Mister Scrooge to See You

David Ruprecht's Scrooge ironically works his mouth a bit like the old grinch W. C. Fields who hated Christmas but the Scrooge in this is definitely a post-transformation Xmas lover. Perhaps Ruprecht had been watching Rich Little's 1978 W. C Field type version of 'A Christmas Carol' while leading up to his role in this. Jacob Marley somehow transports Scrooge in time to 21st Century America where he has to adapt to busy modern life. Ruprecht apart the acting is not all that good but I got to like the characters even Timothy Cratchitt towards the end. I should point out that it is Tim Cratchitt who is the meanie in this version. This low-budget and gentle production cheered me and had me chuckling at times especially Ruprecht's performance. I thought that it was going to overstay it's welcome but there are some comic little twists at the end that just about merits it's long-running time. Strangely enough I find this faith-based version seemed to pleasingly cut down on some of the sentimentality and lectureship of Dicken's original story. I think this is the first 'A Christmas Carol' version I've seen where a period character (Scrooge) is given chance to deal with an out-of-period world. The 2019 British TV 2-part adaptation of the story remains in Dicken's time period but it's dark and dreary and foulmouthed take would probably have the author turning in his grave. Whereas I like to think that 'Mr Scrooge To See You' would meet with his approval and have Dickens smiling on his cloud from on high.