Who payed the critics

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

Scrooged is a fresh, dark and original take on the classic Christmas Carol story. The ghosts are humorous and horrifying and Bill Murray does an excellent job of creating a modern-day Ebeneezer Scrooge. The ending is quite cheesy, but, then again, isn't that what Christmas movies are all about?

Over the years, there has been many different variations & renditions on English author, Charles Dicken's 1843's novel; 'A Christmas Carol' story, through film. Yet, there hasn't been many adapted movies that sway too far for the source material. That was, until 1988's 'Scrooged'. Not only did it modernization, the settling of the Christmas Carol-like scenario with a different set of time, characters & locations, but it also, in universe, make fun of premise of loosely adapting the novel, by having a cynical, selfish TV executive, Frank Cross (Bill Murray) go through the ghostly visits, while also planning a live adaptation of the book for his network. Because of that, I can say, this black comedy directed by Richard Donner is unique enough to stand on its own; as much of the humor here is focuses on the shallowness, greed, and sensation of commercial television, when it comes to the holidays. However, the strange, mood-swingy blend of mistletoe jokes with that, satirical trash television doesn't really mesh that well, together. Much of that, come from the fact that actor, Bill Murray and director Richard Donner reportedly did not enjoy working together, creating a lot of tension on set. It shows in their work. Murray still depress over the failure of 1984's 'The Razor's Edge' gave a stagnant somewhat rusty detached performance as penny-pinching TV producer, Frank Cross (Bill Murray), as he never really wanted to return to comedy after four years away from the business. Because of that, along with Murray penchant for unwanted improvisation, taking real physical abuse by actress, Carol Kane, including injuries & oddly time, mood swings, which Donner wasn't keen on, a lot of footage ended up on the cutting room floor; making the film look very sloppy & uneven in certain parts. All this detached anger & mean-spirited by both men, never truly make it seem like Cross change into a decent person, by the end of the film. Instead, the climax come across as a little too unpleasant/cynical and not enough joyful. Most of the themes of the film doesn't even seem focus on moral redemption, at Christmas, at all. I felt that the film written by Mitch Glazer and Michael O'Donoghue was a little too unfocused, spending too much time on a competitor subplot with Bryce Cummings (John Glover) & a murderous ex-employee, Eliot Loudermilk (Bobcat Goldthwait) that rarely affects the main plot. Another thing, the writing was a little heavy-hand on, showing the subliminal political/humanitarian reference to Apartheid controversy. It wasn't really needed. Another, preachy choice was showing the hypocritical when it comes to regulate violence & sexual content, with slapstick humor, & cartoony action. Because the focus was spent on that, it left little to the redemption parts. It really did seem those sequences got the short stick. Because of that, songs like 'Put a Little Love in Your Heart' perform by Annie Lennox & Al Green and written by Jackie DeShannon, Randy Myers & Jimmy Holiday seem to come, out of nowhere & seems oddly used. Nevertheless, the rest of the music choices, were alright for the most part. However, composer, Danny Elfman's score, does come across as jarring, because the fact, that he recycled parts of the tune for later films such as 1992's 'Batman Returns' & 1993's 'Nightmare Before Christmas'. As for visual & special effects, most of the effects, really does hold on, over the years. Even the makeup & puppet work for this film is still impressive. However, they did go, a little overboard at parts like Lew Hayward (John Forsythe) trying to kill Frank, by tossing him, off a building, rather than warning him about the three spirits. Nevertheless, regardless, the way, the movie was shot with the help from cinematographer, Michael Chapman was well-handle. There were parts of the film, where the spirits really did look like they were, about to jump out of the screen. As for the supporting cast that played those spirits; I also believe that they were good in their limited roles. Both, Carol Kane & David Johansen as the Ghost of Christmas Past & Present were wonderful. Even some of the acting in the non-supernatural roles, were fine, such as Karen Allen as Frank's love interest, Claire Phillips & Alfre Woodard as Grace Coolney, an employee for Frank. Even the cameos from Bill Murray's brothers, John, Joel and Brian were fine for the most part. As for the celebs cameos, such as Mary Lou Retton, Lee Majors, Paul Shaffer and others. They were also, nice to see. In the end, they all did their parts. Overall: I can't say, that this film is worth being a stocking stuffer. Don't get me wrong, it's watchable, but I seem better, holiday movies from Bill Murray, such as 1993's 'Groundhog Day'. In the end, like a blizzard on Christmas. It's a little too cold to play. Check other films, out.

Murray's non-comedies pretty much suck reindeer butt. This, however, is a comedy. Scrooged has some very nice FX, some solid-gold eye candy AND it will jingle your bells - especially about the time Kane jingles Murray's with her foot. This is a must see for Murray fans, i.e. everybody. Everybody! Lest ye, too, be wanting a visit from Kane. This flick is good for a 2 - 3 year schedule of re-watching.

Frank Cross is the youngest president of the channel IBC and he's a jerk, to say the VERY least. A live telling of "A Christmas Carol" is scheduled to show on Christmas eve, meaning the crew and actors are going to have to work on Christmas eve, but does Frank Cross care? Heck no! He only cares about the money gained from his channels viewers. However, Frank gets a visit from his boss-who's been dead for the past ten years-telling him that he will be visited by three ghosts. As the visit gets closer and closer, Frank's life begins to resemble that of Ebenezer Scrooge's more and more."Scrooged" is an incredibly creative film. There have been countless retellings of "A Christmas Carol" over the years, and with each one the story gets more familiar and more tired. But with "Scrooged", Charles Dicken's story is given a breath of fresh air since it's set in modern day and centers around the yuppie culture of the 1980's. Bill Murray is perfectly cast as Frank Cross, in anyone else's hands Cross would have been unlikable even to when he redeems himself in the end. But, Murray is able to give Cross a few flashes of emotions other than anger and mean spiritedness. For real though, Bill Murray is really the only actor who could've successfully pulled the part off. Karen Allen is also perfectly cast as Frank Cross' ex girlfriend-Claire. Their chemistry feels very natural and even cute at points.If there's anything bad to say about "Scrooged" it's that when Frank eventually turns on Claire, choosing work over her, it feels a little too quick in the film. It would have been nice to see them on screen a little longer, but for what it is the relationship between Frank and Claire really, really works. Overall, "Scrooged" is a great retelling of "A Christmas Carol". It's funny, creative and surprisingly heartfelt in the end. It's not a perfect movie, some of the jokes could be tweaked a little, but over all "Scrooged" is highly recommended. It's a perfect film to get you into the mood for Christmas and if you're not watching it around Christmas, it's a great little film.