A Christmas Carol
It's always fun seeing actors take multiple roles...
Whether it’s Alec Guinness in Kind Hearts and Coronets, Peter Sellers in Dr Strangelove, or Eddie Murphy in The Nutty Professor.
Jim Carrey has played double roles now and then, but here the versatile comic actor plays Ebenezer Scrooge from boyhood, through young adulthood, early middle age, and of course as an old skinflint. He also plays the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, so we’re told. Impressive, right?
Cast details
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Jim Carrey
Born: 17 Jan 1962
Newmarket, Ontario, CanadaTop rated films View all Truman Show, The - BLU-RAY Version (1998) 
The Truman Show (1998) 
A Christmas Carol (2009)
Not so much, actually, as Carrey’s not physically on screen at all. He supplies the voices and went through the motions, but only to be digitally painted over by a team of motion-caption animators at the direction of Robert Zemeckis (The Polar Express, Beowulf). Yes, there are recognisable traces of Carrey here and there, and yes, the sundry British accents he uses are quite accomplished, but it still adds up to an underwhelming stunt. Especially as the motion capture technique still sucks the life out of those familiar faces on the screen. Skin textures come off as plastic, and the eyes are glassy and vacant – it’s the perfect format for a zombie movie.
In addition to Carrey we have Gary Oldman’s features on top of a short Bob Cratchit (he also voices Tiny Tim and Marley). Bob Hoskins, not bothering to distinguish between Mr Fezziwig and Old Joe. Colin Firth is unflatteringly caricatured as Fred, and poor Robin Wright Penn is reduced to a Barbie doll as Belle. Give me the Muppets, any day.
That’s the Bah! Humbug! side.
But there is also some Good Cheer.
Zemeckis – who also wrote the screenplay – has wisely taken the approach “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” to the story, so this is a relatively faithful illustrated classics adaptation.
Scrooge (Jim Carrey) with Tiny Tim (Gary Oldman)
Not that Dickens envisaged Scrooge rocketing up to the moon as far as I remember, or shrinking to the size of a dormouse as he’s chased through the streets by a dark hansom cab driven by red-eyed stallions… but I’m sure the novelist would have understood these are the requirements for saturation bombing across the globe’s 3D IMAX screens.
The animation works much better with the film’s supernatural elements. Jacob Marley’s ghost is envisaged bound down by heavy chains, and gets so carried away at one point he does terrible damage to his jawbone. The Ghost of Christmas Past is imaginatively rendered as a candle-like sprite, his head a bobbling flame, and Yet to Come is a sinister shrouded figure with long bony fingers.
Only Christmas Present is a bit of a let-down: so mirthful and hearty that he must have a screw loose.
And does Dickens’ spread-the-wealth message echo more poignantly in these recessionary times? I suspect we’ve all seen this story so many times now we’re almost numb to its meaning, but perhaps the kids will take it to their little hearts, God bless ’em.
Reviews
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Critics' reviews
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The third performance capture animation from writer-director Robert Zemeckis following The Polar... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
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11 out of 11 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
superb............................
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5 out of 6 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Nice C.G.I but no charm
Tis the season (well almost)... and in search of a little early Christmas spirit, my husband and I went along to see Disney's 'A Christmas Carol'.
It aims to deliver in a similar style to Polar Express (which was a delight), but whereas P.E had real charm, warmth, festive spirit and genuine enchantment, A Christmas Carol falls flat.
Undoubtedly the C.G.I is impressive, especially in 3D. But this tale has been told and shown in so many ways before, we all know what to expect. And this one doesn't add anything just because it's rendered in state of the art graphics. In fact it loses it's charm, It feels cold, sterile and quickly put together.
There are far better examples of this charming tale out there, I recommend viewing or reading those.
Humbug.... ;)
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- Ang2911 from FIFE, SCOTLAND.
- Posted 16 Nov 2009 17:24
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Masterpiece
Be warned, in the cinema countless families left after the second scene because of how scary this film is. Its enough even to make grown ups shudder.
This is beautifully directed, one of the greatest stories remade perfectly in this animation. I loved this film so much even though I normally get annoyed by Jim Carey he was spot on here. I could watch this film again and again
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- Koppert from Scarborough
- Posted 15 Nov 2009 17:16
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Most recent members' reviews (2)
View all -
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Nice C.G.I but no charm
Tis the season (well almost)... and in search of a little early Christmas spirit, my husband and I went along to see Disney's 'A Christmas Carol'.
It aims to deliver in a similar style to Polar Express (which was a delight), but whereas P.E had real charm, warmth, festive spirit and genuine enchantment, A Christmas Carol falls flat.
Undoubtedly the C.G.I is impressive, especially in 3D. But this tale has been told and shown in so many ways before, we all know what to expect. And this one doesn't add anything just because it's rendered in state of the art graphics. In fact it loses it's charm, It feels cold, sterile and quickly put together.
There are far better examples of this charming tale out there, I recommend viewing or reading those.
Humbug.... ;)-
- Ang2911 from FIFE, SCOTLAND.
- Posted 16 Nov 2009 17:24
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Masterpiece
Be warned, in the cinema countless families left after the second scene because of how scary this film is. Its enough even to make grown ups shudder.
This is beautifully directed, one of the greatest stories remade perfectly in this animation. I loved this film so much even though I normally get annoyed by Jim Carey he was spot on here. I could watch this film again and again-
- Koppert from Scarborough
- Posted 15 Nov 2009 17:16
-
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
superb............................
-
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Nice C.G.I but no charm
Tis the season (well almost)... and in search of a little early Christmas spirit, my husband and I went along to see Disney's 'A Christmas Carol'.
It aims to deliver in a similar style to Polar Express (which was a delight), but whereas P.E had real charm, warmth, festive spirit and genuine enchantment, A Christmas Carol falls flat.
Undoubtedly the C.G.I is impressive, especially in 3D. But this tale has been told and shown in so many ways before, we all know what to expect. And this one doesn't add anything just because it's rendered in state of the art graphics. In fact it loses it's charm, It feels cold, sterile and quickly put together.
There are far better examples of this charming tale out there, I recommend viewing or reading those.
Humbug.... ;)-
- Ang2911 from FIFE, SCOTLAND.
- Posted 16 Nov 2009 17:24
-
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Masterpiece
Be warned, in the cinema countless families left after the second scene because of how scary this film is. Its enough even to make grown ups shudder.
This is beautifully directed, one of the greatest stories remade perfectly in this animation. I loved this film so much even though I normally get annoyed by Jim Carey he was spot on here. I could watch this film again and again-
- Koppert from Scarborough
- Posted 15 Nov 2009 17:16
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Joy to the World - An Amazing Film ... 100% recommended!
Brilliant movie ... best version I've seen of the classic, a close second is Alastair Sim's Scrooge (from 1951), and it was great of Jim Carrey to perfectly capture Sim's English accent, spot on. The CGI is just jaw-droppingly incredible; creating scenes of such dexterity and artistry that no non-CGI film could ever match, such as bird-like flying sequences that are mesmeric as they are thrilling. The recreation of old London town is phenomenally life-like and a delight to behold. We saw it at the iMAX in London, whose realism is so sharp you feel you are in the movie (honest!) - the engagement is truly magnificent. This sort of work takes movie-making to new heights and into a glorious future as the entertainment value is outstanding. The acting is brilliant too, some good actors here doing the voices ... and with a few tear-jerking scenes too (aah-hem ..), the film engrosses you in so many emotions that drain you; thanks also to excellent direction and pacing. Only negative for me is that there are a few rather scary scenes (it's a ghost movie after all) in here that had the under-8's squealing - 3D accentuates that, plus the menace flowing from the awesome sound system keeps you at the edge of your seat, and as clear as a bell too. I would thoroughly recommend this movie, perfect Xmas fare which will become an annual event I'm sure. Not to be missed on the silver screen though, it will lose some on a telly, I'd say ... check it out for yourselves!
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FAB!!
I couldn't wait to see this film especially the 3d version. I took my 3 daughters 14 and 10. There were parts that i thought were frightening for the younger ones but thankfully no visitors in our bed during the night! I just loved it! Definetly watching in 3d adds 'magic' to the film and now i cant wait for Alice in wonderland in 3d!! I'm such a big kid!!
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Dull & Contrived
I confess that I didn't want to see this in the first place as I have seen so many versions and I didn't expect there was any new slant to be put on it. I was dragged along my my 12yr old daughter and my mother and regrettably my thoughts were correct.
As with most of the new 3D offerings scenes and actions were contrived. The cinema going public needs to make its voice heard - 3D adds very little if anything to the experience and is often detrimental to the story - it seems to be a way of extorting more money from the audience.
However my main gripe about this film is that it was DULL & SLOW. We all agreed a mistake had been made going to see it . -
[Highly rated reviewer]
No Humbug Here!!!!
Saw this in 3D and was totally blown away. The 3D is absolutely brilliant as is the animation, and we all know what a great story this is already. Scrooge voiced by Jim Carey is wonderful and sounds just like Alistair Sim from the 1951 version. The whole story is here, plus a few extras which help encompass some of the more minor parts of the tale, like the selling of Scrooge's bed linen etc. One piece left out, which is a shame, is when the Cratchits receive the giant turkey at the end. Otherwise no more minor moans on which is almost a perfect film.
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- Maynard from Gillingham,
- Posted 30 Nov 2009 13:08
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Critics' reviews
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The third performance capture animation from writer-director Robert Zemeckis following The Polar... read more on Time Out