DailyView: Day 240, Movie 330

Christmas Eve brings a little treat I found on Netflix. Bill Murray in a Christmas special featuring a group of celebrities, music and some funny comedy.

Bill Murray starts off in the middle of a blizzard in a hotel where he is scheduled for a live Christmas special, but the spirit was hardly jolly within him. Paul Schaffer was with him, happily playing the piano.

A series of celebrities showed up to sing, even if they could not truly sing. We have Maya Rudolph, Chris Rock, George Clooney, Miley Cyrus, Amy Poehler, Julie White, Jason Schwartzman, Rashida Jones, David Johansen, and the band Phoenix.

There were several songs that were just off enough that they worked very well. I loved the whole Bill Murray/Chris Rock duet “Do You Hear What I Hear?” Chris Rock’s entire antipathy of the moment was only out shadowed by the electricity going off.

With the live special cancelled, Murray took it to the bar and there was just some joyous performances. The French indie pop band Phoenix performed a wonderful song called “Alone on Christmas Day” with Murray jumping in and out of the frame.

There was a fun section that occurred in Murray’s mind after he passed out from too much drinking. This moment included the arrival of George Clooney and Miley Cyrus. Clooney was a hoot in the song “Santa Claus wants Some Lovin”.

In the end, I enjoyed this film, a homage to the old variety show format. I was also impressed with the voice on Maya Rudolph, who I do not think I have heard sing before. A Very Murray Christmas was witty and fun, a real surprise for the season.