Every Christmas The Muppet Christmas Carol is required viewing in my house – with good reason, for me it ranks as one of the best Christmas movies ever.
In The Muppet Christmas Carol the Muppets take on the main roles in Charles Dickens’s well known tale, and it makes for a very enjoyable watch. For those who don’t know the story, the film follows Mr Scrooge as he is visited by four ghosts over the course of one night who attempt to show him the errors of his ways. The film is narrated by Gonzo the Great, playing the part of Dickens himself, with his trusty sidekick Rizzo the Rat. Many great comic moments come from this pairing – the two of them climbing over a ridiculously high gate, only for Rizzo to go back through the bars for a bag of treats is one such moment which sticks in my mind.
One of the highlights of the film is the presence of Statler and Waldorf, the Muppets resident hecklers, playing the roles of Jacob and Robert Marley visiting Scrooge in their ghostly forms to warn him. Their song ‘Marley and Marley’ is catchy, and features some fantastic visual imagery – the ghostly chains which are animated create a lasting impression.
The film is filled with heart warming moments, fantastic music, and most importantly the spirit of Christmas – essential viewing for all!
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992), directed by Brian Henson, is released on DVD in the UK by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.
