Reel Jolly series: “The Muppet Christmas Carol”

Like I stated at the beginning of my “Scrooged” review, I looked at a couple versions of the beloved tale “A Christmas Carol.” So, for this review, I took a look at a version of this classic story that I haven’t seen since I was a little kid - “The Muppet Christmas Carol.”

The Muppets perform the classic Dickens holiday tale, with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit, the put-upon clerk of stingy Ebenezer Scrooge. Other Muppets - Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie the Bear, among many others - weave in and out of the story, while Scrooge receives visits from spirits of three Christmases - past, present and future.

They show him the error of his self-serving ways, but the miserable old man seems to be past any hope of redemption and happiness.

This adaptation of the beloved Charles Dickens story is one that all families will easily enjoy. It’s also one of the better adaptations of “A Christmas Carol” as it does an amazing job balancing the usual Muppet humor with heart.

One aspect of this family holiday movie that I really enjoyed was the performance of the legendary Michael Caine as Scrooge. Caine played the Ebenezer Scrooge role with absolute seriousness, which actually allowed the story’s deeper emotional themes to land powerfully. By taking the role seriously, he brings genuine gravitas, making his moments of regret, fear (especially when he sees his gravestone), and eventual joy deeply affecting.

I really enjoyed the clever blend of classic Muppets chaos and humor with Dicken’s seriousness, especially with the very hilarious banter between Gonzo (the story’s narrator) and Rizzo the Rat, using slapstick and witty dialogue to lighten some of the heavy themes, while still delivering genuine emotion, making the story heartwarming and enjoyable for all ages.

This beloved holiday classic also delivers some very hilarious moments, such as when

Gonzo (acting as Charles Dickens) tries to set a somber mood by lighting a street lamp, but he accidentally sets Rizzo’s tail on fire (“Light the Lamp. Not the rat”). There’s also quite a few musical moments scattered throughout that are really iconic and will really keep the little ones fairly entertained, including the musical favorites “It Feels Like Christmas” and “One More Sleep til Christmas.”

“The Muppet Christmas Carol” is widely regarded by contemporary audiences and critics as one of the best and most faithful adaptations of the Charles Dickens novella. While it was somewhat overshadowed by “Home Alone 2” during its original 1992 original theatrical run, it achieved massive long-term success on home media and streaming, becoming a staple of family holiday traditions.

MPA: Rated G  (runtime 85 minutes)   (Disney Plus)

• Before production began, Sir Michael Caine told producer and director Brian Henson, "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." Henson replied "Yes, bang on!"

• Sir Michael Caine considers the role of Scrooge to be one of his most memorable.

• Halfway through production, Sir Michael Caine realized this movie was Brian Henson's directorial debut. Caine was deeply impressed.

• The Ghost of Christmas Past effects were created by making a special puppet that was operated in a tank of water and then greenscreened into the movie to make it look like it was floating.

• This was the first major Muppet project after creator Jim Henson's death. The role of Kermit the Frog was handed down to Steve Whitmire. He said he was incredibly nervous about taking over such an iconic character. The night before he recorded Kermit's songs for the movie, he had a dream where he met Henson in a hotel lobby and told him how unsure he was. In the dream, Henson reassured Whitmire that the feeling would pass. After waking up, Whitmire was confident and able to do the part.

• Sir Michael Caine actively pursued the role of Ebenezer Scrooge when he heard that it was going into production. He had missed out on a guest star role on the TV series The Muppet Show (1976) which was shot in the UK while he was living as a tax exile in the US at the time. However friends and colleagues he knew who had guested on it such as Sir Roger Moore, John Cleese, Peter Sellers and Sylvester Stallone had told him they had a massive amount of fun appearing in the show, and that it had given them extra kudos with children. By the time this film was greenlighted in 1991, Caine had moved back to the UK and when he heard it was going to be filmed in a London film studio he had his agent badger Jim Henson Productions until they agreed to meet with him. They then cast him shortly afterwards.

• Dedicated to the memory of Jim Henson and Richard Hunt. Henson created the Muppets, and Hunt was best known as the voice of Scooter. Together, Hunt and Henson performed the characters of Statler and Waldorf. Henson died in May of 1990 from bacterial pneumonia at age 53. Hunt died of AIDS complications in early 1992. Brian Henson said in an interview that this film was a major turning point for the Muppets.

• This movie did modestly well at the box office, but suffered due to competition from Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992).

• Several characters from Fraggle Rock (1983) make appearances in this movie, most of them in crowd scenes. Sprocket the dog is the most notable, but viewers can also spot Mudwell the Mudbunny, Wander McMooch, and several of the Minstrels.