Among the many adaptations of “A Christmas Carol,” “The Muppet Christmas Carol” stands out as a beloved favorite. Watching it again after so many years was genuinely delightful and highlighted how much of the Muppet filmography I still have left to explore.
One of the best things about this movie is Michael Caine as Scrooge. He is an extremely talented actor, and to see him opposite the Muppets is weird. He told director Brian Henson that he would play this role completely straight, as if he weren’t working with puppets. This was something that Jim Henson loved. And it works. He is taking this so seriously, and yet he is talking to a frog. He’s also not phoning in the performance; he is acting his ass off, delivering such disgust when asked to donate to charity or give his workers more coal for the fire. And that makes his transformation over the three visits all the more stark.
Yesterday, my main issue with “Scrooged” was the “Ghost of Christmas Future” sequence, and “The Muppet Christmas Carol” shows what I want from the third ghost’s visit. Scrooge hears that someone has died, and it has brought joy to many in the town. Eventually, he learns that the people were celebrating his death. He sees his nephew and how he is really viewed; he sees Bob Cratchitt (Kermit the Frog) and his family dealing with the loss of Tiny Tim. Overcome with sadness and despair, he vows to change and make sure this future doesn’t come to pass.
If you are going to watch this with your kids on Disney+, which I highly recommend, make sure you get the director's cut, which can be accessed under the extras tab. There is a song that was cut from the original cut of the movie.
