Many questions come to mind upon viewing the latest remake of A Christmas Carol. Why have a release date so far from the holiday season? Why decide to use motion capture technology? Why cast Jim Carrey as not only Scrooge but also as two of the ghosts who visit him?

The odd release date works in the movies favor. In a time where many people are longing for the breaks that come along with Thanksgiving and Christmas, this movie acts as a simple and joyous treat that will undoubtedly leave you with a sense of holiday merriment. Most audience members will be familiar with Charles Dickinson’s classic tale, and if you have no previous knowledge of the story, I would strongly recommend seeing this film, because despite it’s shortcomings, the narrative at the core of the A Christmas Carol is heartfelt and brilliant.

That being said, for those who have seen a version of this story before, there will indeed be some problem areas. The motion capture technology, paired with 3D does indeed look majestic however, the director, Robert Zemeckis, is obviously a little too fascinated by the technology and proceeds to add countless scenes of Scrooge flying hastily through nineteenth century London. These over the top high-speed sequences serve little purpose and overall detract from the fluidity of the story telling.

Another big issue is Jim Carrey constant presence in the film. His Scrooge seems a bit forced, and I can’t see why a man closer in age to the Scrooge character could not have fulfilled this role. (Michael Kane had once done a fantastic job in this roll, where Muppets surrounded him instead of animation).  The ghost of Christmas past is played by Carrey, and instead of the endearing character usually seen, Carrey plays the ghost as an odd quirky half man half candlestick, and takes away from the enjoyment of revisiting fond moments of the past. Carrey’s best performance comes as the ghost of Christmas present, who appears in his massive form and is as joyous as ever.  However it is the death of the ghost of Christmas present and the arrival of the ghost of Christmas yet to come that sees this film take a turn for the better. The whole sequence is eerie, and slightly terrifying, but gives the audience the most real depiction of the book and the most creatively magnificent sequence of the entire film.

A big problem with this film, and a reason why it’s box office returns have been slightly disappointing, is that it is marketed to kids. It lacks the constant humor that most children’s movies offer, and it provides some truly terrifying themes and imagery. I would recommend watching the aforementioned Muppets Christmas Carol if I was to be with anyone under the age of 6.

A Christmas Carol is a treat for anyone who is a fan of the 3D format, and it will suffice for die-hard lovers of the story. However, if you have a chance to see the play on stage in the months to come, I would save my money for that occasion.

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