Let's cut to chase this week, no beating around the bush, the story is a classic and the film is a perrenial Christmas favourite, but what did we think of;
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Right then, it may not be a case of where to start with this review, it may be where to finish.
The Muppets take the Charles Dickens Christmas classic and convert it to the big screen, but do they make a good job of it?
The story has been copied a thousand times, it is and always will be, the definitive feelgood Christmas story. The story of greed, avarice and scorn, making way for repentance, forgiving and kindness. The ultimate turnaround story, delightfully, thoughtfully and masterly written by Dickens, but have the Muppets ruined it?
No.
The best thing about The Muppet Christmas Carol, is their faithfulness to the original story. As I said A Christmas Carol, is the definitive Christmas story, altering it, more often than not detracts from the story. Dickens got it right first time, there's no need to amend it.
The Muppets stick very close to the original, including in most places the original prose as written by Dickens. Obviously there are some amendments to fit the characters, to the available Muppet cast. A degree of poetic licence is exerted for instance, by having Waldorf and Statler play Jacob and Robert Marley, doubling up on the Scrooge and Marley partnership in the original.
I think, that they have got the characterisation right, Kermit plays Bob Cratchitt, Miss Piggy; his wife Emily. A natural partnership.
Fozzie Bear is old Fezziwig, or rather Fozziewig. Perfect.
Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker are magnificently cast as the charitable gentlemen asking Scrooge for a donation for the poor.
As well as the characters, we have the luxury of Gonzo as the narrator (Charles Dickens) providing a perfect platform for plot embellishment, as he can describe the action and fill in the background. Rizzo the Rat is the voice of the audience, questioning Gonzo on the story on our behalf.
The only real casting doubt I have about The Muppet Christmas Carol is Ebeneezer Scrooge himself. Michael Caine would not have been my choice as the squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner, that is Scrooge. However, it seems to work, although I always think he is going to say; "Muppets, bloody thousands of them!"
It is also a musical film and Michael Caine proves he is no singer, but he makes a good effort. And I won't dismiss the film purely because of Mr. Caine minor failings.
The only other negative point I will make is, on certain releases of the DVD, there is one song cut from the original film, which is a real shame as the song; "When Love is Gone" is a wonderfully sad love lament, sung by Belle to the young Ebeneezer. A real poor piece of editing.
However, all in all, The Muppet Christmas Carol is a classic, very true to the original story, funny, poignant and sad, but ultimately extremely rewarding.
It should be in everbodys top 10 Christmas movies of all time.
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