The festive period brings many things, presents, spending time with family and the age-old question, what is the best Christmas film? As you may have guessed from the title, I’m here to inform you that it is indeed a Muppet’s Christmas Carol. Now this may inspire some outrage, how could I stray from the classics like Love Actually, Home Alone and Elf? Let me explain; Muppet’s Christmas Carol is vastly superior in spreading the Christmas message, is (mostly) faithful to the book and period it represents, and if this doesn’t convince you, who can say no to a tiny baby Kermit?
There’s a reason why ‘A Christmas Carol’ is such a timeless masterpiece. A Christmas Carol shows what is important: kindness, equality and spending time with friends and family. The Muppet’s adaptation doesn’t disappoint, with song lyrics such as “The love we found, we carry with us, so we’re never quite alone” and “It’s true, wherever you find love, it feels like Christmas”. The film consistently reminds us of the power of love and friendship.
While this might not be the most important aspect for many, the film has a high degree of historical accuracy, something that is quite surprising considering it is a Muppet film. All the Muppets wear historically accurate clothing, and the vibrancy of such clothing, particularly Gonzo’s (Charles Dickens), provides a more accurate reflection of the fashions of the time. The benefit of having a narrator allows The Muppet’s Christmas carol to lift lines directly from the book. The two singular areas where it falls short is portraying Scrooge as consistently hating Christmas, compared to the book, where he only learns to hate it over time. The set also shows London to be more quaint and villagelike rather than the bustling city it would have been.
Something else I particularly enjoy is the humour. The Marley brothers are played by Statler and Waldorf, and their entire song is dedicated to repenting for the terrible things they have done in their lifetime. Whilst I’m sure many English teachers will inform you that the original book is humourous in its own right, the addition of two pigs requesting lunch and dinner at all times is something that deserves watching. Other key highlights include a Rubber Chicken Factory, tiny rats singing heatwave and a cat chase scene.
If you’re still convinced (incorrectly) that an alternative film deserves the title. Let me pull out my final secret weapon. Tiny Tim. Tiny Tim is ultimately the star of the show in any production of A Christmas Carol. Tiny Tim is played by baby Kermit who is undoubtedly the most adorable puppet you have ever seen.
So, after reading this article I hope you are convinced of the superiority of a Muppet’s Christmas Carol, the only situation in which you are permitted to choose an alternative film is if you hate musicals. In which case you are entirely wrong and there is no hope.
Either way, I hope everyone has a brilliant holiday and is able to rest and relax!
Disclaimer: This an article written by someone who has watched a Muppet’s Christmas Carol at least 13 times, all people are entitled to their own opinion on Christmas movies.
