Title: A Christmas Carol
Year of Release: 2018
Available On: Tubi as of November 2021
Rating: 1.5 out of 5 Jingle Bells
I mean, you need only look at this image to get a sense of what you’re in for with this one. I could’ve made another decision, probably should have, but I value you and your time to let you know my thoughts on this rebooted (for the millionth time) classic with a contemporary Scottish twist.
The animated opening lulls you into a false sense of security. The credits were kind of cute! But immediately, you meet our Scrooge (Stuart Brennan), who looks more than a bit like Colin Farrell, and he fires two employees for being five minutes late. Scrooge is a motherfucker, an asshole, all of that is par for the Dickensian course. But this version was written such that he literally says “bah humbug” every 20-30 seconds. And tells off volunteers who are doing fundraising, makes a donation on behalf of his employees’ Christmas bonuses so that he can write it off and avoid giving his employees anything. Fuck a capitalist, obviously, but wow, he’s a particularly nasty one. Not to mention abusing his poor Cratchet (Sarina Taylor), a woman in this version.
Bonnie Wright is clearly the star of this show and I’m sad that we are 16-minutes in and haven’t met her character yet. (Spoiler: it’s because she’s dead oops.)
You already know the story, but this version is … I don’t recommend it. Don’t watch this movie.
Christmasterpiece Theater: Holiday Movie Reviews 