Otter Sincerity

At what point does pleasant tradition become rigid obligation?  With every Christmas story and holiday advertisement that is repeated ad nauseam throughout this festive season, we are reminded that the true meaning of Christmas is family togetherness so spend, spend, spend!  That conflicting moral is not as contradictory as it may seem.

As a culture, we understand that monetary values and moral values should not be intertwined.  But as the poor Otter family learns in Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, to maintain pleasure and stability at Christmastime, money is a necessity.  Having lost patriarch and the sole earner in the family, Alice Otter and her son Emmet take up odd jobs in order to stay afloat.  Alice tends to her neighbors' laundry while Emmet puts his carpentry skills to use around town.  The quaint community along the river houses critters from all walks of life, but it is the folks in the small Frogtown Hollow that suffer the most in the freezing cold winter.

The river, stretching from Waterville to Riverbottom

When it is discovered that a talent contest will be held in the town center boasting a prize of $50, both Alice and Emmet Otter dream of using their musical abilities to win the competition.  However, instead of using that much needed cash to help them continue living during their economic hardships, each otter plans on using the money to buy an expensive-yet-morale-boosting Christmas gift for the other.  For a holiday that tries to disassociate from over-commercialism, Christmas can't help but inspire us to give to one another.  Happiness comes first.

Emmet Otter, cutting off a Christmas branch, so that the tree may continue to grow.

Taking a page from The Gift of the Magi, both Alice and Emmet eliminate a valuable possession from their lives to make sure they can succeed in giving their gifts.  Unfortunately, Alice chooses to sell Emmet's tools to purchase a presentable outfit to sing in while Emmet punctures Alice's washtub to make a bass for his band.  Both have destroyed the only sources of income they have left.  Even if one of them won, they are both ruined financially.  That they are unknowingly competing against each other makes this scenario unbearably tragic.  These poor souls sacrifice everything just for a sliver of joy, which instantly becomes impossible to obtain by their selfless acts.

When music is all you have, share it with the world.

With certain failure set up so early in the story, the joyful antics and songs of the characters become very difficult to enjoy.  It is as if we are forced to watch a train wreck in slow motion.  But, with no chance of avoiding their demise, one can only enjoy the fun while it lasts.  Emmet and his friends form the Frogtown Jubilee Jug Band and practice their sure-fire hit "Barbeque."  This little ditty sums up the laid-back world that these critters inhabit.  Purely of the woods, these animals enjoy simple pleasantries and old-fashioned fun.

These rodents are the most pure creatures to ever grace the Earth.  If anyone deserved a Christmas miracle, it would be them.  But, alas, they hit their first major snag when one of the early acts at the talent show ends up singing "Barbeque" first.  The band must quickly scramble to create a new song called "Brothers."  Meanwhile, Alice Otter takes the stage, singing "Our World," by herself.

So innocent and sweet.

Each song is decent, but they lack a certain spark.  Although, each act that preceded them were awful to mediocre at best, so they still have a chance of winning this competition.  But as horrible as the outcome of the Otter family will be after this contest, I shudder to imagine what the other contestants potentially had riding on this one chance to win big.

The Rabbits' static dance routine may have been their last chance at keeping their children from being taken away.

As if the circumstances could not get any worse, one final act comes in and blows away the rest of the competition.  The Riverbottom Nightmare Band, a team of self centered, low-life hooligans take the stage with their fancy equipment and put on a show that rivals that of the Electric Mayhem.

Jug-bands don't hold a candle to rock and roll!

Christmas specials are notorious for being predictable in their schmaltziness.  In any other hands, this story would have ended with the Riverbottom Gang being booed offstage while Alice and Emmet Otter somehow both win first prize and everyone lives happily ever after.  But this is a Jim Henson Christmas special.  The miracles don't flow so easily.  Instead, the Nightmare Band wins and the Otters must walk home empty handed.

As our heroes walk along the frozen river back home, ready to face the dismal reality that awaits them, they discover that their two songs compliment each other perfectly.  Although they lost, at least they are able to keep the music alive in their hearts with "Brothers in Our World."  They have each other, and with that, a new opportunity arises.

I could not find the original, but this cover by My Morning Jacket captures it beautifully.

This is a Christmas special unlike any other.  While it may not have received the same recognition as other specials that are repeated on an annual basis, Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas becomes an instant classic to all who see it.  The original story was adapted into a musical in recent years, with the help of the Henson Company who allowed the original puppets and Paul Williams soundtrack to be used in the production.  The purpose of its creation was to allow a group of people to share this story they loved with a new generation.

How much alike we are.  Perhaps we're almost brothers.

The large scale and the many risks that were taken by producing this special allow it to remain just that: special.  These backwoods creatures are truly the salt of the earth, and they represent the ideal version of humanity.  If the word "wholesome" makes you sick to your stomach, remember that there is a spectrum.  "Family-friendliness" has become a manufactured process that forgets that there is more to Christmas than selling trinkets.  Emmet Otter produced no ornaments, no toys, no cards or decorations.  There is no franchise.  It exists as a single entity.  And, by word of mouth, people can discover it and love it.

How rare the Christmas special that actually follows the message it promotes.

The Muppet Christmas Carol, Part 5: Redemption

With one final stop on the ghostly journey, Scrooge arrives at the graveyard.  Although he knows that he will most likely see his own grave, he pleads with the Ghost, asking if it is at all possible to change the future.  Caine really gives it his all during this final monologue, and the techniques he uses to stall the inevitable are charming in their own gloomy way (especially when the Ghost remains fixedly pointing at his grave, and Scrooge tries to misread his signs and starts heading towards another grave, hoping that maybe there is one last escape from all of this).  But eventually, he must face the truth.

An existential moment for Ebenezer Scrooge.

Fortunately, Scrooge is returned to Christmas morning, having a chance to right all of his wrongs.  He sets things right, first by hiring the homeless Bean Bunny to assist him in his daily errands.

Why, it's Christmas Day!

Scrooge heads outside and spends the day buying gifts and food for everyone in town that he had earlier neglected.  And finally, after the whole movie, Scrooge gets his own song "Thankful Heart," which allows him to show off he newly reformed ways.  He is now one with the Muppets.

At the end of the day, with everyone in tow, he surprises the Cratchit family by raising Bob's salary, presenting them with a feast, and becoming a second father to Tiny Tim to make sure he lives a long, healthy life.  He then leads everyone in the final song "When Love is Found," (which is supposed to echo the song that had been cut earlier, "When Love is Gone").

God Bless Us Everyone

And there we have The Muppet Christmas Carol.  So, how does it rate overall?  Let me break it down.

Michael Caine is NOT the best Scrooge.

To be fair, he is not really given that much of a chance.  The focus of the movie is on the cast of characters that surround Scrooge, leaving him to be mostly an observer.  The Muppets really steal the show.  Caine sticks mostly to the usual interpretations of the character, having him come off as rather dull compared to the puppets.  The best Scrooge portrayals have been those who fully embody the miserly skinflint, making him despicable and removed from society, yet also have him believably transform over the course of the film.  Those who can be both absolutely terrible at the beginning and completely lovable at the end are the masters of playing this character (i.e. Alastair Sim).  Caine is a great actor, but he maintains a certain level of charm where we cannot really see him as an unlikeable character.  He just goes from blah to exciting.

Michael Caine IS the most vulnerable and sympathetic Scrooge.

What makes Caine's Scrooge enjoyable is that we are able to see exactly how each moment touches him personally.  A lot of Scrooges keep their emotions bottled up, even during the scenes where they are supposed to be deeply affected.  Because Caine never really starts as an unlikeable person, we are more willing to see him as a wounded puppy, mistreated and misunderstood.  That works for this movie for children, allowing them to care about an old man as the central character.

This is NOT the best Muppet movie.

I'm sorry.  It's impossible for the best Muppet movie to be one without Jim Henson.

This IS a great Muppet movie, though.

Brian Henson and the rest of the Muppeteers do a wonderful job at carrying on Henson's legacy.  The Muppets remain grounded, yet are able to become silly when needed.  The Fezziwig scene, in particular is like an homage to The Muppet Show.  Kermit, Piggy, Robin, and Gonzo all turn in great performances, perhaps the greatest performances of their careers (and it's nice that they are each played by the four remaining Muppeteers from the original group).  This movie has proven that even without Henson and Hunt, the Muppets can live on.  It just goes to show how well the characters were created that they can live on beyond the lifespans of their creators.

The Cratchit family, beautifully portrayed by amazing plush actors.

This is NOT the best version of A Christmas Carol.

The story is rushed and compacted to make room for songs and to allow the Muppets to do their familiar routines.  Some characters are bizarrely interpreted.  The main focus is humor rather than a strict conformity to the source material.

BUT it is the best FAMILY version of A Christmas Carol.

Because the story is so well-known, children are going to be exposed to it eventually.  The book is not children's literature and most adaptations weigh heavily on the drama and the references to regret about the past, something children would be unfamiliar with.  Out of all of the versions that are clearly marketed towards children, this is the best.  Most are short cartoons that only hit the main points without time for the audience to reflect or learn.  Others are very scary and intense.  This one strikes that delicate balance where adults and children alike can appreciate the story and the comedy.  It is one of the most enjoyable versions out there.

The music is WONDERFUL.

You cannot go wrong with the Muppets' go to composer Paul Williams.  It is a shames so many songs had to get cut from the movie because they are all great additions to our Christmas music lexicon.  I am not sure whether this is the best musical version (seeing as how the 1970 musical has some great tunes) but it is certainly consistently great the whole way through.  The spirit of Christmas is given a Muppety feel with each number.  (And it is definitely much better than The Stingiest Man in Town.)

A great album to accompany John Denver's A Christmas Together.

And last, but not least...

Gonzo IS the best Charles Dickens.

If there is one thing that makes me the most excited when watching this movie, it is knowing this guy will be there to guide us along:

It would be a great version even if Gonzo were the only Muppet in it.

Overall, I have come out liking this movie a lot more than I previously had.  I would recommend it to anyone, and will definitely be showing this to future generations.  But I implore you to check out other adaptations as well.  Many people have given their own unique spin on the tale and many are worth a look.  Even this movie is aware that it is not the definitive version of the story.  To quote Gonzo's final line, "If you liked this, you should read the book!"

Someday We'll Find It

You live in a world where this song exists.

And it is sung by a frog puppet, playing a banjo, in solitude, surrounded by nature.

Just think about that for a minute.

All of us under its spell.

It is a song that tackles the grand mysteries of the universe.  A song that acknowledges that science and faith can provide a few answers, but we are still left wondering.  A song that simplifies the questions that plague our species.

"What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing?"

Nothing, everything, anything.

In writing the music for the first Muppet movie, composers Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher knew that they had to open with a character-defining moment.  A song that sets the tone for the movie and explains what Kermit the Frog is all about.  What resulted is a deeply moving and philosophical piece that seems too important for the context.  That is not to say it is out of place for the film.  It is just astounding that after millions of years, the earth produced this moment.

It is a song that motivates as well as contemplates.  It reminds us that we may never know the meaning behind life, but we can continue to dream and live.

The rainbow connection.

We all feel it at some point in our lives.  That magical sense that the world is too complex for us to fully comprehend.  Like babies, we continue to be amazed by common occurrences.

Inherently, rainbows are nothing special, just refracted light waves.  But by being human, we apply significance to them.

Doesn't that in itself make them special?

When you listen to this song, try to forget everything life has taught you.  Close your eyes and open your mind to every possibility, every idea.

Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection.  The lovers, the dreamers, and...