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Show Chronicle Page Eight Friday, December 2, 1988 'Scrooged' classier than other Dickens remakes By Darken Tucker Chronicle staff writer stupid trash that's been made out of this classic. That is, I visited by-y- ou . guessed ghosts. didn't like the remakes until I saw the film, Scrooged. I The ghost of Christmas Past is a bizarre cabby (David Scrooged is funny. It is, as a matter of fact, a plain old Johansen) who takes Cross on the ride of his life. TWe good time. But through all of the humor, ghost of Christmas Present is a the movie doesn't lose the message of the original story. miry type (Carol Kane) who's first action in the movie i$ Scrooged is the story of the youngest television net- j to give Cross a crotch shot-a- nd the abuse continues. The work president in history. Frank Cross (played by Bill ghost of Christmas Future is the classic grim reaper witht Murray) hates Christmas, and plans on exploiting the a modern twist-- he has a video screen for a face. holiday for every rating point it's worth. j Cross's girlfriend is played by Karen Allen. She's the', What he plans is a live television broadcast of A 'perfect opposite to Cross. She works at a homeless shelter' Christmas Carol starring Buddy Hacket as scrooge and and is a caring, giving She comes back into person. The Solid Gold Dancers as the Christmas carolers. It is Cross's life and tries to turn him around, but to no avail. to be broadcast on Christmas Eve, when the cast and The ghosts have to do their work, crew would rather be home with their families. j This movie is really fun to watch. The special effects But Cross is in for a little surprise. He's going to be are great, the sets are realistic, and the costuming, which runs from scenes in the 50s to future scenes, is a marvel. The film is and includes some of the funniest work I've seen in a long time. Bill Murray, as usual, turns in an incredibly funny role. He is serious in such a funny way. He's perfect as it-t- hree Scrooged Paramount Pictures Directed bv Richard Donner Produced by Richard Dormer and Art Linson j Starring Bill Murray rip-snorti- s . i , ng . There have been so many remakes of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, every time I hear the name Scrooge I want to puke. They've done remakes from everyone from Mr. Magoo to George C. Scott and Henry Winkler. It's not that I don't like the story, it's that I don't like it I don't like the trite, trivial, what's been done with sweet-Uttle-sugar-plu- rn . fast-pace- d, m r the . 'tw' fS cold-hearte- d, executive. Only money-hungr- y Murray could make you laugh so hard at such a creep. All of the ghosts are also excellent, but the funniest by far has to be Kane as the sugar plum fairy. She has the perfect little sweet voice that could give you sugar diabetes just listening to it. But don't be deceived, she is going to accomplish her job no matter what she has to do. And she does it. She slaps Cross pulls his hair, and hits him with a toaster. Kane and Murray have some of the best scenes of the film one when Cross tells the fairy, "If you hit me one more time, I'll rip your wings off!" the one Maybe disappointing part of the film is Karen Allen's part as Cross's girlfriend, Claire Phillips. It's not that I doubt Allen's acting ability (she plays die part as well as anyone could) but the role is lacking. The screen writers seem to have left her in a corner somewhere, and her part doesn't develop into what it could be. She's a little too serious and consequently, she can't help but be overshadowed by all the great comedy in the film. There is a place in this film for a more serious role, but the screen writers didn't pull it off. Overall, this is a great holiday movie. Instead of being trite, stupid, too mushy (it does have its mushy moments, though), and so sweet it gives you a stomach ache, it's funny, well made, and makes a point without being preachy. Even if you dislike Scrooge remakes like I do, go and see this one-it- 'U surprise you. together-inclu- ding god-damn- vr ukr In Scrooged, Bill Murray plays Frank Cross, a television president who exploits the holidays for rating points. He is visited by Carol Kane, who plays a sadistic ghost of Christmas Present. ed , It took Galileo 16 years to master the eeiverse. You have one eight It seems unfair. The genius had all that time. While you have a few short hours to learn your sun spots from your satellites before the ' dreaded astronomy exam. On the other hand, Vivarin gives you the definite advantage. It helps keep you awake and mentally alert for hours. Safely and conveniently. So even when the subject matter's dull, your mind will stay razor sharp. If Galileo had used Vivarin, maybe he could have mastered the solar Revive with YIVARIN! Hit s directed Contahu caffeine equivalent of two cups o( coflw. O Beechim Inc. 1988 |