The Muppet Christmas Carol

11 December 1992 (USA)

MPAA Rating: G

IMDB Rating: 7.4 / 10

Length: 89 min

Tags: comedy, family, fantasy, musical, music

Director: Brian Henson
Writers:

Cast:

Ebenezer Scrooge
(Michael Caine)
The Great Gonzo as Charles Dickens
(Dave Goelz)
Dr. Bunsen Honeydew
(Steve Whitmire)
Betina Cratchit
(Jerry Nelson)
Zoot
(Frank Oz)
Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit
(David Rudman)
Rizzo the Rat
(Don Austen)
Beaker
(Jessica Fox)
Bean Bunny
(Robert Tygner)
Belinda Cratchit
(Steven Mackintosh)
Lips
(Meredith Braun)
Tiny Tim
(Robin Weaver)
Jacob Marley
(Raymond Coulthard)
Ghost of Christmas Present
(Russell Martin)
Lew Zealand
(Theo Sanders)
Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit / Fozzie Bear as Fozziewig / Sam the Eagle as Headmaster of Junior High Graduates / Animal / George the Janitor / Horse and Carriage Driver / Vegetable Salesman (voice)
(Frank Oz)
Rat / Peter Cratchit / Old Joe / Swedish Chef (voice)
(David Rudman)
Ghost of Christmas Present (performer) / Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (performer)
(Don Austen)
Ghost of Christmas Past (voice)
(Jessica Fox)
Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (performer) / Ghost of Christmas Past (performer) / Turkey / Additional Muppets (uncredited) (voice)
(Robert Tygner)
Fred, Scrooge's Nephew
(Steven Mackintosh)
Belle
(Meredith Braun)
Clara
(Robin Weaver)
Young Scrooge
(Raymond Coulthard)

Editor Review

Ordinarily the same film being remade over and over would get frustrating, and Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is the most remade Christmas movie of all time. However, whenever anything is approached by Jim Henson and his Muppet crew, I am more than willing to give it an hour and a half of my time.

It's unfortunate that this was to be the first project by the Jim Henson Company subsequent to Jim Henson's death. The voice of Kermit the Frog was taken over by Steve Whitmore; a tough act to follow, but he does a steady job. It's never the same thing, but a good choice in the end. The story features Michael Caine in an upstanding performance as Ebenezer Scrooge, surrounded by a host of Henson's usual group; Kermit plays Scrooge's loyal employee Bob Cratchit, and Gonzo (with the help of Rizzo the Rat) narrates the tale as Mr. Dickens.

Let's not forget the focus on songs in the film, as it is a musical comedy adaptation, and there are songs galore. Most memorable is Scrooge ("Hello, Mr. Humbug, Hello, Mr. Grim") sang by all of the Muppet characters. Most pleasing for me is the treat of having Statler and Waldorf, the resident hecklers on the show, feature as Jacob and Robert Marley, the spirits of Scrooge's old business partners. They foretell Scrooge's awful fate if he doesn't change his ways, and the three ghosts get to work trying to educate Scrooge.

The Ghost of Christmas present - a friendly and larger than life dough-giant - really brings me back to childhood and hearing his loud chortling gets the corners of my mouth curling automatically.

Strangely enough (or not, as the case may be) many see this as the best adaptation of the Dickens classic. But regardless if another might be better in your eyes, Brian Henson really did a fantastic job at honouring his father, the master, and making a fantastically warm and cherished Christmas movie.


Fun Fact:

With Whitmore taking over for Henson as the voice of Kermit, he was very nervous about taking over the iconic character in the lead up to the film. The night before he had to record Kermit's songs for the movie, he had a dream where he met Henson in a hotel lobby. Henson reassured Whitmore that his nervous feelings would pass. On waking, Whitmore felt confident enough to play the part.

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