A Christmas Carol (2009)

3.0

CHRISTMAS/ADVENTURE
U.S. Release Date: 11/06/09
Running Length: 96 Minutes
MPAA Classification: PG (Scary Sequences and Images)
Cast: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins, Cary Elwes          
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Screenplay: Robert Zemeckis, based off the novel by Charles Dickens
Cinematography: Robert Presley
Music: Alan Silvestri
U.S. Distributor: Walt Disney Studios

Review by: Carter Moulton, for The State News

© The State News, 2009

11/06/09

Many critics, including Roger Ebert, praised Robert Zemeckis’ The Polar Express as a “perennial classic,” while others, such as Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers, described the film as a train wreck, “lifeless” and “spooky in an Invasion of the Body Snatchers kind of way.” If children thought The Polar Express was too creepy, they’re in for a trick-or-treat hangover with Zemeckis’ latest holiday film, A Christmas Carol.

If you don’t know the plot of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol by now, you probably have less Christmas spirit than Scrooge himself. This adaptation, in comparison to the countless other versions, accentuates the horror Scrooge experiences on Christmas Eve night: the creeks and cracks of Scrooge’s abandoned mansion, the wide-eyed Jacob Marley floating in through the hallways, and the hundreds of ghosts suspended over the streets of London.

I didn’t find The Polar Express to be all that eerie; magical and dreamlike, yes, but such is the perspective of Santa Claus for a young boy. A Christmas Carol, on the other hand, is naturally darker because it involves the locating and cleansing of a man’s hatred and evil thoughts.

Photo © Walt Disney Pictures

Jim Carrey, much like Tom Hanks did in Polar Express, takes on numerous roles, playing Ebenezer Scrooge at various ages, the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present and of The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. My biggest concern going in was that Carrey, the same man who took the “Grinch” to an annoying level of absurdity, had to be completely refined and dramatic in so many different roles. I knew he was capable, judging from his brilliance in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but here Carrey had to cover a broader range—at times he’s playing three characters onscreen at once.

He delivers. It’s a wonderful performance from a man whose depth as an actor is ever-expanding. Despite his trademark facial expressions and heavy workload, Carrey is able to veil himself beneath Dickens’ story—and that is worth applauding.

As for the story, it would’ve been nice to see one less chase scene and one more dramatic vision from Scrooge’s past, but at least Zemeckis doesn’t sacrifice any of the signature flashbacks for a 3-D showcase. There is a strength in Dickens’ narrative that can’t be overpowered, not even by the modern animation technology Zemeckis uses. Excessive spectacle threatens at times, including a scene in which Scrooge is being chased by a stagecoach through the nooks and crannies of London, but it's never to the point where it engulfs the tale.

Although Zemeckis takes a darker approach and frightful images are peppered throughout the film, it’s not to say his movie is deficient in holiday spirit; through the popping reds and greens of 3-D and a festive score from Alan Silvestri, A Christmas Carol is a sizeable cup of yuletide cheer.

The film’s ending resonates like the charming tone of sleigh bells, and this is when Carrey shines brightest. It’s as if he, along with Scrooge, has been so anchored by the gloom and self-discovery of a Christmas Eve nightmare that when Christmas morning finally arrives, Carrey (and Scrooge) are freed and able to celebrate all the more. Carrey dances and jokes after Scrooge is transformed, unleashing his stored humor in the most welcomed of ways.

As Bob Cratchit (played superbly by Gary Oldman) turns to the camera and narrates the ending, we see carolers caroling, townspeople playing in the snow and Scrooge hoisting Tiny Tim on his shoulder. It was at this moment that I realized, for the first time, I really wanted to pick up an old copy of Dickens’ novel—and in that respect, A Christmas Carol does the classic tale ample justice.