Watch Scrooged

In the Christmas comedy movie Scrooged from 1988, Bill Murray stars as Frank Cross, a cynical and selfish television executive at the fictional IBC Network. He's determined to produce a live broadcast of a unique version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, with himself in the lead role of Ebenezer Scrooge. Despite the holiday season in full swing, Frank is more interested in leveraging the event to drive ratings and commercial success. He even hires a young boy for the role of Tiny Tim, solely because he has suffered from leukemia, and it would give the company a heart-warming story to broadcast.

As the TV special takes shape, Frank is visited by several ghosts, including the Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to come. Each spirit takes him on a journey to his past, present, and future, to learn the true meaning of Christmas and his life's purpose.

Initially dismissive, Frank ultimately realizes the error of his ways and vows to make amends wherever he can. This leads to a most unusual finale, with Frank appearing as Santa Claus and delivering joy and kindness to everyone.

Scrooged is an updated comedic take on the classic Christmas story of A Christmas Carol. The film strikes the perfect balance between humor and sentimentality, making it a heartwarming and funny Christmas movie that can be enjoyed by all ages.

Bill Murray carries the film effortlessly, and his character's development from a grumpy and bitter man to a more compassionate person is handled gracefully. Karen Allen portrays Claire Phillips, Frank's ex-girlfriend, who rekindles his desire to live a happier life. John Forsythe takes on the role of Lew Hayward, Frank's boss who obsesses over ratings but ultimately grows to appreciate the true meaning of Christmas.

The film also features a talented ensemble of comedians, including Bobcat Goldthwait, Carol Kane, Robert Mitchum, and Alfre Woodard, each of whom brings their own humor to the story.

One of the standout moments of Scrooged is the television special within the film. The crew's preparation and absurdity of the production (actors being electrocuted, carolers bursting into flames, etc.) brilliantly satirize the highly commercialized televised holiday specials that often prioritize profit over tradition.

Overall, Scrooged is a Christmas classic that has aged well over the years. It manages to both entertain and remind us of the true meaning of the holiday season. The film's message is a gentle nudge towards being kinder to one another, and in turn, yourself. It's a message that is just as relevant today as it was over 30 years ago.

Scrooged is a 1988 fantasy movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 41 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 38.