They're pretty much a staple growing up in America, and Kermit the Frog alone has spawned so many memes that the internet loves. So, naturally, putting them into A Christmas Carol makes only too much sense. For over sixty years, they've touched the hearts of everyone with their colorful characters and wonderful humor, in several productions that both kids and adults can enjoy.
Christmas Carol is a timeless tale about a man who finds redemption through generosity after realizing he's been such a miserable bastard to everyone for almost his entire life. This is just one of many adaptations of Charles Dickens' original novel, and - at first glance - it may seem like an odd choice for the Muppets to appear in, but it actually works really well. That's due to, in no small part, to the fact that while the Muppets are here and their brand of humor is here as well, it doesn't detract from the story.
The story is, like I said above, timeless and has survived so many different adaptations largely because it translates well to everyone. Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine) is a miser who despises Christmas and everything to do with it. After consenting to give his overworked employee Bob Crachit (Kermit the Frog, voiced by Steve Whitmire), Scrooge returns to his home on Christmas Eve and is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley...and his brother Robert (played by Statler and Waldorf, voiced respectively by Jerry Nelson and Dave Goelz), who was not in the original story, but it's definitely a lovely add-on.
The Brothers Marley inform Scrooge that, on that night, he will be visited by three ghosts - the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Future, and Yet To Come - and, as we all know from the original story, Scrooge's life will be forever changed by the experiences he has on this Christmas Eve.
And, before I go any further, Michael Caine is absolutely phenomenal as Ebenezer Scrooge. When hired, he himself said he wasn't going to play as he were surrounded by puppets, and it really shows. Not so much in the way it did with Liam Neeson in The Phantom Menace, but more that Michael Caine is a stunningly professional who is pretty much absolutely amazing in everything he's in. You can really tell that he's giving his all to the role and he's really enjoying it.
The Muppets are all in there prime here, both in spite of and because of their nature as being the characters we know and love playing the various roles they are given. That doesn't really take away from the story or the characters at all, and that's really a good thing. It goes to show that the changing of characters doesn't necessarily change the story. But, despite the title, this story really isn't about the Muppets, it's about Scrooge.
His redemption. His change in demeanor from being a cantankerous, hateful old miser to becoming a kind and generous soul. Scrooge finally being able to see the light after all the terrible things that happened in his life and learning that the answer isn't in being withdrawn and greedy, it's in being kind, generous, and loving. I love this film, and I know a lot of people out there do, too. If you're looking for a heartwarming adaptation done well, with a great deal of heart and plenty of good humor, you can't do better than this.
The Muppet Christmas Carol is now available from Walt Disney Pictures, Jim Henson Pictures, and Buena Vista Pictures.
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