Scrooged rated PG-13 for brief nudity, some violence/gore, language, thematic material, and some drug use

As stated in an earlier post, there are many variations on the classic story of A Christmas Carol.  Although this film takes place in the 1980s, this version is the first of the more contemporary takes on the story.  There is more emphasis on humor in this picture which is probably what makes it one of the more preferred variations on Dickens' Christmas story.

In this version the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is portrayed instead as TV producer Frank Cross (played by Bill Murray).  Frank is attempting to successfully film a live production of A Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve no less.  He has no consideration for the fact that he is making people work on Christmas Eve.  His focus is on excellent ratings. He is so focused on ratings that, when he is told by a worker named Eliot Loudermilk (played by Bobcat Goldthwait)  that his tv promo caused a woman to die of a heart attack, he is pleased because he considers that to be a case of any press is good press.  Eliot gets fired on Christmas Eve after he tries to gently and respectfully suggest that the tv promo doesn't promote the spirit of Christmas.

After Frank gets frustrated from dealing with various snafus including having trouble with the censors,  trying to keep his smarmy rival Brice Cummings (played by John Glover) at bay, etc. Frank retreats to his office for a breather.  While in his office, the "Jacob Marley" of this picture,  Frank's former mentor Lew Hayward (played by John Forsythe) visits Frank and tells him that he will be visited by three spirits this night.  Frank initially scoffs just like the original Ebenezer.  Like the original Jacob Marley does to Ebenezer Scrooge,  Lew scares Frank into taking him seriously.  When Frank comes to, he is alone and convinces himself that it was just a dream.

Frank rejoins the production crew.  After getting fed up with the cast and crew, he retreats from the building.  At this time he meets the first spirit, the Spirit of Christmas Past in the form of a gruff taxi driver (played by David Johansen).  After his time with the Ghost of Christmas Past is finished, Frank finds himself back at the studio disrupting the production as it were.

And so it goes.  Frank has encounters with the subsequent Spirits and always finds himself back at the studio, usually disrupting the production.  Like the original Ebenezer, Frank learns about the Spirit of Christmas and determines to change.  The differences that were incorporated in this picture made sense and were all nice touches that added their own flair without taking away from the story.

All of the cast was excellent.  Robert Mitchum performs a brief role in the form of Frank's boss Preston Rhinelander.  Karen Allen is her usual adorably charming self as Frank's love interest Claire Phillips.  Finally,  Carol Kane is my personal favorite Christmas Spirit as the hilarious Ghost of Christmas Present.

There are some unexpectedly gory moments particularly revolving around Frank's mentor Lew.  Also, the Ghost of Christmas Future is at its most frightening in this version I think.