Following their disastrous production of "Peter Pan", the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society are this time determined to ignore a BBC blacklisting by hijacking a live production of Charles Dickens's famous festive fable. There is dissent in the company when Chris and Robert both want to play Scrooge, while nervous Dennis, as Bob Cratchit, has to read all of his lines off the props and Annie gets glued to her chair. When Lucy's Tiny Tim is knocked out by falling scenery, the hulking Robert rather improbably must replace her. With faulty greenscreen special effects, trying to keep a professional cast at bay and a seemingly romantic betrayal exposed, the company's version seems doomed until Sandra's Aunt Diana comes to the rescue. A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong is another fine addition to the goes wrong series. Although not on par with the previous film, this is still an enjoyable flick. Released on BBC One back in 2017 during Christmas, this TV Movie saw the return of our favourite group of actors brought back to cause more trouble once again. One of the downsides of this movie is that it was prerecorded, unlike the previous instalment which was done in front of a live audience. This one featured some canned laughter/laughter soundtracks, which completely threw me off and took me out of the experience now and then since we know there is no audience present, but that was my only issue. That aside this film is hilarious. The opening sequence alone is just brilliant seeing the group hijack and take over the production and then having to reset the whole show whilst already starting, having to announce the program again. The Cornley actors carry forward their traits and characteristics from Peter Pan Goes Wrong (2016) into this film. Chris still tries to keep everything together and going as smoothly as possible. Robert believes he is the leading actor and even attempts to incapacitate Chris to get the role of Scrooge. Dennis hasn't remembered his lines, which leads to some amazing gags with his lines written around the settings and props for him to read (which he still messes up). Everyone else carries forward their character's developments, like how Max and Sandra are together after the previous production. My favourite running jokes in all of Mischief's works is when they would say something contradicting to what's happening at that moment, yet had it gone correctly, it would've worked fine. For example: After having taken over the already started live production, Chris (now playing Scrooge) tries to find the chiming clock (which had already been put away by Jacobi's Scrooge), whilst saying the lines "Everywhere I go, all I see is that damned clock staring back at me". Comedy like that is absolute perfection. Throughout, there are countless injuries sustained. With cast falling down holes, furniture dropping on people, sleeping darts shot at professional cast, costumes crashing into the sets and so much more. Some of the best gags involve some visual effect issues, with green screens cutting out or showing the wrong backdrops which lead to some great jokes. Things take a drastic turn when they are forced to escape the set from the professionals and end up going to the shops whilst still filming to get the turkey, but in typical Cornely fashion, they come out with goujons. Overall, there are so many magnificent gags and moments which makes for some fun family viewing this Christmas time. Despite not being able to top the last one, it is still an enjoyable event. Also, check out the unbelievably funny show that followed: The Goes Wrong Show (TV Series 2019-2021).
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