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Why tale comes back to haunt us

Birmingham Mail

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December 13, 2025

THE other day I caught a trailer for a new movie, Christmas Karma.

- SUSAN LEE

It is a modern, Bollywood-inspired musical spin on Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and, reader, it’s fair to say that reviews have been less than kind.

One critic asked ‘is this the worst festive movie of all time?’ (answer: no - that would be Home Alone. I know. Controversial.)

Another gave it no stars and one called it ‘joyless’ which, for a Christmas film, is not ideal.

And, having endured the trailer and Danny Dyer's turn as a singing cab driver, I might normally roll my eyes in agreement.

After all, who in their right mind tries to reboot a Charles Dickens’ tale into a glossy mishmash featuring Boy George and Eva Longoria?

Not any old tale, either - arguably his best known and best loved.

And it’s not as if there haven't been many, many adaptations before.

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