The Muppet Christmas Carol is the greatest adaptation of the Charles Dickens’ classic and nothing can change my mind. This movie is essential viewing in my house every Christmas. Some Christmas movies may be played every other year or go several years without being watched, but not The Muppet Christmas Carol! Hell, if my theatre is showing this, I will usually make the effort to go and see it on the big screen.
How to Download The Muppet Christmas Carol
The Muppet Christmas Carol was released on December 11, 1992. You can download or stream the film from Disney+ or other digital platform. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice. Check out also other adaptations of Christmas Carol that we have reviewed – A Christmas Carol (2009) and Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (2022).
The Movie Review
A Faithful yet Fun Adaptation
This would be the first movie that Brian Henson would direct and he does just an amazing job. While it is easy to look at the fun aspect of The Muppet Christmas Carol, this is actually a very faithful adaptation of the original story. I think that is often glazed over when people are talking about what a great movie this is.
You do not need me to tell you the story of A Christmas Carol, it is the same classic story here. Old mean miser, Ebeneezer Scrooge is visited by three ghosts who try to change his view of the world. It is a tale as old as time and a story that I am sure most people are very familiar with.
Michael Caine’s Brilliant Scrooge
Scrooge is played by Michael Caine and I would put this up there with the best performance of his career. You of course have the buffoonery that comes with The Muppets, but Michael Caine plays it all 100 percent straight and it makes for a truly captivating experience. The stuff with Scrooge and Kermit is as dramatic and brutal as any other adaptation of A Christmas Carol.
Gonzo and Rizzo: Narrators Extraordinaire
A huge part of the fun for me is always the narration by Gonzo who plays the role of Charles Dickens. Gonzo along with Rizo the Rat narrates the movie and it is just so much fun. However, while there are gags, the movie plays it all very straight and the “message” of the movie is very much present here.
Stunning Set Design
The set design in the movie is some of the best of any Muppet movie and when you consider that this was the first movie done without Jim Henson, there was a lot riding on this movie to be a success. It showed that with Brian Henson and the rest of the Jim Henson Creature Shop were still in very good hands. While I love Jim Henson, I would always say that The Muppet Christmas Carol is my favorite Muppet movie.
Memorable Music and Emotional Depth
I also love the music that this movie has and the score in general is great. Thankful Heart is one of my favorite songs from any Christmas movie and usually, I am humming it the whole month of December. Although, I have already gotten in trouble with my wife for humming it in November.
There are some funny moments in the movie, but this adaptation does not shy away from the harsher stuff either. From Scrooge blowing the love of his life away, the hardships faced by the Cratchits, and Scrooge breaking down over Tiny Tim. All of the iconic moments that make this story as impactful as it has been for generations are here. However, you get the fun stuff with The Muppets sprinkled in too. Rizo the rat and Gonzo trying to get over the fence, only for Rizo to then just walk through the bars always cracks me up.
Watch It in Its Full Glory
The best way to watch The Muppet Christmas Carol is on Disney Plus as they have the full unedited version of the movie and it is in 4K. It is crazy to me that Disney has never released this on a 4K disc! They have however released an awesome vinyl soundtrack that you can bet your bottom shilling you stole from Scrooge I will be playing on Christmas morning. There are a handful of Christmas movies that I feel are perfect and this is one of them.
