Brian Henson directs his late father's creations in the Charles Dickens classic, the best known (and most oft-filmed) Christmas story of all time. Michael Caine plays the old miser Scrooge with Kermit as his long-suffering but ever-hopeful employee Bob Cratchit, Miss Piggy as Cratchit's wife, and a host of Muppets (including the Great Gonzo as an unlikely Charles Dickens) taking other primary roles in this bright, playful adaptation of the somber tale. Or at least it starts brightly enough--the anarchic humor soon settles into mirthful memories and a sense of melancholy as the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future take Scrooge on a journey of his lonely, wasted life. Michael Caine makes a wonderful Scrooge, delightfully rediscovering the meaning of life as fantastic creations from Henson's Creature Shop (developed specially for this film) take the reins as the three ghosts. While the odd mix of offbeat humor and somber drama undercuts the power of Dickens's drama, this kid-friendly retelling makes an excellent family drama that adults and children alike can enjoy. --Sean Axmaker
Product Details:
Actors:
Michael Caine, Dave Goelz, Donald Austen, David Alan Barclay, Robbie Barnett
Director:
Brian Henson
Format:
Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Language:
English
Number of Discs:
1
Studio:
Walt Disney Video
Run Time:
85 minutes
DVD Release Date:
October 08, 2002
Average Customer Rating:
based on 321 reviews
Customer Reviews:
Average Customer Review:
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Wonderful Christmas MovieJun 07, 2010 Ranks alongside 'Godstone - The Kairos Boxes' and 'Scrooged' as my favorite Christmas movies and books.
best post-Jim Henson Muppet MovieApr 18, 2010 If you're a fan of Dickens or the Muppets, don't miss this one. Michael Cane is great as Scrooge. Rizzo and Gonzo are our narrators, and they are hilarious. The songs aren't the best, but it's muppet fun that both adults and kids can enjoy. I watch it yearround. The best post-Jim Henson jokes and emotion.
Skillful, fresh, and humorous adaptation of the Dickens classicApr 13, 2010 "The Muppet Christmas Carol" is extremely comfortable with the specific way it wants to tell Dickens' story, and by definition, is different from any other telling of the classic tale. The risks it takes with the story pay off hugely, and the warmth, humor and overall skill that went into this production is obvious.
Starring Michael Caine as Ebeneezer Scrooge, it features only a very small number of visible human actors. They are not missed, as the vast majority of characters are played by Muppets. There is Kermit The Frog as Bob Cratchit, Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit,(in this version Bob's wife gets a proper name)and Gonzo as Charles Dickens himself, among many other Muppet characters. The inclusion of a Dickens surrogate is particularly nice, as it functions like an anchor to the original story while also providing an entertaining main narrator for this variation of it.
Also featuring a number of beautiful songs and a great script, "The Muppet Christmas Carol" is unique and timeless.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Lovely movieFeb 14, 2010 I LOVE this movie! I sing the songs yeararound and think that EVERY child should see it!
Best Muppets everFeb 12, 2010 This is the best Muppets anything ever made. Probably one of the best Christmas Carol stories ever made too. Great movie!
based on 321 reviews
