A Very Murray Christmas (2015)

A Very Murray Christmas encapsulates everything about Bill Murray’s post-Rushmore public persona. This is not the Bill of Ghostbusters, this is the Murray of Broken Flowers; the same one who has his own coloring book with Steve Zissou on the cover (Thrill Murray). His Christmas special does what every great satire should: come so close to what it is caricaturing that it becomes that which it set out to mock. The variety show is odd, eccentric, and primarily for fans of the actor’s later work — crashing parties.

The very loose plot centers around a reluctant, slightly depressed Bill Murray stuck in The Carlyle Hotel in NYC with Paul Shafer during a huge blizzard that has shut down the city. His producers attempt to convince him to continue on with his live Christmas special sans guests. Luckily, the storm shuts down the broadcast, and Murray and Shafer retreat to the hotel bar with a few remaining guests and staff. In an attempt to salvage some of the Christmas spirit, the new friends take turns casually serenading each other.

The special’s nod to its intended audience is delivered by both the choice of director and much of the cast. Jenny Lewis, singer of the indie band Rilo Kiley, is a talented hotel waitress. Fellow Wes Anderson alum Jason Schwartzman appears as a sullen groom whose wedding has been spoiled by the snowstorm. Michael Cera has an odd cameo as a smarmy talent agent trying to snake Murray from his current representation. And as an added bonus for fans of Scrooged (and/or The New York Dolls), Buster Poindexter (aka David Johansen) is tending the hotel bar. It feels as if director Sofia Coppola is picking up where the duo left off with Lost in Translation. Murray is essentially reprising his role as aging actor Bob Harris (while channeling Nick the SNL lounge singer), only now a cult figure beloved by George Clooney and hipsters everywhere. There are so many melancholy glances out of hotel windows that you half expect Scarlett Johansson to show up in her underwear.

Although the Clooney number, “Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin’,” seems to already be the favorite, the “Do You Hear What I Hear?” duet with Chris Rock is by far the best. It accurately recreates the most uncomfortable, awkward TV special/musical number ever: David Bowie and Bing Crosby’s “Little Drummer Boy.” Only this time may be better because Rock (admittedly) cannot sing (at least both Bowie and Crosby sung for a living), and runs out before the tune is over.

Taken as a whole, the special is a nostalgic nod to the past only the king and queen of indie quirk could manage. Murray Christmas is an example of what’s great about Netflix, and streaming in general: getting shows/movies that would have never seen the light of day, on either network or cable TV, to millions of viewers. At this point in the game only Netflix could bring together this eclectic cast and crew for an understated dig at ’60s and ’70s Christmas variety shows. Watch it if being subtly charmed by an unusual mix of Murray devotees hanging out, drinking and singing sounds like a good way to spend an hour of the holiday season.

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