FILM REVIEW: DISNEY'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL

By Michael Phillips

Tribune Newspapers Critic

2-1/2 stars

Robert Zemeckis has long been a filmmaker divided against himself, the techno-geek warring with the storyteller. His newest work, "Disney's A Christmas Carol" (Charles Dickens - demoted!), is an extravaganza of colliding intentions. But just when you give up on it, usually in the middle of its latest, extraneous, gyroscoping thrill-ride sequence, Zemeckis reminds you that he's capable of true visual dynamism, enhanced but not wholly dictated by the digital landscape he so clearly adores.

Plus, Jim Carrey is good as Scrooge. There's surprisingly little shtick in his performance. (He plays all the key ghosts as well, and Scrooge at various stages of his younger life.)

I'm all over the place regarding this all-over-the-place project, though I prefer it to Zemeckis' previous motion-capture animated features, "The Polar Express" (2004) and "Beowulf" (2007). Those really gave me the willies. Why did Anthony Hopkins have a digital beard in "Beowulf"? I still wake up screaming over that one. I can't spend all that time in the uncanny valley between doll-like inhumanity and approximations of humanity without starting to sweat.

With "A Christmas Carol," at least, Zemeckis has hold of a story that flies around and flits through time, so the whiz-bang aerial swoops over 1840s London aren't entirely jarring. In many ways Zemeckis' adaptation stays true to its source. The best scenes are the quietest: Early on, as we follow Scrooge through his petty, venal paces, Carrey (digitally outfitted with a chin and a nose of roughly equal length) plays the character's meanness and solitude for keeps. It's a thoughtful and honest performance, which is a strange thing to say about a film so hung up on visual fakery.

The actors do their thing, and then Zemeckis and his fellow lab technicians take over. Gary Oldman provides the raw performance fodder for Bob Cratchit (who, as digitally manipulated, resembles Joe E. Brown) as well as Tiny Tim. Bob Hoskins turns up as Mr. Fezziwig, among others. Zemeckis has made strides since "The Polar Express" in terms of facial expressivity. And yet I remain cold to the motion-capture genre. Or rather, it remains cold to me. I always feel like the eyes aren't right, the foreheads are too Botoxed and the teeth were stolen from George Washington.

Here's what I wish Zemeckis would do: I wish he would explore a variation on motion-capture technology that takes us out of the uncanny valley and into more daring, less realistic imaginings. The most fluid individual passages in "A Christmas Carol" - not the flashy stuff, but the simple, street-level moments - reveal a director who knows how to keep his roving, restless camera eye on the right story details. Half the time he seems to be thinking ahead to the next step in the movie's commercial afterlife, i.e., the inevitable Disneyland and Disney World attractions. The other half of the time, he's doing what he's supposed to be doing as a cinematic storyteller. And even if you don't personally respond to the style, you admire the dogged craftsman behind it.

MPAA rating: PG (for scary sequences and images).

Running time: 1:36.

Cast: Jim Carrey (Ebenezer Scrooge/Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come); Gary Oldman (Bob Cratchit/Tiny Tim/Young Marley/Marley's Ghost); Colin Firth (Fred); Robin Wright Penn (Belle/Fan); Bob Hoskins (Old Fezziwig/Old Joe); Cary Elwes (Dick Wilkins/Mad Fiddler, et al.).

Credits: Directed by Robert Zemeckis; written by Zemeckis, based on the novella by Charles Dickens; produced by Steve Starkey, Zemeckis and Jack Rapke. A Walt Disney Pictures release.




Recent Videos
"The Blind Side"
Actress Sandra Bullock talks to San Diego 6 about her role in the new movie. 11/20/09
Fans Line Up
Thousands of Twilight fans are lining up to see New Moon. 11/19/09
Twilight Saga: New Moon
Actress Kristen Stewart talks about the much anticipated sequel. 11/17/09
"The Seafarer"
Actor Richard Harkin appears in "The Seafarer" now on stage in San Diego. 11/16/09
Robert Pattinson
"Edward" from "New Moon" sits down with San Diego 6's Kelli Gillespie.
Sandra Bullock
"Blind Side" star Sandra Bullock describes the real life story behind her latest film.
Doomsday?
NASA says it's been bombarded with emails from people terrified the world will end on December 21st, 2012 as proferred by the new movie. 11/13/09
Gin Blossoms
Gin Blossoms Guitarist/Singer Jesse Valenzuela stops by San Diego 6 News in the Morning.
"2012"
Actor John Cusack stars in the movie "2012." 11/10/09
"Pirate Radio" Bill Nighy
Bill Nighy talks with Kelli Gillespie about "Pirate Radio" and the upcoming Harry Potter films. 11/6/09
"90210" Star Michael Steger
The actor who plays Navid on the CW's "90210" stops by San Diego 6 News in the Morning. 11/9/09
Paula Patton in Precious
San Diego 6 reporter Kelli Gillespie recently sat down with actress Paula Patton to talk about her role in the dramatic film Precious. 11/8/09
John Cusack in 2012
San Diego 6 entertainment reporter Kelli Gillespie went to Jackson Hole, WY to talk with John Cusack about "2012." 11/08/09
"Boondock Saints" Sequel
Actor Sean Patrick Flannery, writer/director Troy Duffy, producer Chris Brinker discuss their new film and how San Diegans can meet them.
BestFest
San Diego hosts the largest film festival featuring the work of college and high school students. 11/5/09
"The Prisoner"
Actor Jim Caviezel stars in "The Prisoner." 11/5/09
"Pirate Radio" Nick Frost
Entertainment reporter Kelli Gillespie sits down with Nick Frost to talk about living on a boat to film "Pirate Radio." 11/01/09
Kelli's Must Watch Scary Movie Picks
Get in to the spooky Halloween spirit with horror fils, thrills and shows. 10/30/09
Halloween in Hollywood
San Diego 6 enetertainment reporter Kelli Gillespie offers a holiday themed entertainment segment that includes a top ten horror films of all time. 10/31/09
Fear Factor
Why do we enjoy movies that scare us so much? 10/30/09
Michael Jackson's "This is It" 7:30 a.m.
Reviewing the new movie featuring behind the scenes and rehearsal footage. 10/28/09
Michael Jackson's "This is It"
Reviewing the new movie featuring behind the scenes and rehearsal footage. 10/28/09
"Amelia"
Hilary Swank, Richard Gere & Ewan McGregor star in this true story about Amelia Earhart. 10/23/09
Actress Christina Schollin
The famed Swedish actrees is in San Diego for an appearance at the House of Sweden. 10/26/09
"The Lion King"
On stage at San Diego Civic Theatre through November 8th. 10/21/09
"Amelia" Plane in San Diego
The curator of the San Diego Air & Space Museum talks about the Lockheed Vega model that was used in the movie is now on display at the museum. 10/20/09
Where The Wild Things Are
San Diego 6 entertainment reporter Kelli Gillespie recently sat down with actors Max Records and Catherine Keener to talk about their roles in the new Spike Jonze film Where The Wild Things Are. 10/18/09
Paranormal Activity Home
The hit horror film Paranormal Activity was made right here in San Diego. 10/15/09
Actor Robert Englund
The actor best known for playing Freddy Krueger writes his memoir, "Hollywood Monster."
Spit Out Your Gum
A humorous look at gum chewing. 10-13-09
More Releases
Planet 51
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
The Blind Side
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
Twilight
2012
Pirate Radio
Oh My God?
The Box
Precious: Based on the Novel ``Push'' by Sapphire
Disney's A Christmas Carol
Disney's A Christmas Carol 3D
Disney's A Christmas Carol: An IMAX 3D Experience
The Men Who Stare at Goats
The Fourth Kind
Upcoming Releases
Avatar
A former Marine (Sam Worthington) falls in love with a native (Zoe Saldana) of a lush alien planet.
All Releases by Month
  This site is hosted and managed by Inergize Digital Media.