A new cinematic take on Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol has arrived, but it appears to be sorely lacking in festive spirit. Gurinder Chadha, the director behind Bend It Like Beckham, helms this seasonal offering, which stars Kunal Nayyar of The Big Bang Theory fame. Unfortunately, the film has been met with a scathing critical reception, being described as leaden, joyless, and nausea-inducing.
A Sour Seasonal Story
The film, titled Christmas Karma, transposes the classic tale to the Ugandan south Asian community expelled by Idi Amin. Nayyar plays a modern-day Scrooge named Mr Sood, whose childhood poverty and a soured early romance have turned him into a bitter, grasping moneylender in London. His former business partner, the late Jacob Marley, is portrayed by Hugh Bonneville.
After a series of petulant and mean-spirited interactions with his nephew, employees, and a cheerful cabbie played by Danny Dyer, Sood is visited by the ghost of Marley. This sets the stage for the obligatory visits from the spirits of Christmas past, present, and future, embodied by Eva Longoria, Billy Porter, and Boy George respectively.
Where's the Christmas Cheer?
The review highlights a particularly unconvincing moment involving the film's Bob Cratchit analogue. The Cratchit family's supposedly humble abode is located in the highly desirable and colourful streets of Notting Hill, a detail that severely undermines the story's central theme of poverty and redemption.
Ultimately, Christmas Karma is criticised for its unconvincing performances and cynical approach to the holiday classic. The reviewer suggests that viewers seeking a fresh take on the story would be better served by revisiting the version starring Kermit the Frog and Michael Caine.
Christmas Karma is scheduled for release in UK and Irish cinemas from 14 November and will arrive in Australian cinemas from 27 November.
