themselves victims of a deprived childhood and hit the library post haste for a whoppin' good read, or at the very least see this movie.
"A Christmas Carol" is the latest in a string of CGI-dominated Zemeckis films, the others being "Beowulf" and "The Polar Express," and with each successive film one can see vast improvements in the technology. Here, I was astounded with the attention to detail in the frame. Despite the cartoony features of many characters, there were times in the movie that wouldn't have been hard to persuade someone were live action, with some images getting down to individual pores (and even zits!) on people's faces.
Not all of the best details are visual however. One of my favorite scenes has Scrooge shrunken down to the size of a mouse, having just completed what would be the best amusement park ride ever through pipes, rooftops, and rain gutters. Upon reaching the ground and evading his pursuers, he is greeted with an empty street, the only sound he can hear being individual snowflakes hitting the pavement.
"Why it's my dead business partner's ghost, and his jaw is broken and his flesh is torn! Humbug indeed!"
It would be hard to talk about the film without mentioning Jim Carrey, who voices eight of the movie's characters. The supporting voice cast includes Gary Oldman, Robin Wright Penn, and Colin Firth. Each do a great job instilling these computer images with personality, but the success of the film hinged on Carrey, and he bears a lot of responsibility for the movie being so good.
A tiny word of warning. This story has always been thought of as family friendly, but some scenes here would scare a little kid (and some adults) to death. Take heed, your children will probably be crying. Also, in certain lights, Tiny Tim looks like the Chucky doll.
Bottom Line: Though I was somewhat skeptical to begin with, Zemeckis has convinced me that this would be a rather fun addition to anyone's Christmas movies.
Sources
A Christmas Carol
Four out of Five Stars
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Robin Wright Penn
