'Ebenezer' Review: A Wickedly Fun Holiday Treat
After a long hiatus, Johnny Depp makes his return to the mainstream with his latest film ‘Ebenezer’, a re-imagining of Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ that is a wickedly fun holiday treat.
‘Ebenezer’, which is based of course on Charles Dickens’ beloved story ‘A Christmas Carol’ centers on Ebenezer Scrooge (Johnny Depp), a prickly and dour old man who loathes Christmas and leads a lonesome, isolated life. However, his Christmas Eve becomes far more harrowing when he is visited by three ghosts who aim to show him his past, present and future in hopes of saving his soul and leading him down a better path to give him a chance at redemption.
There have been a litany of adaptations of this revered Dickens tale, but the pairing of Depp and director Ti West, best known for his trilogy of ‘X’, ‘Pearl’ and ‘MaXXXine’, was brimming with potential. Thankfully, the two of them have given this classic tale a fresh new spin that should please fans of Dickens’ story and perhaps the uninitiated as well.
From the opening frames, it’s clear West is an inspired choice for the material. His horror sensibilities and signature style pair perfectly with this story, giving this adaptation a palpable and wonderfully immersive gothic atmosphere that reels the viewer in with ease. West isn’t remotely reticent about embracing the darker elements of Dickens’ story, providing plenty of macabre thrills and chills throughout the course of Ebenezer’s perilous journey. However, West doesn’t let the film slip away from him as he’s able to balance the ghoulish fun with the beating heart of this tale that has made it such a timeless and heartwarming staple for the holidays. It also doesn’t hurt that he has chosen the right actor to slip into the cold, slippery skin of Scrooge.
Depp has long been known for playing colorful, eccentric characters so the prospect of him playing Scrooge certainly seemed well within his wheelhouse. However, well before his extended hiatus, his goofy, over-the-top schtick was already wearing out its welcome. Fortunately, Depp chooses to keep his performance far more restrained than one would expect here, balancing the goofy flourishes with the grounded gravitas as he delivers a strong, nuanced performance as the iconic character. Especially as this beloved tale reaches its emotional apex, Depp deftly sells each and every step of Scrooge’s journey with ample warmth and tenderness as the character begins to see the error of his ways after being visited by the three unsettling, but well-intentioned ghosts.
Speaking of the film’s iconic ghosts, the supporting performances are terrific here. Ian McKellen is relishing every second of screen time as the ghost of Jacob Marley, his magnetic presence as lively as ever. As the ghost of Christmas past, Andrea Riseborough delivers a delightfully spooky and chilling performance that manages to make the skin crawl. Tramell Tillman is also a notable standout as the ghost of Christmas present, literally and metaphorically chewing the scenery as he delivers a deliciously unhinged and fiery performance with solid chemistry with Depp to boot. Each of of their performances are aided by stellar makeup work and visual effects that make their otherworldly nature feel tactile and tangible.
The other supporting performances from Rupert Grint as Bob Cratchit and Sam Claflin as Fred are also standouts. Grint’s earnest work lends well to the character of Cratchit as he’s fleshed out during the course of Ebenezer’s journey. Claflin adds welcomed nuance to Fred, his yearning to connect with his uncle well explored and developed as he delivers effective and emotionally charged work. Simply put, there isn’t a weak link in the cast, even if some of its members don’t get the material they so rightfully deserve.
However, the biggest asset the film has going for it is how it tackles this well-worn material from a fresh perspective. It may hit many familiar beats from Dickens’ story, but unlike many other adaptations, it manages to explore Scrooge’s backstory far more in depth, adding refreshing layers to his past to better inform his present in order to allow the audience to fully understand why his heart has turned so frosty cold. This exploration, coupled with Depp’s emotionally engaging performance, manage to make this version of the character stand out from the myriad of takes before. As a result, the heart of the film feels earned and wonderfully realized as it wears it firmly and earnestly on its sleeve.
However, this adaptation isn’t without its issues. While West isn’t afraid to lean into some of the darker aspects of Dickens’ story, he often chooses to play it safe and rather conventional when it comes to hitting the more notable beats of the story. He has a rich playground to work within with plenty of tools at his disposal, but more often than not, it seems as if he’s torn between keeping this Christmas story family friendly or geared toward more mature audiences, resulting in a film that can sporadically seem as if it has an identity crisis. When West branches out and lets his singular voice shine, that’s when this adaptation begins to find its own identity, but unfortunately that voice is stifled far too much. Some of the supporting cast are also left rather stranded here. Daisy Ridley, who plays Fred’s wife Clara, is given very little to chew on or explore, wasting her considerable talent in the process.
‘Ebenezer’ may not be the best adaptation of Dickens’ revered Christmas story, but thanks to Depp’s strong, playful central performance and West’s style and panache, this re-imagining has plenty of fun and winning heart to offer audiences this holiday season. Whether audiences embrace Depp the same way they once did remains to be seen, but what is certain is that this comeback vehicle is far from a lump of coal.