Rating
2.5

Created using the performance-capture style of film-making seen in such films as Beowulf and The Polar Express, A Christmas Carol tells the tale of greedy senior citizen Ebenezer Scrooge, played to perfection by Jim Carrey.

Carrey, who also plays the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, humanizes the bitter Scrooge, offering glimmers of his trademark charm amid Scrooge’s cool exterior.

Unfortunately, the rest of the film falls flat due to the original story’s overexposure. Everyone has heard the tale in some way, shape or form, whether through the likes of Mr. Magoo or the Muppets. This makes the majority of the film predictable, with the only new material coming in the form of modern special effects.
These effects are used to create a breathtaking backdrop of 17th century London. The character designs are also visually stunning. Credit Director Robert Zemeckis for crafting a film that is very pleasing to the eye.

If A Christmas Carol had been released years earlier, it would no doubt be a classic film incarnation of a timeless holiday novel. As it stands, it is just another Christmas flick saved by stunning visuals and the presence of Jim Carrey.