I watched the short trailer for this straight-to-DVD film many times when I was younger, obviously I had seen dozens of adaptations of the classic Charles Dickens book, but I was interested to see what this one would be like. Basically, it is Christmas Eve in Victorian London, Ebenezer Scrooge (Tim Curry) is the Christmas hating businessman with a heart of ice. He treats everyone with contempt, including his clerk Bob Cratchit (Michael York) and nephew Fred, his only living relative. His only companion is his equally mean-spirited dog, Debit (Frank Welker). That night, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his business partner, Jacob Marley (Ed Asner), who warns him that must change his ways, and will be visited by three spirits. The first spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Past (Kath Soucie), a young boy, takes Scrooge (and Debit) back in time to see his childhood, where he was a lonely boy. As a young man, Scrooge was devastated by the death of his sister, Fan (also Soucie), and heartbroken when his true love, Belle (The Little Mermaid's Jodi Benson), ended their relationship, when he became obsessed with money. After the spirit returns home, Scrooge is next visited by the Spirit of Christmas Present (Whoopi Goldberg), who takes him around the city to see how those he knows are spending Christmas. He sees nephew Fred with his family, including his wife (Kelly Lester) celebrating with friend, and talking of him negatively. Scrooge also sees the family of Bob Cratchit, including his wife (also Soucie) and children, including the crippled and sick Tiny Tim (Jarrad Kritzstein). Finally, Scrooge encounters the most fearful of the spirits, the silent Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, who shows him the future. Scrooge sees many speaking of a man who has died and their gladness about it, and he is saddened to see Bob and his family mourning the death of Tiny Tim. Then Scrooge is taken to a gravestone, and is horrified to see his name on it, and begs the spirit to say something, promising to change his ways and honour Christmas. Scrooge wakes in his bedroom, with Debit, and he is delighted to still be alive. It is Christmas Day, so he shouts to a boy to go and buy the prize turkey from the shop and ventures out to wish everyone a "Merry Christmas". He bumps into two charity workers, that he previously insulted, and asks them to see him the following day to discuss a donation. The Cratchits are surprised to have a turkey delivered to them, and they are soon joined by Fred and his wife. Scrooge then shows up with Debit, initially presenting himself as his usual nasty self, before telling Bob that he will be raising his salary. Scrooge apologises to Fred, and they all celebrate Christmas together. Scrooge and Tiny Tim, who did not die, saying "God bless us, everyone!", and Scrooge sticks to his word and becomes a better man. With narration by Ian Whitcomb. Cutty is a fair choice as the voice of the recognisable miser, and the support of Goldberg, York and Benson is fine. It is only let down by the average animation style, the mixed original songs, and the predictability of the story, not even the addition of a dog really helps it feel original, a disappointing animated seasonal musical. Adequate!
Review of A Christmas Carol
