Like it or not, the Christmas season is being forced down our throats, so why not dive into it by watching the latest re-telling of Charles Dickens' classic tale "A Christmas Carol." Robert Zemekis once again tackles the motion-cap style with his latest film, this time throwing in the option of 3D. The film is beautiful to watch and the fore mention motion-cap never ceases to amaze, but that is about where it ends.
I was expecting to see yet another film of Jim Carrey running wild with silly antics and obnoxious, in-your-face comedy; not so. While he does have a few moments as Ebeneezer Scrooge, his characters are rather serious and at times, quite intense. He does a decent job, but I still have a hard time taking him serious...in anything. The other voice characters are stellar, including the many other voices done by Carrey.
I watched this film in 3D, which I do suggest, otherwise the film is rather dry and straight forward. The 3D adds a newer dimension, literally and figuratively. There is nothing really new as far as the story goes, but I really wasn't expecting to see some new ground-breaking re-telling of the classic tale.
There are some rather intense moments, and it deals with some rather heavy subjects. I watched the film with many children in the audience and none of them really seemed bother by what they were watching.
Don't go into the film expecting to see another "Polar Express." No singing or musical numbers, and a continuous serious tone with a dabble of humor in some parts. Aside from the always impressive CGI, the film leaves you wanting a bit more. I didn't get that "warm and fuzzy" feeling that you should have at the end of the movie (so I'm told). It is a decent film, but not anything that will become one of those "timeless classics" like you'd want the film to be.
Grade: B-