Rating: 6/10

Writers: Charles Dickens (novel), Robert Zemeckis (screenplay)
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright Penn, Colin Firth
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures

Director Robert Zemeckis is back with another motion-capture adventure with A CHRISTMAS CAROL. We now have one more film to add to the many cinematic adaptations of Charles Dickens’ popular story about an unpleasant man who gains a new lease on life and a new appreciation of Christmas after being visited by spirits that have much to show him. But while it is the impressive technology that sets this adaptation apart from the previous A CHRISTMAS CAROL films, Zemeckis’ admiration for the motion-capture digital animation and his desire to show us as many tricks using it as possible makes almost everything else about the film feel like an afterthought.

It is as though Zemeckis constantly feels a need to wow us visually as he shows us his Ebenezer Scrooge (Jim Carrey) learning some important lessons. And, to his credit, there are several “wow” moments in A CHRISTMAS CAROL. The way that the Ghost of Christmas Present shows Scrooge certain people in his life celebrating Christmas certainly comes to mind immediately as a very cool use of the technology being by employed by Zemeckis.

However, it would be nice if is there was something a little deeper to get invested in other than cool effects with this latest CHRISTMAS CAROL. The actual story comes off as half-cooked, where critical developments seem to just happen. Then, it’s right back to another cool visual sequence. Scrooge’s visit from the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come features Scrooge being chased and dragged all over the snowy animated scenery, with little actual story thrown in here and there.

Zemeckis’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL does feature a somewhat surprisingly well-voiced Scrooge by Jim Carrey. Carrey is a talented actor, and not just in the comedy realm, but he still seems an odd choice for the famous curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge. However, Carrey’s digitally animated version of Ebenezer is more than serviceable. The voice work praise should not stop with Carrey, though. All those who lend their voice to characters in A CHRISTMAS CAROL, including reliable actors Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, and Robin Wright Penn, do a top-notch job.

Like his previous motion-capture films, THE POLAR EXPRESS and BEOWULF, Robert Zemeckis’ A CHRSTMAS CAROL looks great. Too bad there is a lot more to film than just how it looks. A CHRISTMAS CAROL is like a hot person with no personality. You can have some fun with them, but your time spent together is never going to be deep or meaningful.