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A tired old "Carol"
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Jim Carrey's latest movie venture is yet another remake of the holiday staple A Christmas Carol. He voices the notorious Mr. Scrooge (as well as the ghosts that haunt him) in the new Robert Zemeckis CGI creation. The trailer appears to offer an exciting, action-packed twist unlike previous versions that focused more on the moral tale of the greedy businessman. Unfortunately, the film is already being panned as just a technologically inundated film that fails to deliver. With so much star power behind it (Colin Firth and Gary Oldman lend their voices) how is it that this beloved story disappoints?
Many would consider a $31 million opening a huge success but this movies was an expensive piece to produce. At over $170 million it is already proving itself a failure at the box office. Critics had already warned of the impending bomb with sniping comments. Jake Coyle of the Associated Press says that the film "struggles to break through the films excessive wizardry" while movie website Cinematical rants that "the film has no personality at all. Not Carrey's or anybody else's." Ouch. To add insult to injury the film may have contributed to Disney exec Mark Zoradi's exit. Zoradi formerly handled worldwide marketing and distribution for Walt Disney Pictures but lately has had little luck popping out a big box office success.
If he was looking for it in A Christmas Carol he was sadly mistaken. A simple search on IMDB would have shown over twenty different remakes and numerous versions of the tired tale. Holiday themed movies with original storylines such as The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Santa Clause were both huge hits, the former of which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. Both pictures are Disney helmers and should have provided a huge hint as to what works during the holiday season.
Although the CGI in "Carol" is amazing critics say it is the only amazing thing about the film. Not even Carrey's over-the-top vocal skills and an intense marketing campaign have made a difference. Analyst Doug Creutz expects the movie to lose at least $50 million dollars. All the negative press can't be helping much either.
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