‘Christmas’ Spirits

“Disney’s A Christmas Carol” is Robert Zemeckis’ sparkly, somewhat overdecorated take on the classic Charles Dickens tale about the proverbial holiday epiphany. Jim Carrey voices a couple of characters, including the iconic cheapskate party-pooper Ebenezer Scrooge. The message doesn’t get lost in the flashy flurry of bells and whistles, but the pacing can be trying for young viewers. Animation-wise, it’s the usual sleek motion-capture extravaganza, but strangely, some of the faces have that dead-eyed, glazed-over look from “Polar Express.” Scrooge and a few other human characters, however, are rightly expressive and lifelike, while the visiting specters are distinctly, imaginatively designed. This “Christmas Carol” isn’t the way you remember it, but it’s still a decent interpretation despite losing focus from time to time.