Movie Review: A Muppet Christmas Carol

First of All: I love this movie.  Ever since I can remember, my family has watched this movie around Christmas time, and since my sister-in-law hadn't ever seen it (which blew my mind), we popped it in during my weekly visit home and basked in the goodness that is The Muppet Christmas Carol.

Second of All: For those of you who don't know of this movie, it's the Muppet adaptation of the classic Christmas Carol written by the Victorian-era author Charles Dickens.  The premise is that Ebenezer Scrooge (played by the fantastically talented Michael Caine), who is a grumpy and jaded money lender who worries more about his money than whether or not people have homes, is haunted by the ghost of his former business associate Jacob Marley, who tells him to change his ways or be subjected to the same torment that he himself is suffering.  Later that night, Scrooge is haunted by the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, who open his eyes to the wonders of Christmas and humanity in general, leaving Scrooge a changed man.

Third of All: The review!
A while ago, I read the actual Christmas Carol, and I have to say, it had a pretty grim tone the whole time.  What is fantastic about the Muppet rendition is that it keeps the severity of the topic of the story while adding the classic humor and satiric jabs that made the Muppets famous.  For example, the original story treats heavily with the living conditions of the poor at the time Dickens wrote it by depicting Bob Cratchit and his family, as well as others the characters pass on the streets who live in poor conditions.  The Muppets, while adding humor and goofy antics, still keep this as a very strong theme of the story, and even accentuate it with placing some of the most adorable Muppets into characters who live in heart-wrenching poverty.  As you see Scrooge's transformation and later determination to help the poor whenever possible, you can see hope return to each of these characters, thus accentuating the point of Dickens's novel with artistic mastery.

As with all Muppet adaptations, they throw in a multitude of musical numbers, which some people may frown upon, seeing as how A Christmas Carol is a classic, and shouldn't be tampered with, etc. etc.   I don't have that problem.  The music in this movie is very well thought-out, and reflects not only the theme of the book, but also the nature of the characters.  Every time that Bob Cratchit (played by the immortal Kermit the Frog) sings, you can see the dogged hope and cheer that pervades his character.

My one miff with this movie is the absolutely horrendous song that Beth (Scrooge's former girlfriend) sings during Scrooge's trip down memory lane.  Granted, it does articulate the fact that she's leaving him because money is more important to him than she is.  The execution, however, is dreadful.  The actress's voice is mediocre at best, and she makes some pretty wonky faces while singing.  And though it only lasts for around four minutes, it seems like ages.  The plot is served just as well by her saying "You did love me once," and then walking away.  If you ever watch it, choose the Theatrical Version, since it cuts this song out completely.

All in all, I love this movie.  It's a beautiful, funny, touching and ultimately glorious story about redemption and the fact that the true spirit of Christmas isn't in presents, it's in the love that we find for those around us.  I give it a five and a half out of six Nerd Stars.