- Film Review
- Reviewed By John Ferguson
-
3 out of 5
For the opening quarter, this is a joyously black Christmas treat with Bill Murray at his sour-faced best as a monstrous TV executive preparing for the festive break by sacking staff, planning a season of violence and ordering mini antlers to be stapled on the heads of mice. However, being an update of A Christmas Carol, it is not long before sentimentality starts seeping in, as Murray is shown what a miserable heel he is by unconventional ghosts John Forsythe, Carol Kane and David Johansen. It's a missed opportunity, but some gags still hit the mark and there's a stream of starry cameos: Robert Mitchum, John Houseman, Buddy Hackett, Lee Majors and Mary Lou Retton.
Plot Summary
Seasonal comedy, starring Bill Murray, Karen Allen and featuring Robert Mitchum. Frank Cross, the youngest network president in television history, is a man who hates Christmas and plans to exploit the holidays to attract as many viewers as possible, no matter what it takes. However, Frank is about to be visited by three unconventional ghosts who will go to any lengths to make him change his mean-spirited ways.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Frank Cross
- Bill Murray
- Claire Phillips
- Karen Allen
- Lew Hayward
- John Forsythe
- Eliot Loudermilk
- Bobcat Goldthwait
- Preston Rhinelander
- Robert Mitchum
- Ghost of Christmas Present
- Carol Kane
- Brice Cummings
- John Glover
- Ghost of Christmas Past
- David Johansen
- Grace Cooley
- Alfre Woodard
- Earl Cross
- Brian Doyle-Murray
- Herman
- Michael J Pollard
- Woman in shelter
- Anne Ramsey
- James Cross
- John Murray
- Calvin Cooley
- Nicholas Phillips
- Grandma
- Mabel King
- Jacob Marley
- Jamie Farr
- June Cleaver
- June Chandler
- Wally Cleaver
- Michael Eidam
- Buddy Hackett
- Buddy Hackett
- John Houseman
- John Houseman
- Robert Goulet
- Robert Goulet
- Mary Lou Retton
- Mary Lou Retton
- Lee Majors
- Lee Majors
Crew
- Director
- Richard Donner
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