3 stars
As a dedicated fan of Charles Dickens' works, I also am a dedicated fan of several versions of his classic "A Christmas Carol."
From the Muppets movie to the 1951 version starring Alistair Sim, I have found something to love in nearly every film. And there's plenty to love in Robert Zemeckis' motion-capture animation that has been released woefully early in the year.
Jim Carrey is Ebenezer Scrooge, who is here depicted as a spidery, cadaverous figure whose bony hands usually clutch some kind of coin. In fact, without batting an eye, he removes the coins from the eyes of his deceased partner, right in front of an appalled undertaker.
Reluctantly, Scrooge gives his beleaguered clerk Bob Cratchit (Gary Oldman) a whole day off for Christmas Day. He refuses to spend Christmas Day with his nephew Fred (Colin Firth), and of course brushes him off with a "Humbug!"
Now it's Christmas Eve, seven years to the day after Marley's death. And Scrooge receives a visit from Marley, who is dragging around chains %u2013 the chains of greed and coldheartedness that he created when he was alive. Marley warns Scrooge that three more spirits will visit him: The Ghost of Christmas Past and the Ghost of Christmas Present (both played by Carrey) and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to come.
The look of this movie is delectable. It speeds viewers along aerial shots of old-time London, and these are lush scenes indeed, with St. Paul's rendered in some detail in the distance. The colors, the vapor coming from the mouths of the characters, are brought to life all the more when you enjoy this in 3-D. The 3-D itself deserves recognition, because it serves to enhance and not to interrupt the story.
The looming specters are beautifully wrought, particularly the candle-esque presence of the Ghost of Christmas Past, which flickers wonderfully. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, with its shadowy, silent presence, is quite fearsome %u2013 in fact, there are many truly scary scenes that probably make this unsuitable for small children.
One silly and unnecessary chase scene detracts from the otherwise fine caliber of the story telling. In this sequence, Scrooge shrinks down to the size of a mouse and speaks with a squeaky, cartoonish voice. Cutting this scene would make for a much better movie that's all the more loyal to the original tale.
Aside from that, it's fairly true to what Dickens wrote. And with a score that involves carols mentioned in Dickens' text, it's bound to get you in the mood for the holidays.
Running time: 96 minutes.
Rated: PG for frightening scenes.
Stars: Jim Carrey, Gay Oldman, Colin Firth, Robin Wright Penn, Bob Hoskins and Cary Elwes.
Director: Robert Zemeckis.
Screenwriters: Robert Zemeckis, based on the story by Charles Dickens.