We all have out Christmas traditions. Some
of us celebrate on Christmas Eve, some of us have brussel sprouts at dinner,
some of us like to open presents in the morning, some of us like to play games
and all of us like to watch a Christmas film. Every year I have a list of films
I like to watch leading up to Christmas and to me, it isn’t really Christmas
until I’ve seen them. Top of the list (after Die Hard) is The Muppet’s
Christmas Carol.
Having seen comedian Brett Goldstein
perform his medley of the songs at the hilariously wonderful Amusical at the
Backyard Comedy Club this week, I truly am in the festive mood. The music, Muppets
and classic story all brought together into one film is joyous event and one
that you wouldn’t expect to work on paper or on screen. Which Muppets would
play which characters for starters? But despite Muppets brought into Victorian
England and playing out the Charles Dicken’s classic story, everything falls
into place.
Based on Dicken’s novel ‘A Christmas
Carol’, the film follows the storyline, adding in necessary Muppet quirk and
comedy. Michael Caine plays Ebenezer Scrooge to perfection (even the singing at the end is
acceptable) with Kermit the Frog as downtrodden clerk, Bob Crachit and Miss
Piggy for once in a less starry role as Emily Crachit. Gonzo, narrates as
Charles Dickens with Rizzo the Rat providing sidekick duties, breaking the
fourth wall, involving the audience from the start, and enticing them in with
an amusing opening market scene. Songs are sporadically sung throughout adding
to the charm of the story and of course, the Muppets. With each Muppet
perfectly cast and not over blown, the film flows from scene to scene, ghost to
ghost ending in an uplifting finale with the changed Scrooge and hopeful
outlook.
As a Dicken’s
novel they will always be a sense of gloom with The Muppets include through
song, hitting the emotional button with the poor signing about living in old and
drafty houses and Bean Bunny sleeping on the streets in the cold. Even one of
the scarier scenes with the Ghost of Christmas Future, who is still terrifying
with a no face and the longest arms you’ve ever seen, the sense of dread is
felt. Director Brian Henson captures the light heartedness of the Muppets and
blends it with the harsh source material in a way that might be lost if it were
made today. The innocence of 1992 is felt, where everything was made in frame,
either by puppeteers or animatronics.
Before the film, the Muppets had been on
the road, they’d been involved with a caper and they’d even been to space, the
Muppets were on a role. They were even on a role until their new sitcom/mockumentary
type show was cancelled last year, a 30 Rock like show but with Muppets. It was
a shame it was cancelled. Despite the recent setbacks, the Muppets will always
hold a special place in everyone’s hearts, especially at Christmas. As a film
with not necessarily quotable lines, it has moments that you’ll share with
others and songs that you start singing for no reason. The Muppets are
everyone, no matter what age you are, you are bound to enjoy this Christmas
classic.
Thank you to Park Circus for the splendid images used in this post. The Muppet Christmas Carol is beeing screened around the UK, take a look at the Park Circus to see where it is playing near you.