Murray Christmas

They just don’t make ’em like they used to — and thanks to Scrooged, Bill Murray’s paradigm-defining 1988 reinterpretation of A Christmas Carol, they’re making them better than they otherwise might. You don’t have to look far to see the influence of Scrooged on current, big-budget comedy fare; from the...

By Jef Otte

December 16, 2010

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They just don’t make ’em like they used to — and thanks to Scrooged, Bill Murray’s paradigm-defining 1988 reinterpretation of A Christmas Carol, they’re making them better than they otherwise might. You don’t have to look far to see the influence of Scrooged on current, big-budget comedy fare; from the oddball cameos to the commercial sendups to the contrived, feel-good monologue of a conclusion, Scrooged provided the tropes that films of its ilk have been using ever since.

And, yeah, they were almost as dumb then as they are now, but still — even if a big part of it is just nostalgia for those bygone days of shoulder pads and Bill Murray’s weird-ass hair, there’s something special about Scrooged. It’s got heart. And, of course, it’s got Murray himself, who carries the lead with effortless Bill Murray aplomb. (The actor’s recently acquired image as the arthouse portrait of restrained ennui creates the added bonus of making his manic hamming here seem almost confusing.) And if the other cultural touch-stones have gathered a little dust over the years (Lee Majors cameo, anyone?), they still retain a certain charm.

Catch Scrooged on the silver screen again tonight and tomorrow night at 10 p.m. at the Denver FilmCenter/Colfax, 2510 East Colfax Avenue. Regular admission is $9.75; for tickets or more information, go to www.denverfilm.org.
Dec. 17-18, 10 p.m., 2010

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