The documentary “Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey” is like an 80-plus minute hug from an old friend. An old, furry friend to be precise.

Turns out the man who gives life to the “Sesame Street” muppet is a tall, soft-spoken black man who dreamed of being a puppeteer all his life. His story – that of a lower middle class lad whose talents led him to muppet guru Jim Henson – provides the kind of sweet, comforting material too rarely seen in the documentary format.

It’s the American Dream on a deeply private scale, and director Constance Marks captures it with an effervescence that honors both the puppeteer and Elmo himself.

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A 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. (more…)