'Disney's A Christmas Carol' review

Jim Carrey as Ebenezer Scrooge (Credit: ImageMovers Digital)

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As if you didn't know the story, cheap ol' grouch Ebeneezer Scrooge (Jim Carrey) gets a major wake-up call from a trio of spirits who hope a tour through Scrooge's past, present and future will show the crank the error of his ways.

The buzz: Writer-director Robert Zemeckis used performance-capture technology for a burly, entertaining rendition of "Beowulf," but he also used it to turn "The Polar Express" into a creepy, soulless story free of any holiday cheer. The filmmaker's take on Charles Dickens could capture the Christmas spirit—or make it feel like Santa's reindeer smashing into a chimney.

The verdict: Does Zemeckis not realize that throwing out the charm and depth of classic holiday stories—and replacing them with busy action sequences—removes what people love about them? Carrey makes a good grump, and the animation's best when highlighting every cranky wrinkle in Scrooge's face. Otherwise the characters look like wax figures come to life, and the film is far too manic and intense for anyone's good (particularly young kids). In this morality tale, which winds up playing like the advertisement for an amusement park ride, Scrooge is supposed to be afraid of the truth, not the ghosts.

Did you know? Scrooge says that indigestion impairs your senses. Which is the only explanation for why every time you eat five double cheeseburgers your stomach looks like it's getting bigger.

Video: Watch Matt's review of 'A Christmas Carol'

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