“The Muppet characters tell their version of the classic tale of an old and bitter miser’s redemption on Christmas Eve.”
Directed by: Brian Henson, Rated: G, 85 minutes
Every year, come Christmas, I’m most certainly a scrooge. I just haven’t been able to get into the holiday spirit the last couple of years and I can’t quite pinpoint why. However, without fail, each year, a magical little movie pulls me out of the Ebeneezer attitude. And folks, we all know what movie has such incredible power- The Muppet Christmas Carol. Now, A Christmas Carol is a story that’s been adapted to screen dozens of times, with different actors, themes, and styles. However, there’s only one that’s worth our time and that is the one with everyone’s favorite felt friends. You simply cannot go wrong with The Muppets.
These two characters make anything a billion times better.
Starring Michael Caine, The Muppet Christmas Carol sees all of our favorite Muppets doing their take on the classic Dickens’ tale. Caine is Ebeneezer Scrooge, the greedy, selfish money-man who only cares about himself. Christmas is his least favorite time of the year and hates the holiday more than carolers or those asking for time off. Work is what drives him and being successful is all that matters. After Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of his two old partners, Marley and Marley (Statler and Waldorf), Scrooge is told that his future holds only shackles and pain. During the night, he is visited by three ghosts (two of them shit-your-pants terrifying) and he lays witness to the Christmases of his past, the present, and what’s to come. Kermit the Frog plays Bob Crachit, and the perfect duo of Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat are our narrators. Throw in a ton of “cameos” from all of our other favorite Muppets and The Muppet Christmas Carol is an instant classic. Having Michael Caine in the mix just spoils us.
The Ghost of Christmas-Yet-to-Come: Scarring Young Children Since 1992.
Seriously, these”things” does not belong anywhere near a kids movie.
The film features a handful of songs that immediately ingrain themselves into your brain. The opening song and introduction of Scrooge is by far the most memorable and you’ll find yourself singing “Here comes Mr. Humbug. Here comes Mr. Grim…” all the way to the New Year. Everything is just terrific and the only complaint you can find yourself thinking is that the film only be brought out once a year. Sure, the Muppets are welcome anytime in my home, but there are traditions you have to maintain Heck, we’ll always have Muppet Treasure Island for the off-months. There really isn’t a whole lot to write about when it comes to the movie, as its simplicity and joy make it a holiday masterpiece. It’s the Muppets for crying out loud- very little needs to be said about them that hasn’t already been said. They’re iconic characters we continually love and each year as the films get older and new ones come out, we’re only this lucky to get the time we have with them. Personally, the Muppets can turn any bad mood (holiday or not) into moments of pure happiness. God bless the Muppets, every one of them.
BONUS VIDEO: (yes, you can sing-along)
The Good:
having a story that is, in my opinion, overdone feel fresh and fun
The Better:
great songs that you’ll be singing throughout the holidays, with each of them worthy of being sung with Jingle Bells, Silent Night, and all the other classics
The Best:
The Muppets doing what they do best- entertaining
Overall: 8.6/10
Discussion Question:
What is your favorite film version of A Christmas Carol?
Trailer:
Written By Nick
Nick is a man obsessed with all things related to film. From the most obscure to the very popular, he’s seen it all and hopes to one day turn his obsession into a career that makes a lot of money so he can buy a monkey, a bulldog, and a full size Batman suit.
Like This? Check Out These:
Nov 6: Arthur Christmas
Aug 27: Muppet Treasure Island
Feb 13: A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas
Dec 2: Catch Me if You Can
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