Advent Calendar 2017! - Day 15

 

 

Version: A Christmas Carol (2009, dir. Robert Zemeckis)

What I love about that screenshot of Scrooge is you can clearly see Jim Carrey's voice.

It seems the rule about animated versions having fun animal sidekicks for Scrooge doesn't extend to 3D animation. This version of the Scrooge/urchin scene from the 2009 film ticks all the right boxes. For one thing, it's one of the few animated versions that adapts the whole scene instead of cutting either the date half or the prized turkey half for time. The window is at a decent height, the performances are both good, and Scrooge gives a good reaction to the date. If I were to complain about anything, it'd be the boring character design. Scrooge's face is extremely expressive and good, but other than that it seems like this film isn't taking full advantage of the fact that it's animated. Rather than giving us a big, fun, floppy urchin cap and a garish patterned nightgown for Scrooge, everything just seems a little bland and lacking in character, particularly the urchin. Still, it's a good version, and the shot that moves from the close-up of Scrooge to a POV shot looking down at the urchin is wonderful.

Framing 7 out of 10.
Scrooge's Reaction To The Date 7 out of 10.
Urchin Accent 8 out of 10.
Window Height 10 out of 10.
Scrooge Nightgown Quality 6 out of 10.
Urchin Cap Quality 6 out of 10.
   
Final Score 7.3 out of 10. A really strong version with no obvious faults, other than perhaps boring character design.