25 Greatest Christmas Films: #18 — ‘A Muppet Christmas Carol’ (1992)
by John NolteA Muppet Christmas Carol is of course elevated, as all things are, by the presence of The Mighty Michael Caine, who wisely plays the role of Ebeneezer Scrooge perfectly straight amongst all the Muppetry and shenanigans that goes on around him. But it works on more levels than just an inspired bit of casting. Within seconds you completely buy into the world and tone created by Brian Henson, who doesn’t miss a step picking up where his father Jim left off. Naturally, the Muppet characters are wonderful, but the film mainly benefits from a lean, very funny, and moving script that perfectly incorporates the famous Muppet personalities we’ve come to love into a classic story we love just as much.
The movie completely won me over during an early scene when Scrooge threatens his Muppet office workers if they dare to be cold. Instantly they put on a Hawaiian luau setting the irreverent and witty tone that will carry the remaining 85 minutes.
This is also a perfect holiday film for small kids. Above-average songs, a faithfulness to the source material, a lot of heart, and an important lesson about the difference between Democrats and Republicans.
When we first meet Scrooge he’s a cold-hearted liberal. Like Barack Obama and Joe Biden he doesn’t give to private charity. He chooses instead to condemn the fate of the poor to a cold, dispassionate government — work houses, poor houses…
After his three ghostly visits, Scrooge sees the light and evolves into a compassionate conservative — someone who realizes the government only perpetuates poverty and that true humanity doesn’t mean requesting more government but in using private local charities and market solutions to break the cycle of poverty. Scrooge doesn’t demand ObamaCare for Tiny Tim, he saves the small boy’s life by sending him to the best private clinics…
So if you want to keep things interesting this Christmas, be sure to make that point right around dinner time.
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34 Comments
Watched this one just last night. It is, strangely enough, more faithful to the original than almost any other version, as it preserves Dickens' "semi-omniscient" narrator as our guide to the ghostly goings-on. Mr. Nolte is also quite right in pointing out how well the script blends familiar Muppet characters into the action without being obtrusive.
Only two real negatives: The Ghost of Christmas Past is like a spiritual pinata I would love to whack. The other is the ghastly song Scrooge's love, Belle, sings. Thank God for the ability to fast-forward!
I love this movie and make a point to watch it each year during the Christmas season! (The only part I think is very poorly done and which I therefore skip over is Belle's song when Ebbie dumps her.)
Absolutely one of my favorite Christmas movies of all time…glad it made the cut. I've always loved the Muppets, and you're right – Caine does a great job playing the straight man amongst a bunch of fuzzy creatures.
point taken, but i personally couldnt get over the light muppet caper feel vs the emotional joy of real actors. i didnt get teary eyed at all and humor was okay, not laugh out loud and for me, christmas carol is about forcing me to hide my tears from friends & family.
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I'm of two minds on this one. On one side, it is a retelling of a story that has been presented time and time again. However it is one of my favorite versions of the story and, I think, deserves to be listed much higher. I'll have to wait and see what Mr. Nolte considers to be better Christmas films.
It is rather strange that a version of Christmas Carol that involves a singing frog married to a pig should be more faithful to Dickens' novel than just about any other, but it really is. I read the original novel for the first time this year, and there is a certain wackiness to Dickens' story that I don't see in many of the film versions. I think that the man who spent two paragraphs digressing on why a doornail should be considered particularly dead would have enjoyed the bookkeepers luau after Scrooge refuses them more coal or the whole "Light the lamp, not the rat!" bit.
Most versions of the Christmas Carol combine being tragic and scary. The muppets is the only one I know of that is tragic, scary, and wacky just like the original.
As a rabid Muppet fan, I was just waiting for this one to show up on the list. I cannot begin to express how much I love this movie. It is perfect in every way: the Muppets are perfect, Caine is perfect, the music is perfect, and, as other have already pointed out, it is incredibly loyal to Dickens' text.
One particular thing I love about this version is the Ghost of Christmas Present. In most incarnations, he is serious and a little scary. But the Muppet version casts him as jolly, fun-loving, and sweet. I like that so much better, as it nicely distinguishes Christmas Present from the melancholy Christmas Past and spooky Christmas Yet-to-Come.
I still laugh every time I hear "Light the light, not the rat!"
I watched this a couple of days ago and was thinking the same thing about the difference between Democrats and Republicans! Good ol' Muppets…
Jim Henson's Muppets are practically an institution. Genius.
NASA's Dr James Hansen should be institutionalized. Insane.
No matter how many times I see this movie, I still love it. Probably the 6-year-old in me coming out. Favorite moment: Ghost of Christmas Past whisks Scrooge, Gonzo, and Rizzo towards a bright light representing Scrooge's past.
Gonzo: Look, Rizzo! It's beautiful!
Rizzo: MOMMMMYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've read in other places that many people don't like Belle's song ("The Love is Gone" I think), and I've even read that the DVD version of the movie omits the song. I'm no expert on how well it is performed, but I think that, without the song, the regret that Scrooge experiences when he remembers Belle's leaving would be much less impressive. It is a very sad song, and anyone who has ever loved and lost will find simple truth in it.
An excellent movie.
John!
I can't believe it! You love this movie, too?!
Rock on!
(high 5)
I love this version as well… I may not care for Belle's song, but I listen to it. It has to be sad – as you say – because it shows how much he missed. If he had no regret about that, how could he have enough to change who he was?
I love the funny parts including "Light the lamp, not the Rat" and Animal's chiming in on "We Wish You A Merry Christmas": "We won't go… won't go… WON"T GO…" Too many funny parts to mention…
I have to add that the version I also like… Scrooge, The Musical with Albert Finnney, while some parts are hokey… Albert also does a grand job. I also just whatched the new "A Christmas Carol" with Jim Carrey… WOW… Instant Classic….! Highly recommend anyone to see it.
Sorry I'm a taditionalist. It was cute, not a classic.
So glad this is on the list. I saw it when I was much older, but I was always a Muppets fan. It just seems like shows for kids way back when had a certain amount of intelligence to them, including Tom and Jerry and Looney Toons, and of course, The Muppets. And this version is lovely. I love Michael Caine.
I showed it to my kids (7 and 5 1/2) this last weekend and they enjoyed it. They also new the basis for the story from, of all things, Barbie, who came out with a story book of a Barbie version of the story! But they did enjoy it.
And it wasn't until this year that I really understood how "conservative" the message is – workhouses! What about private charity! And I like the Obamacare reference – private doctors, not gov't hospitals!
Excellent!
Great movie! Best scene: Rizzo leaps from the top of the gate, and then goes back through the bars for his jellybeans. Gonzo: "You can fit through those bars? You're such an idiot!"
The Belle song may be necessary to the plot, but it is so horrendous, it is almost physically painful to watch…
"Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" likewise contains a melancholy song sung by Belle, but it is infinitely better (Jule Styne wrote it, which is pretty good for a cartoon). I wish the Muppets could have bought the rights…
This is my 2nd favorite Muppet Movie, right behind the Muppets Take Manhattan, classics!
That is also a great scene, although I don't get why everyone's ragging on the song. It wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible, either, and like you said, it's important to the overall plot.
Oh, this is my favorite Christmas movie. It got me through a five hour delay going home last christmas. Plus, last night my roommate and I watched it twice in a row. I'm probably gonna watch it today when I write one of my final papers.
One of my favorite, Our Christmas traditions include my wife reading A Christmas Carol out loud to the kids, (of course I listen too) watching the Allister Simms version of A Christmas Carol, and The Muppet's version, then Tim Allen's Santa Claus(e)
Sorry, but it creeped me out having Kermit and Piggy actually portrayed (as Mr. and Mrs Bob Crachit) as married and with kids (half of whom were pigs, half frogs, shouldn't they have all been some weird mutant combo of the two?) And it made me imagine the parents actually doing it, that'll take away your appetite for the figgy pudding!
I love this movie and I'm so bummed I can't get it on Netflix.
All time fav Christmas movie and unlike a lot of you I adore the love is gone scene. The older I've become the more I enjoy watching it.
Your point on the democrats and republicans ruined your review however, I certainly hope you were being ironic. It's the fiscal conservatives that would pinch every penny and believe that they're taxed enough already so they have no obligation to give to the poor. It's his transformation into a liberal, appreciative of all contributions to society, even the poor little rabbit who wants a penny for his song, that makes the festive feast of an ending so sweet.
But as much as I love politics, I hate to inject the debate into such a wonderful movie. Let's keep Christmas, and the muppets, nonpartisan.
Oh, no, you can't open the door and then say, "No. Let's close it." If you look at real-life experiments, you'll find that conservatives give more to charity and to individual fund-raisers. The so-called progressives have a mindset that the best way to be charitable is to have tax-funded organizations, whereas conservatives are more apt to think that individual contributions/volunteerism is better.
And now we can drop the subject, eh?
I love this movie and the take that Scrooge is the typical leftist is dead on. I know far too many wealthy leftwinger hypocrites who don't give to charity and would rather spend otehr peoples money via confiscatory taxation than do their duty. DIckens himself had a charity to help women off the streets. Instead of wasting away in government institutions (YOu know the one the above person who thinks conservatives are cold hearted….Laura you really rather clueless) he gave them a safe place to live and helped them over come obsticals. Many went to America and had good lives after. All because Dickens used his own inititive and wealth to help them. He did it out of the goodness of his heart. Dick Armey always says that Americans give best when they give of their hearts. Laura conservatives give more to charity than democrats so your whole silly idea tehre? Its wrong.
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the whole scrooge as cold hearted liberal and democrat V republican angle youve come up with is a bit odd….But i guess you free to see the film through whatever politcal shades you happen to wear….Some of us however like to take off the shades and just enjoy the movie as a heartwarming tale , exceptionally crafted. Anyhoo glad to see it getting props!
also im an idiot! not realising the ideological bent of this site i have made a comment which looks pretty stupid…so im sorry about that. Man i had nearly got through the whole of 2009 without making a dumbass comment on a website..ah well…….
Our whole family watches this on Christams Eve every year. (Only the fim about wonderful Mr. Potter gets similar treatment.) It started when the kids were little but we enjoy it just as much now. The sappy love song has always served a purpose aound here– bathroom break!
Right, because a rich, elderly, white banker complaining about his taxes is the first thing that comes to mind when you think "liberal."
The movie is great though.
*shrug* Don't look at me. I don't mind the song at all. And, of course, the Muppets are always pure awesome.
A very good choice for the list, Mr. Nolte.
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