Frank Cross (Bill Murray) is an uncaring and unforgiving television executive whose live production of ‘A Christmas Carol’ is more important to him than any true meaning of Christmas. Before the night is over, he’ll take a hilarious journey through his past and into the future to find redemption and put a little love in his heart.
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Video Quality
Scrooged makes its hotly anticipated 4K UHD Blu-Ray debut with a gorgeous 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer that handily bests the previous Blu-Ray release. That Paramount Blu-Ray release from 2011 has been released again and again in various forms over the years, so it is nice to finally get a fresh look at this film which restores it to its full glory. That disc was not universally maligned like some Paramount catalog releases from this era, but there was certainly room for significant improvement which has been achieved here. The film has finally been given the remaster it deserves and served up on 4K UHD. While it does not achieve absolute perfection, it will be a great presentation for the film if this is the last stop.
The implementation of Dolby Vision brings out so much nuance within this holiday palette. The season offers numerous colorful environments that deliver a visual spectacle unlike ever before. From the red and green of the Christmas production to the lights and key articles of clothing, hues radiate off the screen. The picture retains a stellar amount of detail in the shadowy moments of the journey. Black levels display a much greater depth and control than the anemic-looking Blu-Ray release. Highlights are likewise much more robust and stable without veering into blooming. All print damage has been eliminated for a clean and consistent viewing experience.
This new 4K UHD Blu-Ray retains most of the natural film grain which delivers texture and detail within the transfer. There are subtle aspects of the production design that can be seen clearly for the first time on home entertainment. The clarity of the transfer brings out a greater amount of facial detail, and thanks to this the performers appear more textured and natural than ever before. The transfer does have fleeting scenes that have either encountered some DNR or inconsistent encoding, which offers a slight stumbling block to the consistent, organic appearance. This is far from the worst we have seen on the format, and most will not find it to be too distracting. This transfer is a rich improvement for fans who have been waiting for this holiday favorite.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray delivers a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that delivers exactly what this movie needs even without an upgraded audio format. All of the sounds in the mix appear to be thoughtfully implemented so that nothing ever feels erroneously positioned. The delightful score from Danny Elfman is grand and gorgeous as it emanates through the room with flawless fidelity. Dialogue comes through clearly without any sound effects or the soundtrack drowning out important information. The soundscape is surprisingly complex with numerous elements happening at once in this bustling narrative. The surround channels provide some rich ambient details that are quite welcome. The subwoofer comes alive as needed for some great texture. Paramount has delivered in the audio department.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Director Richard Donner has his audio commentary track released for the first time, and audiences will likely appreciate the effort. Donner is not always the most engaging without someone to bounce off of, but he provides some nifty information about the performers on set, the motivations behind certain creative decisions, and a lot more that is well worth a listen.
- A Christmas To Remember: A 14-minute featurette in which the cast and creative team discuss the origins of the film, the direction of Richard Donner, the casting of the ensemble, the atmosphere on set, and more.
- Updating Ebenezer: A 14-minute look at the initial idea for the film, the efforts to update the classic story, the script from Mitch Glazer and Michael O’Donoghue, the elements they took from their lives working in television, what Bill Murray brought to the character, the dynamics added to the ensemble, and more.
- Bringing The Ghosts To Life: A 10-minute look at the elements with the three ghosts including the practical effects, the difficulties of certain characters, the performances, and more.
- The Look Of Scrooged: A nearly seven-minute look at the production design of the film, the tone they wanted to achieve, and more.
- On Set With Bill Murray: Two brief videos are provided that show some moments with Bill Murray on set including some time in the hair and makeup chair, scene preparation, goofing around, and more.
- Brother’s Apartment (3:22)
- Frisbee The Dog (3:41)
- ShoWest Clips With Bill Murray: Two brief humorous bits with Bill Murray are provided to play at the theater convention ShoWest.
- The Best Money Can Buy (1:15)
- Now Everybody Get Up! (0:59)
Final Thoughts
Scrooged is deservedly a favorite among holiday comedies, and it stands as one of the most entertaining overall adaptations of the Charles Dickens text. Richard Donner utilizes his directorial talents to handle the scale of the story to work in harmony with the interpersonal humor. Bill Murray is in top form, and the ensemble is stacked with impressive talent to support his chaotic whims. This one is a fun one to return to every holiday season. Paramount Home Entertainment has released a terrific new 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a great A/V presentation and some fun, previously unreleased special features. If you have been waiting for this movie to get a worthy release, the time has come. Highly Recommended
Scrooged is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Paramount Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.