Bill Murray, is one of those people, who appears to have fun in most of his movies. There is a question that people probably ask. How did an early Saturday Night Live alumnus, become a movie star? Scrooged gives somewhat of an answer to that. He stars as Frank Cross, an unscrupulous television executive. This story is an updated version of A Christmas Carol. It is a mix of drama and comedy. Bill Murray shows a balance between the two, with his character.
Frank Cross is putting on a live version, of A Christmas Carol. He is obsessed, with it being the most successful version. He demands his assistant leave her family on Christmas Eve. His reasoning is that if he has to work, so does she. His only goal, is to impress the network president, Preston Rhinelander, (Robert Mitchum). Mitchum is well past his starring roles, but is credible, as Cross’ demanding boss.
Despite Frank Cross’ rather unlikeable character, there is still the one that got away. She is Claire Phillips. Claire is played by Karen Allen, best known to film fans, as Marion Ravenwood. Ms. Allen’s character, is the exact opposite of Frank Cross. The audience wonders how Cross let her get away. This wouldn’t be a version of Dickens’s wonderful story, if the lead character was living happily ever after.
The story, of course, wouldn’t be complete without the ghosts. They come to Cross, starting with Lew Hayward. Hayward, (John Forsythe), was Cross’ mentor. He’s deceased seven years. He is a modern Jacob Marley. He functions as the messenger, telling him about the ghosts. The ghosts come, in an attempt to make Frank Cross, understand life’s true meaning.
The first apparition, is The Ghost of Christmas Past. He is a loudmouth cabdriver, played by David Johansson. He shows Cross his childhood, with his uncaring father, giving him meat for Christmas. Cross wanted a train set. His father laughs at his disappointment. The spirit shows Cross, his start in the business. The very successful Frank Cross, had a humble start. He played a dog, on a kids show. He is shown his relationship with Claire. Cross, letting nothing stand in his way, dismisses a planned Christmas Eve party. He decides dinner with Lew Hayward, is more important. This destroys his relationship with Claire. The ghost departs, leaving Cross in the capable hands of The Ghost of Christmas Present, (Carol Kane).
Christmas Present is played as a cross between an abusive fairy godmother, and Kane’s character on Taxi. She shows Cross his assistant, Grace Cooley, (Alfre Woodard). She is shown celebrating Christmas, despite her lousy job and her son’s inability to speak. Cross witnesses other people celebrating Christmas, and then sees the ghost of Christmas Future.
Christmas Future is a spirit that is like The Grim Reaper, but has a television for a head. Frank Cross sees his future, including his sparsely attended funeral. He also sees his cremation, and feels it. This brings him to harsh reality. Cross sees the error of his ways. He interrupts his broadcast. The reason is so Frank Cross, can broadcast his redemption. He then proclaims his love, for the still available, Claire Phillips. The lovers are reunited, and everyone is happy, including Grace Cooley. She is recognized for her work. The ending with Murray’s character thanking everyone is similar to how Saturday Night Live would end, when Murray was on it.
Scrooged strives to be funny, and does in parts. The problem is, that it is hard to make a morality play, into a comedy. Bill Murray is quite good as Frank Cross. The problem is the spirits don’t make the cut. The only one who does is Lew Hayward. This is mainly due to the makeup, which is effective. It would seem that director, Richard Donner, could handle a comic adaptation of Charles Dickens, beloved work. He is after all, the man who brought Superman to the big screen. He can’t keep the movie entertaining. It may be because the script isn’t the best. That always helps a director. A movie like Scrooged has happened to every director. It is fortunate that there are many good versions of A Christmas Carol. They make up for this one.