DVD Review: A Muppet Christmas Carol

A Muppet Christmas Carol

(DVD j Muppet)

 

This was the fourth Muppets feature film, and the first to be produced and released following founder Jim Henson’s death (in May 1990), coming out for the Christmas season in 1992. It was also the first to be distributed by the Walt Disney Company — although the Muppets are now owned by the Walt Disney Company, that merger didn’t happen until 2004.

 

The traditional elements of Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol” are modified a little to fit with the Muppets environment. Gonzo the Great portrays writer Dickens, and, accompanied by Rizzo the Rat, serves as a host and narrator throughout the film. Kermit the Frog is Bob Crachit, and Miss Piggy is his wife. Kermit’s “nephew” Robin plays Tiny Tim, Fozzie Bear plays “Fozziwig”, Scrooge’s first employer. Curmudgeons Statler and Waldorf stand in as the Marley Brothers in place of Jacob Marley. And there are all-new Muppet creations in the roles of the three primary ghosts — Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet-to-Be.

 

And all the Muppet performances are up to their typical standards, although the expected Muppet shenanigans are actually toned down to tell a more serious story then we usually expect from this group of zanies. And that’s good, because the real star of this production is British actor Michael Caine, as the miserly Ebeneezer Scrooge. When offered the role of Scrooge, Caine is quote as saying “I’m going to play this movie like I’m working with the Royal Shakespeare Company. I will never wink, I will never do anything Muppety. I am going to play Scrooge as if it is an utterly dramatic role, and there are no puppets around me.” Which is exactly what producer/director Brian Henson wanted. And precisely what Caine delivers. He never treats any of the Muppet characters as anything less than a fellow serious actor. Caine’s Scrooge is one of my all-time favorite interpretations of that iconic character, and elevates what could have been a somewhat silly film to the level of “Modern Classic”.

 

Note: This is a musical version of the story, with songs by Nebraska’s own pop star Paul Williams (who won an Oscar for his “Rainbow Connection” song for the original Muppet Movie). One song was cut for the theatrical release of The Muppet Christmas Carol, and has a storied history of sometimes being included in “extras” or “new edits” of this film. That song has been returned to the version of The Muppet Christmas Carol available on the Disney+ streaming service. However, it is absent from the DVD version available from the libraries.

 

(If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try any of the other Muppet feature films, or any of the dozens of other adaptations of Dickens’ classsic story.)

 

( Internet Movie Database entry for this film ) | ( official The Muppet Christmas Carol web site )

 

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service

 

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