Plot: What’s it about?
The tale of Ebenezer Scrooge is one that has been told in countless forms. Even Mickey Mouse and his friends gave us a take on the timeless holiday story, as seen in Mickey’s Christmas Carol. Scrooge McDuck is given the role of Scrooge (obviously) and while everyone around him is in the holiday spirit, he sees no reason for all the cheer. He is driven by money and hard work, not warm feelings and time spent with friends & family. He even overworks his faithful assistant Bob Cratchit (played by Mickey Mouse), who despite Scrooge’s miserly ways, remains hopeful about his family’s holiday togetherness. Soon, Scrooge is visited by a series of ghosts who show him his past and even his future, in an effort to reveal life’s true riches. But can a cold heart like Scrooge’s be melted, even by these kind of grand visions?
This holiday classic is a welcome arrival in high definition, though I wish more effort were put into the release. The story is of course a true classic and the Disney spin is a great one, especially Scrooge in the role he was born to play. The feature is under half an hour, but the pace is never rushed and the take is actually a pretty faithful one. The core message is intact and the dramatic moments are still there, but of course some humor is present at times as well. Most of the Disney big players are here, from Mickey to Goofy and even Jiminy Cricket, so it offers a nice roster of characters. This is one kids will love for the animation and Disney magic, while adults will appreciate the story and magic as well. I think more content would have been a wise choice however, given the price involved. This is the same list price as some of Disney’s feature length films, which often include a wealth of supplements and lossless soundtracks. But even so, Mickey’s Christmas Carol is so iconic and such great family entertainment, this release is still more than recommended.
Video: How’s it look?
Mickey’s Christmas Carol is presented in full frame, as intended. This transfer benefits from a digital restoration and looks better than the companion DVD version, but the difference isn’t immense. As expected, overall refinement is improved and sharpness is tuned up, but the source limits the depth and detail at times. So some moments look excellent and others come off as a touch soft, but this is the source and not this treatment. So this does offer a step up in terms of visuals, but don’t expect a world of difference, just a slight enhancement.
Audio: How’s it sound?
A 2.0 stereo option is present and it is solid, but not remarkable. The elements come through well, with minimal age related concerns, which is good news. The dialogue is clear and never hard to understand, while the music is good as well. But there simply isn’t much presence or punch to the audio. I know this material isn’t going to cause home theaters to pulse under any conditions, but I would have liked more depth with this. This release also includes Spanish and French language tracks, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release includes five animated shorts, one of which has never been available before.
