Thankfully this Scrooge's Heart is in the right place

MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (1992)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

You can't help but notice that Michael Caine's Ebenezer Scrooge is not that angry, not too aggressive, not too wrapped up in dismissing Christmas altogether. That is certainly welcome in this 1992 adaptation of Charles Dickens' seemingly anti-Christmas novel that aims to bring us down only to lift our spirits at the end. The difference this time is that the Muppets have fun with Dickens, they basically keep the spirit lively throughout without sacrificing Scrooge's emotional catharsis.

As I noted, Caine's Scrooge is not depicted as a miser in the strictest sense - there is something playful about Caine in this movie. There is almost a slight gleam in his eyes, a sense that he is not that miserable, just fed up. We all know Michael Caine can play a fed up individual like nobody else, that is the inherent charm in all this. Not to mention Gonzo the Great as Charles Dickens, an inspired stroke in this oft-told tale, as he breaks down the fourth wall and narrates the story. Rizzo the Rat is the Greek chorus, as he is frequently in front of too many windows peering in before getting slammed in the face when the windows are flung open. Kermit the Frog is Bob Cratchit but with less Cratchity nuance and more Kermit wincing and hoping to please his employer as only Kermit can play him (would we want it any other way?) Less memorable are Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit and Fozzie Bear as Fozziwig - somehow their scenes don't sizzle and that may be due to them underplaying their roles. Most enjoyable are Statler and Waldorf (the Muppet hecklers) as the Marley Brothers (one brother is of course named Bob. Ha!) Sam the Eagle is very funny as the Headmaster during Scrooge's flashbacks as a boarding school student - his double takes had me roaring with laughter.

I have to say the songs are terrific and play well amidst the occasionally (and purposely) tough material ("Thankful Heart" is my favorite song of the bunch). It is Michael Caine though who is the star of this show. Never once does he play the character for laughs or parody - he plays it seriously yet just this side of nuanced playfulness. The emotions are strong but not too overplayed. This is still the Muppets after all.