The Muppet Christmas Carol

Certificate: Certificate U

Director: Brian Henson

Release Date:
18 December 1992

Main Cast:

Michael Caine … Ebenezer Scrooge

And, of course, The Muppeteers!

This is my all time favourite Muppet film, and also my favourite version of Charles Dickens’ classic tale. The combination of the mean and bitter Scrooge and the madcap antics of the Muppets works perfectly. Gonzo and Rizzo are a perfect double act and provide some real laugh out loud humour. Michael Caine’s Scrooge is well balanced; a slightly lighter character than in the book but tinged with just enough meanness to make him dislikeable.

The Muppet characters fit Dickens’ characters so well, and it’s almost as if Mr Fezziwig was written with Fozzie Bear in mind; of course, he becomes Mr Fozziwig!

And then there’s the Cratchit family. Kermit plays Bob, and Miss Piggy plays Mrs Cratchit. The children are either pigs (the girls) or frogs (the boys). I love what they’ve done here; I’m not a fan of the sickly sweet Cratchits, but the Muppet Cratchits are perfect!

You can hardly describe A Christmas Carol as humorous, but Brian Henson has created a re-telling of the story that is both true to the book and incredibly funny.

Rating: ★★★★★

A Christmas Carol

Certificate: Certificate U

Director: David Hugh Jones

Release Date: 5 December 1999

Main Cast:

Patrick Stewart … Mr Ebenezer Scrooge

Richard E. Grant … Bob Cratchit

Tagline:

In just one night, he has seen his past, his present and his future… And they’ve all come back to haunt him.

I love this story, and no Christmas Eve is complete without watching at least one of the two best versions out there; the other being The Muppet Christmas Carol (also reviewed on this site).

Patrick Stewart is perfectly cast as Scrooge and his performance of a mean and bitter yet lonely man evokes feelings of contempt and pity for him.

My only gripe about it is the overly nauseating Cratchit family. Richard E. Grant somehow feels miscast as Bob Cratchit (although my dislike of the actor might be clouding my judgement here!), and Tiny Tim is just way too annoying for me. But then again, I also don’t like cloyingly sweet children, so perhaps it’s just me. I’ve read the book, and the Cratchit family are sickly sweet, but it just feels like everyone is hamming it up just a little too much.

Rating: ★★★½☆

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