The Muppets' festive masterpiece
If Dickens was brought back to life today he would weep tears of ecstasy knowing that his little book had evolved into such a masterpiece, argues Sacha Hammond.
The story has been adapted thousands of times since it was first written over one hundred years ago, however most of these imitations can’t come close to the quality of the original. That is except for one. There’s one adaptation that’s not only as good as the original novel, you could say it’s surpassed it: The Muppet Christmas Carol. Possibly the cosiest movie ever made, this Christmas Eve classic deserves to be re-watched every year. I’m not normally a big fan of the Muppets, but that didn’t stop me falling in love with this movie.
At the beginning of the movie we’re introduced to our narrators, Gonzo and Rizzo, with Gonzo masquerading as Dickens himself and Rizzo serving as his sarcastic sidekick. We’re then taken to where the original story begins, in Scrooge’s workplace. Here we are introduced to Michael Caine as Scrooge and Kermit as Bob Cratchit. Scrooge refuses to give Cratchit and the other employees a day off at Christmas but he’s soon convinced when he learns it could save him money. He’s then visited by both his nephew Fred and the charity collectors, but he turns them both down in an incredibly impolite manner. After this scene concludes, Scrooge returns to his dimly-lit home where he’s visited by not just one ghost, but two. The ghosts of the two Marley brothers warn him that his sins will lead to an eternity of suffering and that he’ll be visited by three more spirits, just like in the original story (except there's an extra laugh for the addition of Robert -Bob? - Marley).
The first ghost to visit Scrooge is the Ghost of Christmas Past, who shows him his lonely schooling days and his time working for Mr Fezziwig (masterfully portrayed by Fozzie). Then last but not least, he is shown his long lost love, Belle who left him because of his evil ways.
Next he’s visited by the Ghost of Christmas Present, my favourite character in the whole movie. The ghost shows him how tough Christmas is for London’s poor population - focusing primarily on the Cratchits and their sick son Tiny Tim, to whom Scrooge takes a particular shine. Soon, the spirit fades, making the way for the most terrible ghost yet…
The silent Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Scrooge is shown to his own lonely grave and the grief surrounding the death of Tiny Tim. This is the final boost he needs to ditch his evil ways.
The next morning, Christmas day, Scrooge wakes up in an incredibly festive spirit. He buys a turkey for the Cratchits and becomes the most generous man in all of London.
My favourite thing about this movie is the sheer joy it evokes. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and while it does stay largely true to the source material, the film puts its own original spin on the tale. It does a great job at communicating the importance of generosity and empathy, especially at Christmas-time. The set design and the costumes on the Muppets make this one of the most festive films ever made. It’s as carefree as an unexpected snow day and as cosy as a freshly lit fireplace.
The more I watch it, the more I wish I could see it for the first time all over again. Some might argue that this version loses a lot of the haunted eeriness that made the novel so special. It’s definitely made with kids in mind, but I don’t necessarily think it’s made exclusively for children. There’s plenty of adaptations that maintain the haunted nature of the original, but this one isn’t trying to do that. It clearly exists for the sheer purpose of spreading Christmas cheer.
Don’t dismiss this masterpiece just because you think that talking puppets might be a little childish. After all, Christmas is a time for unleashing your inner child. This is a great introduction for anyone who doesn’t know the story, but even if you do you’ll surely enjoy this gleeful adaptation. If you feel like you're lacking a bit of Christmas spirit, just put this film on and you’ll be up and singing carols in no time.
Sacha Hammond, Y11
The story has been adapted thousands of times since it was first written over one hundred years ago, however most of these imitations can’t come close to the quality of the original. That is except for one. There’s one adaptation that’s not only as good as the original novel, you could say it’s surpassed it: The Muppet Christmas Carol. Possibly the cosiest movie ever made, this Christmas Eve classic deserves to be re-watched every year. I’m not normally a big fan of the Muppets, but that didn’t stop me falling in love with this movie.
At the beginning of the movie we’re introduced to our narrators, Gonzo and Rizzo, with Gonzo masquerading as Dickens himself and Rizzo serving as his sarcastic sidekick. We’re then taken to where the original story begins, in Scrooge’s workplace. Here we are introduced to Michael Caine as Scrooge and Kermit as Bob Cratchit. Scrooge refuses to give Cratchit and the other employees a day off at Christmas but he’s soon convinced when he learns it could save him money. He’s then visited by both his nephew Fred and the charity collectors, but he turns them both down in an incredibly impolite manner. After this scene concludes, Scrooge returns to his dimly-lit home where he’s visited by not just one ghost, but two. The ghosts of the two Marley brothers warn him that his sins will lead to an eternity of suffering and that he’ll be visited by three more spirits, just like in the original story (except there's an extra laugh for the addition of Robert -Bob? - Marley).
The first ghost to visit Scrooge is the Ghost of Christmas Past, who shows him his lonely schooling days and his time working for Mr Fezziwig (masterfully portrayed by Fozzie). Then last but not least, he is shown his long lost love, Belle who left him because of his evil ways.
Next he’s visited by the Ghost of Christmas Present, my favourite character in the whole movie. The ghost shows him how tough Christmas is for London’s poor population - focusing primarily on the Cratchits and their sick son Tiny Tim, to whom Scrooge takes a particular shine. Soon, the spirit fades, making the way for the most terrible ghost yet…
The silent Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Scrooge is shown to his own lonely grave and the grief surrounding the death of Tiny Tim. This is the final boost he needs to ditch his evil ways.
The next morning, Christmas day, Scrooge wakes up in an incredibly festive spirit. He buys a turkey for the Cratchits and becomes the most generous man in all of London.
My favourite thing about this movie is the sheer joy it evokes. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and while it does stay largely true to the source material, the film puts its own original spin on the tale. It does a great job at communicating the importance of generosity and empathy, especially at Christmas-time. The set design and the costumes on the Muppets make this one of the most festive films ever made. It’s as carefree as an unexpected snow day and as cosy as a freshly lit fireplace.
The more I watch it, the more I wish I could see it for the first time all over again. Some might argue that this version loses a lot of the haunted eeriness that made the novel so special. It’s definitely made with kids in mind, but I don’t necessarily think it’s made exclusively for children. There’s plenty of adaptations that maintain the haunted nature of the original, but this one isn’t trying to do that. It clearly exists for the sheer purpose of spreading Christmas cheer.
Don’t dismiss this masterpiece just because you think that talking puppets might be a little childish. After all, Christmas is a time for unleashing your inner child. This is a great introduction for anyone who doesn’t know the story, but even if you do you’ll surely enjoy this gleeful adaptation. If you feel like you're lacking a bit of Christmas spirit, just put this film on and you’ll be up and singing carols in no time.
Sacha Hammond, Y11
