I can not believe that Allen Menken of Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin fame wrote the songs for this god-awful piece of yuletide fluff....hammy acting, forgettable songs, and the worst script i've ever seen. It's almost as if they threw it together on a bet to see who could produce "a christmas carol" the most rapidly. Is there a song in here that doesn't include the phrases "rat-tat-tat" or "harum-pump-a-pum-pum"?
shareEveryone's entitled to their opinion but you're all crazy! This version was great. The Jacob Marley scene was the scariest version I've ever seen. I also love the music as well.
[deleted]
I saw this film on television today and was not expecting much, to be honest.
Having watched it I was pleasantly surprised. It was on the right side of so-so, certainly watchable on a dull winter's afternoon.
The definitive musical version of the story is the 1970 movie 'Scrooge' with Albert Finney in the eponymous role, along with some great British actors of yesteryear such as Edith Evans and Kenneth More.
The music in that is better too. There is nothing in this version to compare with Scrooge's 'Thankyou very much' for example.
Someting is wrong here. I just watched this version on DVD and I really cant believe all the negative comments. The music is really nice. All of the melodies are catchy and the vocals are pretty amazing for TV personalities.
I loved Kelsey as Scrooge and absolutely loved Jason Alexander as Jacob. Link-by-Link was just really fun to watch and listen to.
The acting wasnt nearly as bad as everyone is saying and I think all the main parts were actually played well.
I know everyone is bashing this version and saying how cheesy it is but I think that if your watching it knowing it was made for TV and you're in the Christmas spirit, you may actually enjoy it.
It's really difficult for me to see Kelsey Grammar as anyone other than Frasier. He was so strong in that role. So, I just turned this movie on, and my first thought was "There's Frasier putting on A Christmas Carol." That's exactly something Frasier would do, and he'd put himself in the starring role!
- Sally
The perfect human being is uninteresting. - Joseph Campbell
ra-tat-tat-tat..... this song is trying to mimic victorian music hall songs, that would often have a meaningless , repeated phrase that the audiences would join in singing. Yes, its annoying, but Menkin has used it here for a reason.
And Link by link... Its a good song, with some good visuals, and in a better production would stand out from all the other numbers.
I would worry more about the references to Christmas trees, as at the time covered in the Ghost of Christmas past.. they didnt exist in England.
I think you need to get over yourselves. The basic story has, long ago, been aimed at a younger viewer. "Adults" should know the lessons trying to be taught here. If the rest of us could sing, dance, act, maybe we could put up a better show. This version did it a little different, that's all!! Maybe not better, just different. I won't comment about whether I liked it or not. My one opinion would be that: It is better than the Music Man remake.
shareIt's been such a long time since I saw it that Christmas in 2004, so I barely remember it. But yeah, it was AWFUL. I saw Scrooge: The Musical with Albert Finney years later, and it was a much better Christmas Carol musical.
Jason Alexander as Jacob Marley? Seriously? I don't think Alexander really understands that character. He was just not a good fit for Marley at all; plus, the first thing he does when he makes his appearance is run up to Scrooge and hug him...no. That's a Jason Alexander thing; Jacob Marley doesn't do that.
And there's that ballroom scene at Fezziwig's, oh my gosh!!! That scene was awful!!! Rat-tat-tat for the main chorus lyrics? Are you kidding me? Badly choreographed, badly written music, badly performed. I'll take December the 25th from Scrooge: The Musical over that any day.
Special criticism goes toward what were they thinking when they made the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come a mere old lady instead of the faceless Phantom in a black cloak?
Terrible songs, terrible acting...complete let-down.
Nothing, or no-one, could possibly match the incomparable Alistair Sim version of 1951. It was genuinely scary and the special effects, for their day, were great. This Kelsey Grammar version left me cold as ironically enough, it looked as though the production team filmed in high summer. And whoever thought that the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come should have a face? When I was a kid I found this ghost genuinely frightening, without speaking and without seeing a face. Alistair Sim was always a delight to watch, and he surpassed himself here.