The Muppet Christmas Carol

This is going to be a short review for a couple reasons. The first being, there's only so much I can say about this film before I start repeating myself, also if I want to tie it into Christmas, sure I can pull something from this film that we should all learn... but I'm a blogger not a philosopher. I can only pull so much out of this before I just say its a great movie, that's it.

And that's the other reason I can't say much about this movie, because it is my Christmas movie.

There are a lot of things I watch that are Christmas themed, I watch a lot of Christmas Specials at Christmas, especially in the last few years. My family didn't really put a priority on the Christmas specials unless we happened to be watching TV, which we usually we're doing on Christmas.

The Muppet Christmas Carol has been the movie I have always watched on Christmas, if I haven't watched it I've listened to the soundtrack.

This is my favorite Christmas Movie of all time.

Let's talk about The Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens wrote the story in 1843. The story follows the Christmas Grump, Ebenezer Scrooge, a man who hates Christmas. On the eve of Christmas, Scrooge is visited by the spirit of his late business partner Jacob Marley who comes back from the grave to save Scrooge's soul and make him accept Christmas into his heart. He says Scrooge will be visited by three spirits, the Ghost of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come.

I personally think it is the best non-religious Christmas story written and its been adapted countless times over. By the Muppets, by Bill Murray, by Jim Carey. Its been spoofed in everything from SNL to Family Guy, Doctor Who and the Hallmark Channel.

Of all of them, again, I think The Muppets is the best adaptation.

Now, because I watched this as a kid and this is my go to Christmas film, obviously I have not seen all the other adaptations. The ones I have seen are good, but they always fail in comparison with this one. I would say the closest I have see is The Doctor Who one and that's a TV adaptation, not a full movie.

The movie follows the typical story line of Ebenezer Scrooge being haunted by three spirits, all of them showing him the importance of Christmas. This time around its just done a lot by Muppets and the brilliant acting of Michael Caine.

Honestly, I don't know where to start with this film. Do I talk about (in my opinion) the greatest adaptation of Ebenezer Scrooge in Michael Caine? Do I talk about how this guy can act like a hard ass but be broken down so hard that I'm crying like a little girl by the end?

Do I talk about the Muppets, how this is one of the only Muppet films where the Muppets are secondary characters and the story mainly focuses on a human character in Ebenezer Scrooge? Do I talk about the perfect casting of the Muppets into characters of The Christmas Carol, whether it be Kermit the Frog as Bob Crachet, Gonzo as Charles Dickens narrating the story? The Mupe

Do I talk about the music? The brilliant score composed by Miles Goodman? The catchy tunes that introduce Scrooge? The greatest song from the movie that just reminds us that there's "One More Sleep Till Christmas"? Or do I talk about the singing of Michael Caine in the final song, which isn't that great but still has a sense of fun and Christmas Spirit to it in "A Thankful Heart"?

There are just so many good things to say about this movie.

I think something that can be also said about this film is the story behind it that makes the movie only a little bit tragic, but more heartfelt.

This was the first Muppets film that was released since the death of Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets. It was the first time these lovable characters were performing with their father. Furthermore, the Muppets had also lost another member of the family with the death of Richard Hunt, a Muppet performer.

And you can tell from the film. The film is quite a bit darker than most of the Muppet films we had seen before. Yes it was set in Victorian England which was always dark, but the themes seem personal the more you think about it.

The Muppets have suffered a huge loss, the Christmas season, a season that is suppose to be joyous just isn't the same without those they loved. Its very easy to be closed off like Ebenezer Scrooge.

But Christmas has a power to bring people together as a family, you don't have to be christian, you don't have to celebrate Christmas, but the song, "It feels like Christmas" says all the ways that people come together and are united by love and Christmas.

And in the end we can have a Thankful Heart and be grateful for those we do have.

I don't know. Chances are the themes and thought that went into this movie probably isn't as meaningful as I'm thinking it is, but there had to be something precious about this movie, especially as the first movie without Jim Henson.

If you've read any of my Doctor Who reviews, you'll notice that I love when the work of Doctor Who is not just an interesting story, but something personal. Its connected with the production of the TV show or movie. While it may be my nostalgia, or me just making up things as I go along, I'd like to think there was something personal about this movie and if its personal for them, it makes it even more personal for me, especially since this movie is so close to my heart.

That's really why I can't give this movie a fair review. I'm sure there are things that don't work for the movie in other people's minds, but to me, this movie is absolutely flawless. I don't say that often but this movie is at the top of the list for my all time favorite Christmas movies, and near the top of my favorite movies of all time. Now a big part of it is the fact that I grew up with the Muppets. If you didn't, or you don't feel that connection to the Muppets that I do, there might be a little bit more flaws in this movie than I have mentioned. However, I feel that if you can enjoy the Muppets, give this movie a chance. I think its charming enough to become at the very least a fun watch, even if that nostalgia isn't there.

But those are my thoughts on The Muppet Christmas Carol. What did you think? I actually want to hear an argument saying this movie isn't good. I won't agree with you, but I'm interested in hearing a devil's advocate to this, since I can't make one. Comment and Discuss Below!