The Muppet Christmas Carol

The Muppets have their way with the classic Christmas tale about Scrooge and the meaning of Christmas. Like most Muppet movies, there are plenty of songs and dances and Miss Piggy hitting people. But it was all for the greater good of teaching Scrooge a lesson.  You see Scrooge (Michael Caine) hates Christmas and well people in general, but especially Christmas. And since he is a grumpy old miser, nobody is particularly fond if him. On the night of Christmas eve Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of his business partners Jacob and Robert Marley. They tell him that he has to change his ways or he'll end up like them, wrapped in chains for all eternity. They say that he will be visited by three spirits that will show him the errors of his ways. Scrooge is not interested, but he has little choice.

So when the bell tolls one, the first visitor has arrived. This one shows Scrooge what he has lost in the past. Not only has he never celebrated Christmas, he also let his fiancé slip away from him.  The second spirit is a Santa Claus like person. He shows Scrooge how much fun there is to be had on Christmas, and how different people celebrate it, even if they have little money (The Crachits). That Christmas is about friendship and love and family, not money and gifts. The third ghost shows up and sucks all the fun out of everything. It shows Scrooge that no one will care if he dies, because nobody likes him, basically.

Disturbed by this, when he wakes up and discovers it is still Christmas day, he vows to change his ways. While singing and with the help of easily won over Muppets Scrooge buys everyone he knows gifts. According to the Great Gonzo (aka Charles Dickens) he never goes back to him money hungry ways.

I love the Muppets. I wish they'd play this every year instead of It's a Wonderful Life. I actually like this movie. It's funny and zany and everything you'd associate with the Muppets.

This movie is great for the kid in all of us. I think it will never get old.

Grade: 8/10