'A Christmas Carol' : Jim Carrey brings a new animated spin to an old classic tale

November 7, 4:54 PMBoston Movie ExaminerTim Estiloz

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       Jim Carrey plays Ebenezer Scrooge facing his ghosts in "A Christmas Carol"

      The holiday season is soon approaching... and, with that - comes the gift-wrapped plethora of Hollywood versions of the time honored literary classic, Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol".

    Over the years... we've witnessed film offerings of this unforgettable story in many incarnations... from the old 1951 black and white British version starring Alistair Sim to Albert Finney in the highly entertaining 1970 musical "Scrooge"

... to the grotesque modern update of the story, "Scrooged" starring the usually infallible Bill Murray.  

    Heck... there's even been a pretty well received and faithful cartoon version of this classic story starring Mr. Magoo.

                      Jim Carrey as Scrooge before he faces the Ghosts of Christmas

    Now, Jim Carrey, director Robert Zemeckis... and the dream factory at Disney are taking a crack at re-imagining the story via CGI animation and 3D with Disney's "A Christmas Carol".   This version of the wonderfully familiar tale of Ebenezer Scrooge... and his yuletide journey of moral reinvention is actually an entertaining... though, not entirely perfect concoction.  

     Jim Carrey plays the pivotal role of Ebenezer Scrooge... a miserly and miserable old businessman who's penny-pinching existence has left him friendless, embittered and intolerant of anything joyful and without profit... especially, Christmas.   Disney's "A Christmas Carol" thankfully stays faithful to much of the dialogue, plot and spirit of the Dickens' classic... as we follow Scrooge through his now familiar encounter with the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.  All four of these characters in the film are portrayed by Carrey with mixed results.

     As we know... Scrooge is led by these yuletide spirits to revisit his past when he was once an idealistic young man filled with hope, happiness and love... before time and life's travails slowly change Scrooge into a cold, increasingly isolated man seemingly incapable of seeing the goodness and joy of life itself... let alone the Christmas season. 

     Along the way, we meet Scrooge's loyal, but put upon and belittled employee Bob Cratchit played by Gary Oldman... and we encounter along with Scrooge, Bob's poor but happy family... that, of course includes Crachit's ill, but irrepressibly optimistic young son, Tiny Tim.   Scrooge's journey also introduces us his lost young love, played by Robin Wright Penn... and how Scrooge drives her - like so many others in his miserly life away... in his quest for profit over something deeper.

    Colin Firth plays Scrooge's estranged nephew... who tries his very best to engage and welcome his Uncle Scrooge into his family... and the true spirit of Christmas, with dismal and unsuccessful results each year.

    Of course, the familiar story leads us and Scrooge through the years of Christmases past through the future... presenting Scrooge with an ultimately empty, lonely and sadly unremarkable end if he does not change his soulless ways towards those around him... and, indeed, change his life.

         Colin Firth plays Scrooge's estranged nephew

     Zemeckis and Carrey bring some new and refreshing life to this all too well known classic tale.  Zemeckis has presented this film in the CGI motion capture animation technique he initially used with Tom Hanks in "The Polar Express" and later in "Beowulf". 

    Unlike those films, especially "The Polar Express" which had animation that seemed as dead and soulless as Scrooge's character in this film... the animation in "A Christmas Carol" is a visual delight and feast for the eyes. 

    Zemeckis uses the animation and the 3D technique to take the audience on a highly detailed, visually stunning journey that truly captures the atmosphere of Victorian England in all it's architectural splendor and beauty... as well as London's dark, grungy, poor side as well.

    While the performances by Carrey and company range from quite entertaining to simply acceptable... it's the brilliant animation and art direction that takes center stage in this film and gives it it's entertaining edge to stake it's own place amid the many film versions of the Dickens story.   The 3D effects are on hand mainly to enhance the experience, rather than gratuitously exploit it's use in the film in a gimmicky way. 

    Zemeckis' use of the animation technique gives us a unique perspective via unique camera angles, colors and action... that might not be possible, or at least cost-effective in a live action version.  As a result, "A Christmas Carol" has a magical quality in many scenes that are a delight to behold and experience.

    That's not to say Zemeckis doesn't go overboard in some places in this film.  A few scenes involving Scrooge being chased by a team of ghostly horses... Scrooge's being shrunk to the size of a mouse... and a silly rocket powered flight miles above London into a moonlit night sky... all seem rather out of place in this story.  Those specific scenes are unnecessary and detract from the simple magic of the story's core theme.  However, overall... the animation is superb.

    However, the characters in the film... no matter how well animated and CGI created, still need the human element of strong performances by the real life actors.  Carrey is pleasantly restrained... in comparison to his other, sometimes manic film roles, as Scrooge.  He brings a nice comic touch to the old miser... and manages at times to bring a much needed degree of pathos and empathy to the character.  

    Carrey also plays the three spirits of Christmas past, present and future to varying degree of effectiveness.   While the spirits do their requisite part in the film, it was difficult to really sense anything compelling in having Carrey do all four roles... save for giving the actor more screen time. 

    Gary Oldman also pulls multiple on-screen duty by not only playing Bob Cratchit; but also, lends his voice to that of Tiny Tim.  However, Oldman shines as the frightening and tormented Jacob Marley, Scrooge's deceased business partner... and the first spirit to visit Scrooge's on his long night ahead.  Bob Hoskins, Carey Elwes and again, Robin Wright Penn have smaller roles that move the story along just fine. 

    Although, one wonders about little choices made by Zemeckis in the film... such as making Bob Cratchit almost as small as young Tiny Tim... or having Bob Hoskins as Scrooge's ebullient and zaftig former boss, Fezziwig doing acrobatics that seem unrealistic even for an animated film that's based in some realm of reality storytelling. 

    Still, despite these minor drawbacks, Disney's "A Christmas Carol" is a welcome and overall entertaining addition to the Scrooge cinematic library.  It may not please everyone... especially purists of the Dickens story who prefer it told in a straightforward, no frills manner.  However, the frills in this film make it worth seeing.  

    Disney's "A Christmas Carol" stays true enough to the original story and spirit of the classic tale... with some added visual punch thrown in... making it a wonderful cinematic gift for the holidays.

      For more info about TV entertainment reporter / film critic, Tim Estiloz visit : www.TimEstiloz.com and see his video interviews with many of Hollywood's top film and TV stars on his You Tube channel: FilmFanTV  ... and video reviews at Boston Latino TV : http://bostonlatino.tv/