Well it’s that time of year where Sky movies starts playing festive favourites in the countdown to Christmas day. I have to say I’m a little embarrassed that I’m only just watching this film..especially when there is both Jim Carrey, Robert Zemeckis and CGI thrown into the mix. Whenever there is an adaptation of a well known and loved novel made into a CGI film, I usually proceed with caution. However I should never have doubted this.

The story is the same as it’s been for the past 150+ years. On Christmas Eve night, Ebenezer Scrooge (Jim Carrey) is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future during which time he experiences a moment of clarity, redemption and forgiveness for his tight fisted and downright wicked ways. The animation is flawfless from the wrinkles on the skin, aged teeth, to the flick of his eerily boney fingers, Scrooge is a CGI character not to pushed aside. Granted that the images are not as wonderfully thought out like Shrek, it still is a well made animation.

I don’t agree with all the flack Jim Carrey got for being made lead in this film as I think he does a fantastic job at voicing, the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. He also voices Scrooge from child to present adult. Gary Oldman and Colin Firth provides their voice  talents too. Zemeckis refusing to not use too many stars in the film provides the narrative with originality, authenticity and homes in on tradition, which a well known story like this needs

Thanks to its brilliant art design, and extreme camera tricks, we get caught up in the atmosphere of joy and good tidings. We experience bitter English winter backdrops, and enjoy the view as Zemeckis flies us through and over the oppresiveness of Victorian London, ducking and diving between dusty chimneys and grimey narrow alleys. The CGI is effective and credit has to be given to Zemeckis who is never really hailed as a fantastic director. He did afterall bring us Forest Gump, Back to The Future and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

If you haven’t already seen it due to some rather bitter reviews and critiques, check it out. One thing I have to admit is Jim Carrey is a lot less irratating as we don’t have to put with him in the flesh! (Thank you God)

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Stars: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Robin Wright Penn, Bob Hoskins
Runtime: 95 mins
Cert: 15

Enjoy the trailer
Love and Light x