In The Muppet Christmas Carol (the film adaptation of A Christmas Carol), Charles Dickens’ classic tale of a miser who eventually appreciates Christmas comes to life through the famous puppets from the classic children’s television show. All the regular cast members of The Muppet Show make an appearance in the film: Gonzo plays Dickens, narrating the film and occasionally getting involved in the action with Rizzo the Rat. Kermit plays Bob Cratchit, Ebenezer Scrooge’s assistant; Miss Piggy is Kermit’s wife, with an assortment of frog and pig Muppets as their kids. Specially created Muppets play the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, while beloved characters like The Swedish Chef, Fozzie Bear, and the hecklers Statler and Waldorf play different characters from the novel.
Like The Muppet Show or any other Jim Henson educational show, The Muppet Christmas Carol is quite a spectacle, which also features a great soundtrack album that reached #189 on the Billboard 200. Although the film’s music is not as acclaimed as the 2009 version of the tale where superstar film score composer Alan Silvestri (The Polar Express, Beowulf, Forrest Gump) took the helm, the charm of the puppets’ singing is almost impossible to beat. Aside from songs by Kermit and Statler and Waldorf, Sam the Eagle and Robin the Frog also contribute a couple of notable tracks: Chairman of the Board and Christmas Scat.
If there’s one thing to criticize, it’s Michael Caine‘s performance. Given the fact that he plays Ebenezer Scrooge, the film’s grumpy protagonist, the rest of the film tends to get weighed down by his treatment. Michael Caine is a fine actor, but he plays Scrooge more like an arrogant aristocrat than a bean-counting self-made miser. He lacks that aura of disdain and utter disregard for his fellow man that the character demands.
The upsides: Statler and Waldorf stay true to their characters on The Muppet Show as Scrooge’s deceased business partners Marley & Marley. Fozzie Bear (as Fozziwig) throws a great Christmas party in a flashback, with the band Dr. Teeth & The Electric Mayhem making an appearance. Animal takes center stage in a memorable scene where he gets bored playing waltz music and starts to rock out, to the delight of the partygoers.
The film does deserve all the critical and popular praise it has received. The Muppet Christmas Carol is a classic Christmas film that will be remembered every year, as long as there are children and children-at-heart.
