Published by Charles Dickens in 1843, A Christmas Carol is a novella that has been adapted many times over the years. Everyone is likely familiar with the basis of the story: Ebenezer Scrooge is a greedy and miserable miser who abuses his employees, including Bob Cratchit. On Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future; the ghosts show Scrooge scenes from his old life, and scenes from the lives of those he impacts, along with a sinister future if he doesn’t change his ways. On Christmas, Scrooge awakens as a kinder man, and embodies the generous spirit of Christmas everyday.
It’s a timeless tale that has been adapted and re-imagined many times, with two versions even being released this year. One adaptation that remains highly regarded is 1992’s The Muppet Christmas Carol. It tells a strong version of the classic story, with Michael Caine as Scrooge, and the Muppets as the other characters. It’s a great adaptation that manages to be funny, deep, and heartwarming all at once. Here’s why it’s still a great Christmas movie, 30 years later.
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A Great Portrayal of Scrooge
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
As Scrooge is the central character, a lot of the movie’s success comes down to his performance. Luckily, The Muppet Christmas Carol has an excellent Scrooge in Michael Caine; ScreenRant considers his performance of the character one of the all-time best. He’s truly cruel and menacing, making you hate him from the start. In the opening scene, the Muppets sing about how horrible he is, and he quickly backs that up by refusing to give money to charity, and throwing a wreath at Bean Bunny. He’s a harsh Scrooge, while his seriousness and misery also make a great contrast to the joyous, colorful Muppets.
That meanness, however, soon gives over to softness, with Caine reflecting every bit of Scrooge’s changing heart. In the scene of Scrooge’s lonely childhood at school, Caine shows the nostalgia and sadness involved with the memory. In the scene of Christmas present, where Scrooge’s nephew Fred plays a party game insulting Scrooge, Caine’s reaction is so heartbroken you actually feel sorry for him. By the time he glimpses into the future and sees characters celebrating his death, you’re actively rooting for him to return unharmed, and change his ways. Caine gives a very human portrayal of the character, one that addresses his past and how it made him who he is. It’s deep and nuanced, and makes his later happiness that much more rewarding.
Timeless Themes
The themes of greed and embracing kindness are already timeless, and the Muppets succeed in their showing. It could be easy to simplify these in favor of a lighter kids’ movie, but they don’t sacrifice the power of the story in their retelling. Speaking with The Independent, director Brian Henson said they started off wanting to do a parody, but quickly realized the power of the story, and knew they had to do it genuinely.
The result is a genuine and heartfelt retelling that uses much of Dickens’ writing. Instead of just making Scrooge a horrible man, they show why; we see his childhood and even his relationship with Belle, which fell apart when he chose money over her. We see the constant presence greed has, and how it’s made Scrooge cold and hard. We then see the complete opposite with the Cratchits (led by Kermit as Bob), who have a small Christmas dinner, but are truly happy for their food and for each other. It shows the power of family and compassion, and how the magic of Christmas is because of those things. It’s a faithful adaptation that shows how meaningful its themes are, in a way kids and adults can access.
Fun, Serious, and Heartfelt
Finally, the movie succeeds in having humor, heart, and enjoyment for all ages. The Muppets are just plain fun, and make pretty much anything better. Gonzo narrates the movie as Charles Dickens, and has his hands full with Rizzo, who falls down the Cratchits’ chimney and lands on their goose. Statler and Waldorf, as the ghosts Jacob and Robert Marley, bring their signature humor as they joke with Scrooge. It’s also visually great, with everything from the grand Ghost of Christmas Present, to the cute fun of the singing vegetables.
Though there’s great humor, the movie has deep moments as well. One of the most weighty is Scrooge’s encounter with the ghost of Christmas Future – even Gonzo and Rizzo are frightened of this scene, and leave until the finale. Scrooge must confront a faceless ghost who shows him his own grave, and a sorrowful scene of the Cratchits having Christmas without Tim. This scene is truly heartbreaking, as Bob tells his wife about Tim’s grave overlooking the ducks, and lingers on his abandoned crutch. Scrooge then passionately begs for his life, and vows to change himself in another emotional moment.
After surviving the encounter, Scrooge wakes on Christmas as morning a new man. He sings about the true spirit and kindness of Christmas, then donates to charity and arrives at the Cratchits’ with a turkey. He has Christmas dinner with them, and later becomes a second father to Tim. His embracing of family and compassion feels earned, and the heartwarming scene might even make you shed a tear. It’s a perfect representation of the novel’s themes, matched with the wonder and joy the Muppets bring.
