A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

2009Movie96 minEnglish

Miser Ebenezer Scrooge is awakened on Christmas Eve by spirits who reveal to him his own miserable existence, what opportunities he wasted in his youth, his current cruelties, and the dire fate that awaits him if he does not change his ways. Scrooge is faced with his own story of growing bitterness and meanness, and must decide what his own future will hold: death or redemption.

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Insights

IMDb6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes53%
Metacritic58/100
Google Users78%
Director: Robert ZemeckisGenres: Animation, Family, Fantasy, Drama

Plot Summary

This animated adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic tale follows the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas Eve. Visited by three spirits – the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come – Scrooge is forced to confront his past, present, and future. The journey aims to reform his cold heart and teach him the true meaning of generosity and the Christmas spirit.

Critical Reception

Robert Zemeckis' motion-capture adaptation of 'A Christmas Carol' received a mixed to positive reception. Critics praised its visual ambition and Jim Carrey's vocal and physical performances as Scrooge and the Ghosts. However, many found the animation style to be unsettling or creepy, and some felt the film lacked the warmth and emotional depth of previous adaptations, deeming it overly dark for a Christmas film.

What Reviewers Say

  • Visually impressive with strong performances, particularly from Jim Carrey.
  • The motion-capture animation is technically advanced but can be off-putting and detracts from the emotional core.
  • A darker and more intense rendition of the classic story that may alienate some viewers expecting a lighter holiday fare.

Google audience: Audience reviews generally appreciate the film's ambitious animation and Jim Carrey's committed performance. However, many viewers found the visual style to be unnerving and the tone too frightening for younger audiences or traditional Christmas moviegoers. Some also felt it didn't capture the heartwarming essence of the original story as effectively as other adaptations.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, Saturn Award for Best Animated Film.

Fun Fact

Jim Carrey played five different roles in the film: Ebenezer Scrooge as an old man, Ebenezer Scrooge as a young man, Scrooge as a boy, the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. He also did the voice work for all these characters.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

It takes a bit of getting used to the rather angular style of animation, but thereafter this is quite an enjoyable adaptation of Charles Dickens' tale of the wealthy miser "Scrooge". He hates Christmas with a vengeance - all that good will ...
r96sk

r96sk

A tale that almost feels as old as time itself, one that is very much overtold. However, this <em>'A Christmas Carol'</em> is a good retelling of Charles Dickens' work. Jim Carrey isn't necessarily firing on all cylinders, but is enterta...
The Movie Diorama

The Movie Dioram...

A Christmas Carol sings the haunted verses of Dickens through disjointed emotionless motion capture. “Bah! Humbug!” Zemeckis had always been fascinated with digital cinema. ‘The Polar Express’ was technological innovation at its more pure, ...