An American Carol is a 2008 American comedy film, directed by David Zucker and starring Kevin Farley. Presented from a conservative perspective, the film "lampoons contemporary American culture, particularly Hollywood." It uses the framework of A Christmas Carol but moves the setting of the story from Christmas to Independence Day. It is written by Myrna Sokoloff and Zucker. The supporting cast includes Kelsey Grammer, Jon Voight, Dennis Hopper, Trace Adkins, Jillian Murray and Leslie Nielsen. The film was released on October 3, 2008.
Left-wing activist and filmmaker Michael Malone (a parody of Michael Moore) is campaigning to end the celebration of the Fourth of July. Malone truculently argues to the American people that America's past and present are offensive, and therefore should not be celebrated. Malone's nephew is a naval officer about to deploy to the Persian Gulf, and Malone treats him with contempt. Malone is then visited by three ghosts, Presidents George Washington and John F. Kennedy and General George S. Patton, who try to make him rethink his view of America. They try to show him that sometimes war is necessary for the greater cause. For example, Patton shows him an alternate world where slavery is still in existence because Lincoln chose not to fight the Civil War. He also shows the filmmaker how British Prime Minister Chamberlain appeased Adolf Hitler. Malone is also visited by the spirit of George Washington (played by Jon Voight) who takes him to the very church in New York where he was sworn in as the 1st President. Washington tells him how the dust in the church is the dust from the World Trade Center on 9/11. In the film's end, Malone is a changed man who loves America and realizes how precious freedom is.
INTERESTING FACTS
The woman who says "I gave up an ass lift for this?" is played by Kelsey Grammer's wife, Camille.
The portrait of Davy Crockett that is seen on the wall is the same portrait that appeared in Leslie Nielsen's house in Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994) – an in-joke from director David Zucker.
The film is known as “Big Fat Important Movie” outside North America.
FAMOUS QUOTES
Mohammed: It is getting harder and harder to find suicide bombers. All the really good ones are gone.
Michael Malone: I love America. That's why it needs to be destroyed. So that it can come to its senses.
