THE MUNSTERS' SCARY LITTLE CHRISTMAS (1996)
I'm not a fan of Christmas (I know, big surprise), but I was looking forward to this jingle-jangle jestcapade. It's one of the very, very few Random Review subjects that my mom would like. And so, I watched it with my mom. We both love The Munsters, but I think I can speak for her when I say that we approached this made-for-TV lark with a healthy providence. To be specific, we weren't sure about the casting choices. Here Come the Munsters was made the year before, and apparently, the main players from that movie were set to reprise their roles here. Alas, contractual negotiations broke down, so we are left with an ostensibly inadequate lot of thespians. I wouldn't know, as I've only seen Scary Little Christmas.
The story is weak. The family spends 90 minutes trying to cheer Eddie up, which would barely function as a 30-minute sitcom premise. One thing is for certain; no one...and I mean, no one will ever top Fred Gwynne. Perennial "that guy" actor Sam McMurray gives it the old college try, but his voice just doesn't sound right. On the other end of the spectrum, Ann Magnuson nails her portrayal of Lily Munster. Everything from her mannerisms to her dulcet tones are letter-perfect. There are some lively gags. Strangely, the comedy suffers when it tries to appeal to adults. For instance, I don't know why Santa's elves needed to be libertines. But The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas could be worse. It could be directed by Rob Zombie. Zing!
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