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As we find ourselves in the early days of December, ’tis the season for an influx of holiday specials. Some families curl up by a crackling fire and watch the moral-laden adventures of George Bailey or Charlie Brown, while others (including my own) wait for the day that Adam Sandler blesses us with a Chanukah film at least slightly more bearable than Eight Crazy Nights. Now, Netflix is throwing its Santa Claus hat into the ring of Christmas movies with A Very Murray Christmas. Pairing two of the most universally loved elements of our world, Bill Murray and Christmas, the 56-minute Sofia Coppola-directed comedy-musical is chock-full of celebrity cameos and booze-fueled caroling.
Fueled by celebrities singing Christmas classics, the film’s entire premise relies on a big-name cast and the wonderfully depressing Murray. With a blizzard halting all traffic to and from New York City, Bill is left as the only celebrity, besides former Late Show with David Letterman bandleader Paul Shaffer, to show up for his live-television Christmas special at the Carlyle Hotel. Murray’s attempt to save face and honor his contract to perform leads to the special’s greatest moment, when Murray stumbles upon comedian Chris Rock and forces him to join in on a hilariously uncomfortable rendition of “Do You Hear What I Hear?” in matching black turtlenecks.
Out of the other star cameos, Michael Cera and Maya Rudolph shine the brightest. Cera plays a stereotypical Hollywood scum-type manager who desperately wants to manage Murray, and the two share a hysterical encounter in a stairwell before Murray’s show begins. Playing a hotel lounge singer, Rudolph belts a stunning rendition of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” while looking elegant in a fur coat that’s white as snow. Also of note is the performance of French band Phoenix playing frustrated chefs who team up for a lovably goofy ballad with Murray as he seeks some innovative Christmas tunes.
However, other than the aforementioned show-stealing moments, A Very Murray Christmas sort of drags on with celebrity fluff. A drunken Murray passes out, leading him into a fantasy in which Miley Cyrus and George Clooney, the type of celebrities he would have hoped showed up for his failed show, join him on stage to, you guessed it, perform some more carols. Miley’s performance is overshadowed by her live vocals being seemingly substituted for a studio-recorded version, and Clooney provides a brief comedic factor working as a background singer to Cyrus and Murray. There is no conflict resolution, no real character development and a whole lot of wishing that more could have been made out of a project that clearly had the means of casting just about anybody imaginable.
A Very Murray Christmas is entertaining enough to warrant at least a one-time viewing. Murray perfectly portrays the happily miserable character that his cult following has come to worship, and there are enough laughs to safely add it into your winter couch-potato queue. It’s the type of film that could be played casually during a holiday party, while you’re doing work or just simply as a form of lighthearted entertainment, but not one that will warrant mass praise. With it being available to stream at all times for any Netflix users, A Very Murray Christmas will find success as the sort of movie you land on when you’re not quite sure what to watch and know that you’ll most likely fall asleep no matter what you choose. However, when it comes to potential holiday staples, Murray’s holiday tale won’t sniff a place among the Bailey and Brown hierarchy.
