Scrooged

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: November 23, 1988

7.9	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 119 Ratings

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Tss5078Jun 7, 2019

A Christmas Carol has been done to death on both television and the big screen. Back in the 80s, Bill Murray teamed up with Richard Donner to make this wildly successful version of the tale. The films these two were a part of, defined theA Christmas Carol has been done to death on both television and the big screen. Back in the 80s, Bill Murray teamed up with Richard Donner to make this wildly successful version of the tale. The films these two were a part of, defined the 1980s, so I was expecting magic. instead I got something that was the definition of overrated. Frank Cross (Bill Murray) is a television executive, one that's known for never being happy and quick to the pull the trigger on his employees. While planning a big Christmas spectacle, things aren't going his way and he is on the war path, until he fall asleep in his office and those three ghosts pay him a visit. This film begs to be raunchy, the whole story is designed around this outrageous man, but Scrooged never seems to pull that trigger. The story we know, it's easy to predict what is going to happen, but when you add an uneven performance by Murray, infantile jokes, and a cast that doesn't quite fit their roles, the result is a film that's just lame. Was this supposed to be for adults or children? That question is never answered and we end up with a film that really isn't suitable for either. I like Bill Murray, I love Richard Donner, but the film Scrooged, simply misses the mark on so many different levels.… Expand

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Compi24Dec 5, 2018

Like the Holiday festivities themselves, adaptations of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" come and go. Some are timeless, stick-to-your-ribs adaptations, while others are fun reinventions of the celebrated material in question. This. .Like the Holiday festivities themselves, adaptations of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" come and go. Some are timeless, stick-to-your-ribs adaptations, while others are fun reinventions of the celebrated material in question. This. . .kind of wants to be both? Born out of the premise that this was going to be a refreshing deconstruction of the classic Dickens tale, "Scrooged" definitely maintains a common streak of self-awareness. But you can't in good conscience have a protagonist -- who's well accustomed to all of the tropes, twists, and turns of the Dickens story -- end up falling for the same tricks in the end. Ultimately, this ended up being more of an adherence to the original story than I preferred. At least Bill Murray is eminently watchable.… Expand

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FilipeNetoMay 1, 2019

A good black comedy ... that will displease a lot of people.

The problem with black humor is that it does not appeal to many people. Maybe that's why this movie is one of the least known of Bill Murray's extensive filmography. In this case,A good black comedy ... that will displease a lot of people.

The problem with black humor is that it does not appeal to many people. Maybe that's why this movie is one of the least known of Bill Murray's extensive filmography. In this case, the film traces back and updates the story "A Christmas Carol," a timeless classic of every Christmas since Dickens wrote it.

This time the protagonist is a media tycoon who mistreats all the people around him and is deeply materialistic. However, the intervention of three humorous spirits will change the way they are, giving the film a very emotional ending and giving Murray a beautiful and profound monologue. The film has a joke, but being black humor will certainly displease many people. Murray made an excellent interpretation, I can hardly think of an actor more suitable for that character. The remaining cast is limited to give him the indispensable support, giving Murray all the space needed to shine.… Expand

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r96skDec 22, 2022

Surprisingly, I didn't enjoy 'Scrooged' all that much.

I never really clicked with this 1988 release whilst I was watching it. Bill Murray is fine, the Ghost of Christmas Past is good and the bits of the plot involving Alfre Woodard'sSurprisingly, I didn't enjoy 'Scrooged' all that much.

I never really clicked with this 1988 release whilst I was watching it. Bill Murray is fine, the Ghost of Christmas Past is good and the bits of the plot involving Alfre Woodard's character are decent. That's all I have for noteworthy positives, though. The vibe of the film felt off to me. I didn't connect with Murray's Frank at any point, whether it be the past, the present or the future version of him.

I get, as Scrooge, you're supposed to dislike him, but I've seen a fair few versions of 'A Christmas Carol' and I feel like the Scrooge character is usually moreso cowardly bad, as in he'll be horrid to people behind their back or under his breath - as opposed to Frank Cross, who is in your face, over the top, overtly mean. Perhaps I'm misremembering or it just stuck out to me more here as I didn't like much else from the 100 or so minutes.

For an Xmas flick, also, it doesn't hit the Christmassy spot either. It could've done with more warmth, or at least some entertaining and/or funny moments; I did minorly chuckle a few times, I will say, but not nearly enough. I still wouldn't describe this as a 'bad' film, but it is quite far adrift of being a positive in my books.

I thought this would've be a good'un, many think it is which is fair, but for me I unfortunately didn't particularly like it.… Expand

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