Scrooged Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
Bill Murray is back among the ghosts. Only this time, it's three against one.
The spirits will move you in odd and hysterical ways.
Frank Cross runs a US TV station which is planning a live adaptation of Dickens' Christmas Carol. Frank's childhood wasn't a particularly pleasant one, and so he doesn't really appreciate the Christmas spirit. With the help of the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, Frank realises he must change.
| Bill Murray | Frank Cross |
| Karen Allen | Claire Phillips |
| John Forsythe | Lew Hayward |
| John Glover | Brice Cummings |
| Bob Goldthwait | Eliot Loudermilk |
| David Johansen | Ghost of Christmas Past |
| Carol Kane | Ghost of Christmas Present |
| Robert Mitchum | Preston Rhinelander |
| Nicholas Phillips | Calvin Cooley |
| Michael J. Pollard | Herman |
| Alfre Woodard | Grace Cooley |
| Mabel King | Gramma Cooley |
| Joel Murray | James Cross |
| Jamie Farr | TV Jacob Marley |
| Robert Goulet | Himself |
| Richard Donner |
6.70 out of 10 (15576 votes)
Visitor Reviews
This movie is watchable over and over again.
posted on 09 Aug 2009Part of Bill Murray's genius is his ability to alternate between sardonic, deadpan delivery, and over-the-top, wave-the-arms enthusiastic speeches. You get heaping helpings of both here. Bill Murray is the Jerry Lewis of the 90's. This is an ideal Bill Murray vehicle. Even though you know it's a spoof, a send-up, rip-off, parody of A Christmas Carol (hence they didn't use the actual title), it still makes you laugh and cry bittersweet tears at the end. However, don't look for deep meaning or high-brow writing. This is nothing but a ride through the fun house. Know what you're getting, then hang on and let it happen. One of my favorite films.
An overlooked Christmas satire!
posted on 23 Jul 2009
Frank Cross (Bill Murray) is a sour-pickle of a TV Executive who is very selfish, ego-driven and sarcastic treating some of his employees like yesterday's garbage. He had a bad childhood, a girl he hasn't seen in years named Claire (Karen Allen) and of course is now preparing to make a live-action TV movie of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. However the ghost of a former boss (John Forsythe) warns him that he will suffer a terrible fate when he dies but can escape it if he listens to three ghosts whom can change his ways.
Exciting, vibrant and modern re-telling of the timeless story is set in 1980's New York and is a satire. The film co-stars Alfre Woodard, Bobcat Goldthwait, Carol Kane, Robert Mitchum, John Glover, Michael J. Pollard, with appearences by Lee Majors, Robert Goulet, Mary Lou Retten, Buddy Hackett, Brian Doyle Murray. The film opened in November of 1988 to mixed reviews with some critics the film was too dark and sarcastic to be a "Christmas Carol" movie but the film is meant to be a satire on the media mixed with the classic story in a contemporary setting, the film also carries a good message about what truth and love as it includes heart as well.
This DVD contains a great transfer with good sound and picture with only one extra that is the trailer, i recommend this movie to anyone who likes Christmas movies.
An unusual and unexpected look but also an entertaining and exciting twist to the Dickens classic.
posted on 01 Jul 2009All of us now for years have grown to enjoy Scrooged. This Bill Murray comedy is now looked at as one of the most popular films around especially during the holiday season. It goes with the Dickens background the classic Christmas Carol is told which involves the ghosts of the past, present, and future except Scrooged is twisted to help a miserly TV executive (Bill Murray) learn the true meaning of Christmas. Bill Murray gives a great performance from his cold and arrogant personality he transforms to a loving individual, and Murray was great all the way. Bill Murray always performs well he proved that he can be funny and serious all at the same time. Karen Allen was great as a loving female friend from the past she always knew Bill could be caring. Richard Donner adapted this perfect from the Dickens novel only to have spiced it up with a modern twist. Scrooged receives many viewings just before Christmas mostly on cable especially TBS, TNT, and USA. You have plenty of chances to watch Scrooged always a entertaining and funny film to help get you in the Christmas spirit.
Give'em a towel Not! Wonderful film!
posted on 01 Jul 2009"Give them a towel". I have always enjoyed this film. As a fan of Bill's he did a great job with his role as Frank Cross.Rest of the cast, John Forsythe, Carol Kane, Robert Mitchum also did wonderful jobs with their roles. Forsythe was a riot to me as the ghost of Bill's old boss/friend. Nice to see three of Bill's brothers in the film.DVD needed more extras though. Nothing except trailer for the film.Course, starts out funny. Lee Majors "Eat This". Got off to the right start & stayed there. "Cajun Christmas" with the alligator following the boat.A different take on the classic Christmas tale.
It's a New Holiday Classic
posted on 22 Jun 2009I'll break this one out around the holidays just so I can say that I get into the spirit of x-mas. You see, I'm a very aggressive atheist, so I don't do the Christmas stuff at all, but as a kid I did obtain some holiday season habits that have nothing to do with religion at all. Watching certain movies is one of them. Scrooged is a pretty good film. It's funny in parts, but for me it's mainly nostalgia. This movie hasn't nearly stood the test of time as well as I would have thought it would. It's got it's parts though. Some bits of this movie are as quotable as they come.This is the perfect, feel good, holiday film for the season. It's non-religious except for the Christmas stuff, but, modern Christmas is about as Christian as a Slayer concert.
Seasonal Murray vehicle has its moments.
posted on 07 Jun 2009The reviews by the critics for this film were terrible. However the general viewer feedback is good. The film has some sappy, overblown moments ie.- the ending. But its all done in good spirits. If your a Bill Murray fan you'll love it. As the morally redundant TV exec Frank Cross, Murray gets far and away the most screen time and his straight faced, dry humour is just perfect for this type of character.The film is a modern update of 'A Christmas Carol' for anyone who doesn't already know with the aforementioned Murray character Frank Cross replacing the role of Ebeneezer Scrooge. After being initially visited by his now deceased ex-boss(represented rather shockingly as an old decaying, mouse infested corpse still wearing the golf uniform he suffered his life ending heart attack in on the fairway) and on whom he had based his own career (though Frank has gone on to become even more selfish and concerned with the bottom line than even he was) Cross simply dismisses the episode as the result of high level executive pressure. In particular Frank is stressing out about his network's live Christmas eve broadcast which is surprise, surprise a big budget live version of 'A Christmas Carol'. However he is in turn visited by 3 very different versions of the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future to the one's represented in the Dicken's tale , with the possible exception of the final ghost who is much more traditional in representation than the others. The role of Tiny Tim and Bob Cratchet are represented by Cross's long suffering secretary and her young son who is a mute as a result of the trauma of seeing his father murdered several years before. There is a couple of interesting side stories involving Murray rekindling the only real relationship he has ever had with his first love Clare who he decides to recontact amongst all of the madness as well as a confident young new executive who has been brought on board and tries to act as Frank's friend but is clearly planning to usurp him. This attempt is aided by everyone's perception that Frank appears to be suffering some kind of breakdown as he tries to deal with the bizarre impingement on his life by the aforementioned ghosts. Possibly the most entertaining of the story lines not relating directly to the main one involves a naive young board member played by the usually larger than life, but here toned down, Bobcat Goldthwaite who has been fired as a result of innocently questioning a violent promo for the live show which Cross has commissioned. As Frank is dealing with his ghost's Bobcat's character descends into a rather pathetic depression and desperate alcoholism , in the space of a few days, as he tries to come to terms with his unemployment.I really enjoyed John Glover as the slimy Californian exec who is obviously after Cross's job. It kind of underlines the point that though Cross is nasty at least what you see is what you get. Glover's character is completely 2-faced. The character obviously made an impact on the makers of Gremlins 2 because they cast Glover in an almost identical role in that movie a mere two years later.Karen Allen as Carol is convincingly sweet and warm as possibly the only person who can truly help redeem Frank but both her and Robert Mitchum as Frank's boss are somewhat underused and in the case of a legendary talent like Mitchum's you almost wonder why he is in it.Anyway in summation if you like Murray you'll love this. If you don't your enjoyment may suffer but there are still laughs to be had at the send ups of Christmas Network programming ie-. 'Bob Goulet's Cajun Christmas' , 'The Night the Reindeer Died' with Lee Majors and 'Dad Loves Chasing Beaver.' The soundtrack, special effects and make-up are also first rate. However be warned, it is very dark and at times a little sad, particularly in one scene in which Frank re-encounters one of the homeless people he had met earlier at Claire's shelter in a disused boiler room on a typically freezing New York winters night. So if your looking for an uplifting, fun seasonal movie instead of just a good laugh then avoid this. At least up until the end anyway where they all live happily ever after. I would also not be to keen on showing it to very young kids. Its not exactly a horror film but there are enough moments to scare some children and the humour is for the best part more on the adult side.
Put a little love in your heart?
posted on 05 Jun 2009Wow. Never has a movie with a "Tab" product placement been more awesome! As an all-time "A Christmas Carol" fan, this is the best modern retelling of the story. Brilliant script, excellent casting, and the best use of Bob Goldthwait since "One Crazy Summer" -- what a movie! A must for any Christmas Carol fan!
Great for its Stupidity - I Mean This in a Nice Way
posted on 30 Apr 2009First off, I would like to correct the individual who referred to Groundhog Day as a 1983 film and used it as an exaple of Murray's first holiday-themed movie. Groundhog Day was actually made around 1993, I believe.
Anyway, the fun thing about this movie is that it is so dumb. But then again, it had to be in order to get our attention. After all, how many times can hollywood re-make Christmas Carol? Even as I write this, I feel that I will be misrepresenting my own opinions by saying so, but what I mean is that this is dumb in the sense that enjoyment of it does not necessitate brain use. It is fun for fun's sake, which even the elitist snobs of the world such as myself have to recognize as perfcetly legitimate. (And of course it has the traditional "love thy neighbor, give to the poor, God bless us, everyone" ending, which is not a total loss.)
My personal favorite touches are the golf balls and mice falling out of the back of the moth-eaten head of Jacob Marley's character - they changed the name in this movie but what they changed it to escapes me at the moment - as well as the wonderful performance on the part of David Johansen as the deliciously obnoxious cab driver/Ghost of Christmas Past who obviously fell out of the crazy tree and hit every branch en route to terra firma. In addition, fans of his singing will experience waves of nostalgia at the marvelous and familiar gravel that we refer to as his voice.
Excellent Movie
posted on 23 Apr 2009I love this movie and watch it every x-mas. Bill Murray had his finest performance in this movie, until he made Ground Hog day. It's based off of the Dicken's work "A X-mas Carol". I think this is the reason that people have been more critical than I think is needed. This is one of those few movies that is both hilarious and moving at the same time. Bill Murray does a great job of going from a complete ass to someone who has seen the light. It's a journey I enjoy going on every x-mas. I'm looking forward to the trip this year.
Sappy but satisfying Dickens retelling
posted on 20 Apr 2009The Night The Reindeer Died!! They should MAKE that movie. Of course...without Lee Majors. lol.Among the many wonderful comedies starring Bill Murray, this one has to be one of my favorites. It's a rather irreverent remaking of the Dickinsian classic, "A Christmas Carol," and is one of the best of Bill Murray's portrayals, in my opinion.This quirky, funny, and sometimes melancholy movie is quite entertaining, intelligently funny, and a must see for any fan of the original work which this movie parodies.Murray is a classic megalomaniac; a sycophantic, narcissistic, egocentric fool who manages, through his bastardization of the human condition, to rate the "ghost of xmas past, present, and future" treatment from the Powers That Be.Don't miss this wonderfully funny movie, especially around xmas time. It's an endearing, heart-warming and hilarious production which is horribly under-rated.It rates an 8.9/10 from...the Fiend :.
No ho ho ho
posted on 21 Mar 2009No one does glib, jaded and cynical like Bill Murray, so it probably seemed like a good idea to stick him in the middle of an updated version of 'A Christmas Carol'. Unfortunately Richard Donner can't direct comedy unless it's sandwiched between explosions, and the writers seem to have helped him out by removing the funny gags. They missed two: the (seemingly improvised) Richard Pryor line and a scene where Murray is mistaken for Richard Burton. Other than that the movie is a parade of leaden one-liners that keep coming even when the story should be taking itself seriously, until it all sinks into a morass of overbearing sentimentality with a finale that makes 'Patch Adams' look like a model of restraint. And if you're looking for a nod to the source material, try looking way down the end credits, where the teeny acknowledgement 'suggested by A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens' can be found. That's gratitude for you.
Everyone should watch this movie around Christmas
posted on 13 Mar 2009It is simply a hilarious movie. The only people who may not like this movie are people that don't like Bill Murray. Otherwise, this and Groundhog Day are his best. My friends and I quote Scrooged all the time. My favorite quote, "All day long I have to listen to excuses why people can't work. My back aches. My legs hurt. I'm only 4." Priceless.
I Wish They Would Make A Sequal
posted on 26 Feb 2009No matter hwo many times that I watch this, I still can't get enough of Scrooged. Every time I watch this, I somehow get the theme song ("Put A Little Love In Your Heart") stuck in my head. After all, it is the perfect song for this otherwise strangely funny comedy.
Interesting Version of the Classic Tale.
posted on 25 Feb 2009A hilarious and heart-warming up-date to Dickens' fairy tale has Bill Murray in the titled role as a high-class television executive who cares much more about money and ratings than people. John Forsythe, David Johansen and Carol Kane are memorable as the first three ghosts while Bobcat Goldthwait dominates as a former employee fired on Christmas Eve. Karen Allen is adequate as Murray's love interest. Robert Mitchum, Alfre Woodard and Murray's real-life siblings (Brian Doyle and John) complete the likeable cast. Good direction by Richard Donner and some truly inspired moments help to make "Scrooged" a nice little film that still plays well, especially around the holiday season. 4 stars out of 5.
Not Your Family Scrooge Story, But Has Its Moments With Murray
posted on 16 Feb 2009This was a pretty entertaining update of the famous "Scrooge" story. Unfortunately, however, that update includes profanity which certainly isn't necessary for this famous story.When the special-effects start, the movie kicks in. Bill Murray is convincing in his role as the bad guy - Bill usually is entertaining, like him or not - and Karen Allen is winsome when she flashes that pretty smile. Two minor characters are decidedly not funny: Carol Kane as the ghost is just plain annoying and Bob Goldthwait's voice is irritating.Like other versions of Scrooge, this one also has a touching ending. In fact, there are several very touching moments in this film despite the edginess to it. Then again, that's the message of the story.
Fun to watch every day of the year.
posted on 29 Jan 2009This is a Christmas movie that also is very enjoyable to watch outside of the holiday's.Another name for the movie could be "The Bill Murray Show", he simply makes this movie and I can't even imaging how the movie would have been without him in it. He's amazingly funny and on top of that he also is a wonderful actor. You can see that in some of the scene's he improvised a lot and he did that brilliantly! All the other actors and characters are merely sidekicks.The story is basically a modern version of the classic Dickens novel "A Christmas Carol" and it's done wonderfully. It's great to see how the the classic story is translated into the 20th century. Everything works very well: The settings, the characters and the events, everything.From the hilarious opening involving Santa Claus and Lee Mayors (I say no more) till the wonderful ending the movie delivers non stop fun and pure entertainment with a nice love story, brilliant dialog and a great and important message in it. Only thing is that I feel that the movie could have done without the whole Loudermilk thing, but oh well...Very recommendable and close of being perfect.9/10
A Personal Favorite
posted on 21 Dec 2008This is my favorite "adaptation" of A Christmas Carol. It's also my favorite Christmas movie. A lot of people say that Bill Murray's character of Frank Cross is unlikeable. Would you prefer a warm and fuzzy Scrooge for the first half? Then there are those who say that the end is sappy. The ending is what I like the most. And Murray's acting is much better than other Scrooges, who usually overact. Murray manages to be over-the-top with his cruelty while still making his acting believable. Cross is truly Scrooge-like, reveling in the death of an old woman caused by his commercial because it's free publicity. Another common comment is that Carol Kane steals the scene as the Ghost of Christmas Present. Not true. The chemistry between Murray and Kane ensures that they share the screen perfectly. This is a wonderful movie. I can't understand why anyone would say otherwise. Bobcat Goldthwait puts in a great performance as a disgruntled employee fired on Christmas Eve. The best part is the end. This movie has what has to be the happiest ending in the history of movies. He understands the meaning of Christmas, gets a new lease on life, gets the girl, the little boy talks, and everybody sings a song. Danny Elfman provides the score, doing a brilliant job as always. A beautiful movie all around. A+
Father LOVES Beaver!
posted on 18 Nov 2008Acid Rain. Drug Addiction. International Terrorism. Freeway Killers. Now, more than ever, it is important to remember the TRUE meaning of Christmas! Don't miss Bill Murray's immortal classic Scrooged. You're life might just depend on it.Christmas Specials are a big deal, with some of them (such as Charlie Brown and The Grinch) going down in TV history. When it comes to story a lot of lazy staff writers just milk the Christmas Carol goat and there are millions of different takes out there to prove it with Roseanne and the original Star Trek series all doing their own rip-offs. IBC boss Frank Cross (Bill Murray dressed up as Steven Seagal's long-lost twin brother) is a delightfully wicked man of hate who is planning his very own live broadcast of said story. Little does he know that very tale is about to wind its way into his life.Why I like Frank Cross is because he's a lot like me. He's mean to those beneath him, yields power with a ruthless swagger and is sarcastic to just about everyone. If you disagree with him in even the slightest, tiniest little way he'll fire you. Just like I would. But on this certain Xmas Eve life is getting very weird for him.The owner of the station is doubting his abilities to undertake such a heavy production, a slimy Californian director is trying to muscle-in on his job and his dead boss comes back to haunt him. He brings an important message that if he doesn't change his way he's going to hell and that three ghosts, of Xmas past, present and future, are going to show him the results of his evilness.In the hands of just another comedy director this would have been a missed opportunity, but Richard Donner shoots the film as a supernatural fantasy and gives it a pretty superior shine. Something Brian Levant could never do. And let's not forget Bill Murray, the guy is a genius no matter what he does and he dominates the whole film with his loud an maniacal performance. Everything he says seems to be ad-libbed and babbles some brilliant one-liners and sarcasm.Most people are put-off by the ending and claim that when the nastiness stops and sentiment kicks in the film goes downhill. I don't feel this way. In a world where Xmas is commercialised and the time of year where people go in huge debt we need a constant reminder of what we should be feeling. No one is asking you to celebrate the fact that Wal-Mart are selling cheap turkeys or that greedy stores have a limited stock of $700 X-Boxes. At the end Frank Cross, the world's biggest scrooge and non-believer, tells us that it's the fun, the determination to make a difference, the easiness of changing someone's life and the spirit of the holiday season that really matters. You don't have to hate it and if you surrender your pride and just give it a go then maybe the miracle to happen to you to.For me, Scrooged has been an annual tradition for years and will continue to be so. Not only is it very funny but, in its own way, very important. If you give a little, you can get back a whole lot more. Sounds corny, I know but Xmas is what you make it. And you only get a small amount so it's best to make every one count. This movie is a step in the right direction.
A very Murray Christmas
posted on 19 Oct 2008Bill Murray does it again in this remake of the classic Dickens story A Christmas Carol. Bill plays the role of a disgruntled Frank Cross who is the modern day Ebenezer Scrooge, except he owns a TV studio. And he does a lot of mean things to people, I like the commercial part it's the best part, but there's more, the spirits that visit him, the ghost of Christmas past is the guy from Car 54. And John Glover of 52 Pick Up and Bobcat Goldwaith of Police Academy are in it too! Bobcat is like the Bob Critchit in this one only with a gun! Anyways, this is a very funny holiday film next to It's A Wonderful Life or the classic version and Disney version of A Christmas Carol or the Grinch or that funny episode on Just Shoot Me where Finch acts like THE GRINCH! Recommended for the family to watch, but there's a bit of bad language, maybe the parents with the kids, that is. This maybe from the '80s and old, but it sure gives you that holiday spirit, and it does make you feel all warm inside and funny on the funny bone too!
Among the many Bill Murray Oscar snubs
posted on 18 Aug 2009In what is without a doubt the best Scrooge spinoff ever, Bill Murray once again takes a movie completely on his wings and brings it to the next level. A great comic triumph wedged right in between Ghostbusters II and What About Bob?, Murray is as delightful as he is wicked.What many fail to realize that unlike many of his old SNL cohorts (Akyroyd, Chase), Murray has continued to make great pictures through the 90s and into the 21st century. The Life Aquatic should be his tour de force and will hopefully finally earn him an Oscar. A vintage performer for the most underrated actor of all time.Oscar snubs: scrooged, rushmore, what about bob, groundhog day, lost in translation