REEL TIME: A Christmas Carol - the gay version!

With Scrooge & Marley, debut directors Richard Knight Jr. and Peter Neville attempt to modernize the well-worn holiday tale by putting a gay spin on it, and at times they succeed.

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REEL TIME: A Christmas Carol — the gay version!

POSTED: Wednesday, December 19, 2012, 10:00 AM

Filed Under: Movies Movie Review

David Pevsner (L) and Ronnie Kroell as Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Past.

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is an all-too-familiar story that has had its fair share of Hollywood adaptations. With Scrooge & Marley, debut directors Richard Knight Jr. and Peter Neville attempt to modernize the well-worn holiday tale by putting a gay spin on it, and at times they succeed.

“Ben” Scrooge (David Pevsner) is a grumpy, money-obsessed owner of a piano bar — one that he used to work at with friend “Jake” Marley (Tim Kazurinksy) and Fezziwig (Bruce Vilanch), portrayed here as a wild, coke-sniffing club owner. Speaking of things you inhale into your brain, Scrooge is taken into the past by huffing poppers (sigh). There he is shown painful moments from his young adulthood, like when he and his partner are caught by his father, who immediately disowns him. This subplot adds a fresh perspective on Scrooge’s disdain toward family, whereas scenes from the present and future don’t shed any new light on the old story, trying instead to use humor as a crutch.

Other than a few chuckle-worthy moments, the film’s jokes are weighed down by obvious puns — donning “gay” apparel is a recurring one — and the song numbers seem to be forced fillers. But despite the amateur filmmaking and occasional eye-rolling punch lines, the basic sentiment from Dickens’ classic remains intact. Thanks to the scenes from Scrooge’s past and the strong source material, the climax — though expected — is still a festive and tender one.

(catherine.haas@citypaper.net) (@kittycatzzz)

Posted by Catherine Haas @ 10:00 AM Permalink | Post a comment

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