The very definition of high-concept (especially in the ‘80s), Scrooged had it all…a huge cast, gratuitous cameos, mass-appeal direction by Richard Donner, a playful score by Danny Elfman and, of course, a classic story updated and tailor-made to suit the talents of Bill Murray. In terms of bankability, Murray’s comedic appeal was rivaled only by Eddie Murphy back then.
Residual audience goodwill from Stripes and Ghostbusters turned Scrooged into a moderate hit at the time, but it wasn’t quite in the same league as those classics. Personally, I think that’s because it plays like it was specifically assembled as a Bill Murray vehicle and all other aspects of the film were of secondary importance. I realize it's a minority opinion, since this comedic update of A Christmas Carol remains a perennial holiday favorite in a lot of households, as countless home video releases will attest.
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| "You coulda knocked." |
Whether one considers Scrooged to be a holiday comedy classic or a high-concept product of its decade, this is a great 4K UHD release from Paramount. Those who love the film enough to watch it every year will certainly enjoy the upgraded transfer and impressive collection of vintage bonus material. But of all the movies showcasing Bill Murray’s unique comic abilities, I don't think this one ranks among his best.
EXTRA KIBBLES
FEATURETTES - A Christmas to Remember; Updating Ebenezer; Bringing the Ghosts to Life; The Look of Scrooged; On the Seat with Bill Murray.
AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director Richard Donner.
SHOWEST CLIPS WITH BILL MURRAY
DIGITAL COPY
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