Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Best movie ever!

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

This special really highlights the emptiness of forced secularism. It could more properly be called "How Murray Saved the Winter Solstice", if not for its exploitation of the word Christmas. It is composed of a lot of rhyming but not much else. Those who are looking for a meaningful character arc, an original plot, or anything approaching a spiritual significance will be deeply disappointed.WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!Our story begins in a snowy town which seems to have been constructed specifically to trivialize Christmas and to put it among the other holidays for Federal and state workers/greeting card/parade/ethnic celebration/practical joke days.Even the Santa we are introduced to makes one question why people celebrate Christmas. He is quite honestly a forceful, robber-baron type, without any of the redeeming qualities of Krampus. He virtually breaks the back of his worker elves, while offering them hot cocoa (but only at an outrageous price.)Since he is clearly such a jerk, there are several non-sequiturs here. Firstmost: why does he even give gifts to children? Secondly, how did he attract such a multi-ethic workforce? (as any rational person would realize they would have had to immigrate and there isn't much attractive about the Far North) Also, how does he pay his elves? (he must pay them—if he is trying to make money off them). And lastly, if he is such a slave- driver, why is it the main elf we are introduced to seems to be such a loafer?Most of the audience is probably glad when he gets punched in the face and knocked out, setting up a empty place for our titular protagonist. I won't outline the rest of the plot—because there isn't one.There's a slight yuck factor throughout the proceedings. Cupid is bare- bottomed. Diaper rash is mentioned—for both the old year and new. The Lord's Prayer (the lone mention approaching religious significance) is said to have been burped. There's a tired old joke about sexuality based on a dumb pun. (Yes, this is a Christmas special where sexuality is discussed). Did I mention, the groundhog (Groundhog Day) is a Woody Allen- type?There's an obvious attempt to be inclusive here. Murray ends up giving toys to both the good and bad, even to people who don't celebrate Christmas (and whose ancestors never have!). Going back to the multi- ethnic elves: who the heck ever wanted to be a Christmas elf?Five years from now this will be long-forgotten.

We just rented this show today and found it delightful from beginning to end! It is so clever, funny, creative, and thoroughly entertaining! All the songs are catchy and totally hum-able! The dialogue and rhymes require quick wit and superb timing! The entire voice cast is amazing and great! We usually stick with our fave Christmas shows (like "Rudolph" and "Charlie Brown" and "Grinch") but this Christmas special is worth watching again and again! Jerry Stiller is excellent as Murray - and the entire voice casting is perfect! Highly recommend this fresh, creative, funny show to any adult with a good sense of humor and an open mind for new Christmas shows!

'How Murray Saved Christmas' is a lighthearted holiday cartoon aimed at adults, period. (And on Christmas Day itself? Oy! Such a concept!) Fast paced and filled with so many inside literary, historic and pop culture jokes, puns and sight gags that only adults will get. Yes, this is not like your standard "Children, Santa Claus loves you and Christmas because . . . " cartoon that will sit well with those who grew up only on Frosty, Rudolph and Snoopy. But those who live west of the Hudson and south of Yonkers, or are familiar with all of the multicultural references in "How Murray Saved Christmas" will find this cartoon to be a hoot. And, yes, it is forty-two minutes of silly rhymes, plus over-the-top Broadway-style show tunes, to boot.

Just watched this travesty of a Christmas Special. A pointless but clever string of rhyming, singing, and punning. The constant striving to be clever with the rhyming left me crying(and not with laughter).The writers were, I guess, trying to make a sort of a Dr. Seuss story, but alas they have neither the wit nor the wisdom to pull this story off. The town name "Stinky Cigars" lets the viewer know from the start that this is going to be a bad trip. This is the town where all the mythical and real characters of all the holidays live and none of them are to a one a character that you would like to run into, even on their holidays. Worst of all Santa is portrayed as a mean, greedy and ignorant boss. The elves, that make the toys, are worked day and night, no breaks and no pay, that they gleefully sing about. One of the worst things about this travesty was that during the half hour break a commercial ran to tell one and all that in ten days you can own your own copy of this trash and "Make How Murray Saved Christmas a holiday tradition" The show was not even finished being shown and they already expect you to go out and buy a copy. As far as I can remember there was only one well executed pun in this travesty, when Santa was looking to get some toys, after waking up from his concussion, one of the closed stores is called "Salvador's Dollies" complete with a melting clock on the marque and lamp post. Unless you revel in the vile, skip this.