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!"

The Muppet Christmas Carol, Part 4: Harsh Realities

Uplifted by the Christmas cheer in the streets of London, Scrooge wishes to drop in on Fred's dinner party. There, the Ghost of the Present shows Fred and his guests about to play a guessing game.  As in the original, Fred convinces his guests that he is imagining some sort of foul beast but his wife, Clara, realizes that he is describing Mr. Scrooge.

Oh Clara, we only get to meet you for 2 minutes.  At least this version gives you a name.

But there is no time for Scrooge to wallow in the sting of that insult for we have to keep this movie moving along!  Although, I am slightly disappointed, because Fred's party is often a highlight of the story.  Like the Fezziwig scene, many characters come to be merry, and this is a chance for the humans of the movie to show how fun-spirited they can be.  I particularly am fond of the Albert Finney version where the party is so fun that Scrooge gets caught up in the merriment, completely forgetting that he is invisible to the rest of the guests.  He plays the games, dances and stays the whole night, bidding farewell at the end.  Caine does get a brief moment to join in the guessing game here, but the scene moves by so quickly, we do not get to see him have very much fun (although he did come off from a huge musical number in the previous scene, so, that'll do).

Also, Fred usually redeems himself after insulting his uncle, reminding the folks that he does care about him and truly hopes he will one day celebrate the holiday with him.  Here...he's just mean.

It's not a real party until Fred starts bashing his relatives behind their backs!

The Present then takes Scrooge to see the Cratchit family.  We meet Mrs. Cratchit, played by Piggy, who is (I'll admit) perfect for this role.  She keeps her usual brash demeanor to a minimum and only lets loose at the appropriate moments.  I also find it cute that the Cratchit daughters are pigs while the boys are frogs (and that they each inherit their respective parent's attributes).  Steve Whitmire and Dave Golez do their best Miss Piggy impressions while playing the daughters, poking fun at Frank Oz's style.  The self-parody is greatly appreciated.

Suddenly, the sounds of Bob and Tiny Tim are heard as they arrive home from church.  This is a nice moment from a technical point of view because we have Kermit walking and carrying Robin who is moving at the same time.  And their little song is adorable!

They go inside to begin their meager feast as Tiny Tim gets overexcited, igniting a horrible coughing fit. This is one of the few depictions of Tim that presents his sickly nature so vividly, but at least Robin has the poise to keep it from becoming obnoxious and overbearing.

As the family settles in, Bob arranges a toast to Scrooge to acknowledge his help in providing the dinner.  Mrs. Cratchit objects, but Tiny Tim pipes up to prevent his family from fighting, reminding them all that at Christmas, God blesses everyone.

Once again, the Muppets lay on the saccharine charms without becoming too preachy.  The family comes together, moving Scrooge to the core.  Caine manages to bring the vulnerability out of the character as he truly responds to the frail child.  When the Ghost of the Present informs him that the child will likely die, he echoes Scrooge's harsh words to the charity collectors from the previous day.  Often, the Present will continue talking, but here, he lets the weight of Scrooge's earlier close-minded logic say it all.  This family is precious, and Scrooge cannot deny that.

As long as you have family, it is still Christmas.

Scrooge notices that the Present is rapidly aging, and the Present explains that soon, he will be gone from this world.  He leaves Scrooge behind with a hearty laugh, rather than the original words of doom and gloom used to truly make Scrooge feel bad about himself.

I like you too much to scare you.  I'll save my spooky speech for when I visit the Grinch next year.

However, Scrooge is not out of the woods yet, as he still has one more ghost to encounter.  As a foggy mist signals the arrival of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, Dickens and Rizzo decide to bow out of the story, understanding that the next few scenes are supposed to be taken very seriously.  Don't worry, we'll see them at the end.

It is time for the nightmare to begin!

The frightening wraith silently leads Scrooge about a dismal Christmas future, where in a person's death has greatly affected the entire community...for the better.

From the elite businessmen who joke at his passing...

On their way to the piggy bank, I suppose.

...to the low-class scavengers hoping to make a profit off of his demise...

Why is it the ugly Muppets always get cast in these kinds of roles?

...everyone is happier now that he's dead.

Especially the spider Old Joe,* who can finally sell some nice bed-curtains with rings.

Scrooge, acknowledging that this fate could very well be his own, pleads to see some tenderness with death.  Taking him at his word, the Ghost brings him back to the Cratchit house, where his worst fears come true.  After only getting to know the boy for a brief period, he learns that Tim croaked.**

A vacant seat by the poor chimney corner.

The premature death of a child is handled with sublime dignity and Scrooge finally feels genuine sympathy for another human being.

Tomorrow, we shall discuss what becomes of Scrooge's future, as well as the final verdict on the film.

*The design of Old Joe is wonderful and it is too bad this was his biggest role.  His voice performer was a British radio personality and not a Muppeteer, hence why he only appeared just this once.  Spiders are rarely seen in Henson's world, so it is great to see a giant one in action.

**I apologize for the horrible pun, but this is the only version in which I am able to make that joke.

The Muppet Christmas Carol, Part 3: Faded Past

The next stop on the journey through Scrooge's past is at Fezziwig's...I mean, Fozziwig's rubber chicken factory.  As in the book, a great party ensues, allowing for many Muppets to make their cameos.

The gang's all here!  Just don't expect them to talk much.

The Electric Mayhem provides the music for the party and, although no words are spoken amongst them, we have a nice callback to their rock-and-roll roots as Animal goes wild, being unable to conform to the slow paced music required of him.  Rowlf plays the piano while the Swedish Chef prepares some singing food.  And, of course, Fozzie takes the stage to prepare a speech, only to be heckled by the Marley Brothers.  It's like The Muppet Show condensed into one minute.

Back in their natural habitat: the balcony.

As the party continues, young apprentice Scrooge appears to go over business matters with Fozziwig.  The bear instructs him to cut loose and just enjoy the party for once.  Here, I noticed another choice that this adaptation makes, setting it apart from the others.  This scene, coupled with the previous school scene shows that Scrooge's materialistic tendencies are already emerging at this young age.  Usually, this does not occur until after he leaves Fezziwig behind.  This allows Scrooge to associate his years with Fezziwig as being a time when Christmas was delightful for him, before he turned miserly.  By changing young Scrooge's motives, it shows him as always being disconnected with his Muppety surroundings.  Perhaps this explains why older Scrooge feels so out of touch with the world.

He never belonged in the first place.

I find it so hard to mingle with the guests when I have to avoid stepping on the puppeteers.

After meeting the lovely Belle, Scrooge implores that the Ghost of Christmas Past not show him what happens during the following Christmas, for he has avoided thinking about it for so long.  But you cannot choose what happened or didn't happen in the past.

Belle is now Scrooge's fiance, and she fears that his devotion to monetary gain has gotten out of hand.  She tells him that she used to love him, but now doesn't feel the same way and walks away.  Elederly Scrooge is brought to tears and...wait...that's it?  The scene is already over?  She broke up with him in less than a sentence?!  How rude!  She didn't even explain herself or give him a chance!

I belong with a man who can keep up with me.  Time is money, you know.  I've got places to be.

Something is clearly amiss.  If you are familiar with this film through home video then you are probably aware of what goes here.  There is a song that Belle sings called "When Love is Gone" that was cut from the theatrical version.  Apparently, the children in the audience could not handle an extended period of time without any Muppets on the screen, so the whole number was removed to maintain the audiences interest.  All that is lost is A MAJOR PLOT POINT/THE DEFINING MOMENT IN WHICH SCROOGE TURNS TO THE DARK SIDE COMPLETELY!  Although, I'm afraid to admit that, as a child, I would fast-forward through the song whenever it occurred because romance is boring.  However, I shall make up for that now by presenting the beautiful song, restored, as it should be.

Facing your past mistakes is hard.  So when Scrooge is forced to face them, he cannot help but break down, weeping.  This stern man is reduced to tears over a single incident.  If Caine excels in one area as Scrooge, it is this moment.  Many Scrooge performances remain calm and collected, if not a little saddened by the end of these memories.  Having him cry sheds a whole new light on the character.  And having him cry without the song to set it up?  Well, that creates a... different effect.

Usually, Scrooge becomes so enraged by the scenes of the past that he physically wrestles with the Ghost to extinguish it once and for all.  This metaphorical tussle is one that people endure every day.  The regrets of the past cannot be eliminated, only forgotten about for a while.  Caine's Scrooge takes a different approach by choosing to wallow in his mistakes, beating himself up, instead of the Ghost.

At any rate, his sorrow causes the Past to leave, returning Scrooge to his bedchambers.  When the clock strikes, he is beckoned into the adjacent room by a new spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Present.  Like all depictions of the character, Christmas Present is represented as a giant, red-haired man decked in a green robe with a wreath of holly upon his head.  Like a youthful Santa Claus, he is filled with great mirth and song.  The Muppet version takes this character a step further by giving him severe short-term memory loss (because he always lives in the present, you see).

He's just like the guy in Memento.  And Hagrid.

While most Scrooges fear this beast of a man, Caine's Scrooge feels comfortable with him, even joking at times.  When the Ghost asks if he finds Christmas to be enjoyable, Scrooge becomes ashamed, revealing that he understands that he is depriving himself of joy with his own selfish actions.  The Ghost leads him around the current Christmas day to show Scrooge exactly what he has been missing, with the fun song "It Feels Like Christmas."

This Ghost is far more Muppety than the previous one (the always great Jerry Nelson performs him), and with his introduction, the film picks up in energy and tone.  Yes, this movie is really turning around.  Sometimes it's fun to just let the Muppets do their thing.

Is there anything more whimsical than a Full-Bodied Muppet?

The Christmas joys continue tomorrow, as Scrooge visits the families of those closest to him and learns how he is truly viewed in the eyes of others.

The Muppet Christmas Carol, Part 2: Old Ghosts

Scrooge makes his way home as Gonzo/Dickens continues to narrate.  The eerie tone is set as the first supernatural occurrence takes place in the story: the appearance of Marley's face in the knocker.

Things have taken a turn for the weird.

We have come to the Marley and Marley scene which leaves me filled with many mixed emotions.  Staler and Waldorf, our favorite Muppet hecklers are both filling in for Jacob Marley (Statler plays Jacob while Waldorf plays his brother "Robert Marley."  Get it?  Have a friend explain it to you if you don't.)  Now, having these two play Marley is really the only casting choice that makes sense (outside of having a human or a brand new puppet play the role) so it is understandable that the laughing duo's joking schtick will carry over into this adaptation.  And there are attempts to blend the Muppet characters' personalities with the Dickens dialogue (as seen with Scrooge's "gravy/grave" line).

But ultimately, this casting choice just feels wrong to me for three reasons:

1)  Marley is Supposed to Be Scary

Our chains and lockboxes are singing with us!  Terrifying!

Here, the movie does manage to maintain some of the frightening elements of the story.  The moments leading up to the appearance of the Marleys is fraught with suspense which only sets up the surprise that the Marleys are the hecklers.  All dramatic tension flies out the window the moment we hear those familiar laughs.  The atmosphere stays the same and Caine reacts with appropriate fear, but the characters and the setting are a bit incongruous.  The reason ghosts are in this story at all is to scare some sense into Scrooge and the audience.  By the end of their scene, the laughter and jokes die down, fortunately, and the creepy images and noises eventually come in.  But this scene seems to depict a battle over whether or not it is being played for comedy or drama.  In the original story, Scrooge does manage to get some jokes in to ease his horror, but Marley remains completely serious throughout.  The humor is subtle and does not impede on the important message of the specters.

2) Marley is Supposed to Be Depressing

Doh! Ho ho ho ho ho!

The whole purpose of having Marley in the story is to show the terrible fate that could befall Scrooge.  His afterlife is filled with pain, suffering, incessant torture of remorse.  He is filled with regret and serves as a warning to Scrooge.  While Scrooge can change, Marley is condemned to an eternity of grief.  He may be the saddest character all of in literature.

The Marley Brothers are having too much fun.

3) Marley is Supposed to Be Like Scrooge

One of these things is not like the other.

The first two points I made can easily be ignored.  Suspension of disbelief.  We are watching the Muppets, so we should expect the Muppets.  That is all fine and good.

But Caine's Scrooge and his interaction with the Marley Brothers just completely misses the point of the entire story.  In another case of telling vs. showing, all of the Marleys' misdeeds are sung about, but their connections with Scrooge end right there.  I shall present the clip (only the song appears below) and as you watch it, ask yourself if you could honestly imagine Caine's Scrooge and the Marleys being similar, like-minded business partners.

Caine is clearly sticking to the original Dickensian text while Statler and Waldorf bring in their Muppety energy and humor to liven up the story.  Therein lies the main issue I have with this scene (and a majority of the movie).  Caine sticks out like a sore thumb because he is the only major human.  While it worked in the crowd scenes, where his lack of felt and foam set him apart from his fellow citizens in a good way, here he is supposed to be interacting with characters with whom he once felt a close connection with.  And they could not be more different.

Consider the 1983 cartoon Mickey's Christmas Carol.  Scrooge McDuck plays the role of Scrooge in this condensed version of the tale.  His greediness is exaggerated to levels that are, fittingly, cartoonish.  His partner Marley is played by Goofy, who is prone to pratfalls and physical comedy.  Here, they are very much channeling their original personas while using them to enhance the story.  Despite the overabundance of humor, the audience allows it because they expect it.  And it works because Scrooge (the duck) is just as cartoony as the world he inhabits.

Caine is playing Scrooge straight.  The setting, however, is fantastical and Muppetational.  For the rest of the movie, characters who were very important to Scrooge are played by humans (his nephew, his fiance).  Marley should have also been a human, because Caine's Scrooge is grounded in reality.  Or, alternatively, Scrooge should have been a Muppet.  Split the heckling duo and have one play Scrooge and the other Marley.  (Of course, then we'd lose Caine, which would upset a great deal of people).  The point is that Scrooge and Marley need to be on the same level for the story to work.

Never underestimate the power of Goofy's dramatic chops.

Anyway...

The clock strikes one and we meet the Ghost of Christmas Past.

Now that's what I call scary!

The Ghost of Christmas Past is always the hardest to portray on film, due to it's intentionally ambiguous nature.  Like the actual past, the Ghost is supposed to be difficult to focus on.  And, like a candle flame, it is always moving and difficult to capture in a single image (hence why it shines brightly and usually comes with an extinguishing cap).  It is unclear as to what age, gender, and size it is supposed to be.  Only one version absolutely nailed what the Ghost should look like and that was the 1971 Richard Williams version (which had the benefit of being animated, so the Ghost could shapeshift continuously without settling on a solid form for longer than a second).  The Henson version, however, is probably the best live action portrayal available with the added benefit of being a puppet rather than a human.  The sheer bright light it emits paired with its smoky form allows the character to remain shrouded in mystery.

And thank goodness it is not Miss Piggy playing this role.

The Ghost takes Scrooge on a flight into the past, and Dickens makes sure to come along for the ride.

Oh Gonzo, your distractions are always welcome in this movie.

They end up at the school were Scrooge was enrolled.  This prompts another scene that kind of misses the point of the original story, but the intentions were good.  In the story, we see Scrooge left alone at the school for many Christmas breaks.  His resentment for the holiday grows, but finally, one year, his dear sister arrives to bring him home, explaining that their cruel father has had a change of heart.  This scene shows where the seeds of Scrooge's animosity towards Christmas began, but it also shows him that Christmas can become a joyous time thanks to a change of heart and a chance to be with one's family.

In the Muppet version, his sister is not present and we only experience his interactions with the schoolmaster on his graduation day.  The schoolmaster is played by Sam the Eagle, who of course only thinks of the good of America.

Er...I mean, England.

The scene shortly ends thereafter, but there was actually a song recorded for this moment that was dropped from the movie for time.  (There was also one for the collectors Bunsen and Beaker called "Room in Your Heart" but it is not really necessary and would have broken up the flow of the early scenes.)  Sam's song "Chairman of the Board," describes how Scrooge will grow to be a great businessman.  This is not present in the book, but it does present an explanation to why Scrooge decided to become focused completely on business.  The song is also humorous and would have been a great addition to the film.  Without it, the scene just feels to be lacking something.

Tomorrow, we shall finish Scrooge's trip to the past, where love is introduced and taken away.

The Muppet Christmas Carol, Part 1: Bah, Humbug!

Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is rightfully considered a classic due to the impact it had on our modern day perception of Christmas.  Published in 1843, this novella was the first story to focus on the festive spirit and secular traditions that surrounded the holiday season, rather than the religious and pagan history from which it was born.  The concepts of family togetherness, celebration, and generosity were brought to the forefront in the story, forever linking them in the public's minds with Christmas.

Drink and be merry!

Because of its influence, the story has been retold countless times through various media, with over 50 interpretations presented on television or in film.  Each version adheres to the same basic plot structure following one person's journey through the past, present, and future to rediscover the true meaning of Christmas.  With so many adaptations to choose from, some are bound to be over better quality than others.

Many people cite The Muppet Christmas Carol as being not only their favorite Muppet movie, but as being their favorite interpretation of A Christmas Carol as well.  I am not among those people.  As its own movie, I think it is fine.  But as a Muppet movie, I do not consider it the best and as A Christmas Carol, I find it to be severely lacking in quality.  I believe most supporters of this movie are clouded in their own sense of nostalgia, only remembering having enjoyed this movie as a young child.

But perhaps I am being unfair.  Everyone I encounter loves this film with all of their heart.  Perhaps I am just missing something.  I shall watch this film again, to see if it truly does hold up as more than just a kids' movie.  So, here we go.  This week, it's The Muppet Christmas Carol.

There are two rats on the poster.  We're in for a treat!

First, a little history.  This was the first Muppet movie to be made following the deaths of two very influential Muppet performers, Richard Hunt and Jim Henson.  As such, their more memorable characters were pushed to the background or removed entirely from the project (Scooter, in particular is completely absent).  This was also the first film to be produced under the Walt Disney Studios name, which results in a more streamlined production differing in tone from the original three films.  The movie was originally intended to be made for TV until Disney expanded the budget.  However, these changes will not influence my review in anyway.  Although Henson and Hunt are missed, their spirit lives on in the remaining puppeteers and Jim's son Brian, who directs the film.  It is still very much a Muppet group effort, even if it must suffer the burden of being made during this unexpected transitional period.

The film opens on a busy 19th-century London street in the wintertime as Muppets and humans coexist without tripping over one another.  Puppet-recycling is in full effect as many minor characters from past productions appear in Victorian garb.  As merchants hock their wares on the street, we settle on a booth manned by the Great Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat.

Charles Dickens and friend

In the original script, Muppets were supposed to play all of the major characters, including the three Ghosts of Christmas.  Piggy would be Past, Scooter would be Present, and Gonzo as Future.  However, as it underwent revision, it was decided that the Ghosts should be more foreboding in order for Scrooge and the audience to take them seriously.  Also, a voice-over narration had been considered in order to keep Dickens' masterful language intact.  But when Gonzo got booted from the ghost role, it was decided to place him as the role of the narrator.  Rizzo had recently joined the ranks as a main Muppet character and his performer Steve Whitmire had a great repertoire with Gonzo's Dave Golez.  With Gonzo as Dickens and Rizzo on deck to provide commentary and comic relief, the comedic duo were allowed to lead the audience through the movie.

This choice is one of the movie's great assets.  Most versions try to keep the narration either through another character, as a voice-over, or (in the most clumsily fashion I've ever seen) incorporated into the dialogue.  But Gonzo presents a liveliness to the narrator that is not present in any other version and, more importantly, he cares about the story.  While Rizzo often gets side-tracked with his jokes, Gonzo is always there to keep everyone focused on the story at hand.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, the erratic Gonzo is capable of deep pathos, making him the perfect choice to play Dickens.

Dickens begins his tale, introducing Ebenezer Scrooge by way of the film's first musical number.  This catchy song is cute, but I feel it fails to fully characterize Scrooge.  It falls into the common trap of telling rather than showing.

Our Scrooge (Michael Caine) calmly strolls through the singing puppets, ignoring them all the way.  Despite their claims of his many faults, we are not treated to any of them during the song.  For comparison, I implore you to check out the 1970 musical Scrooge starring Albert Finney.  During his introduction song "Father Christmas," we witness him going about town calling upon his many debtors, showing little compassion to their plights.  He is outright mean to everybody he encounters and shows no remorse at all.  Caine, on the other hand, while a great actor, does not display any signs of cruelty yet, despite what the lyrics imply.

In fact, he often seems as if he would rather be anywhere else.

Perhaps this is meant to show how disinterested he is in the lower class, but it just comes off as boredom.  This continues as he enters his office and casually tosses out a random Muppet asking for an extension in his mortgage payment.  Drawing on another comparison, Alastair Sim's famous portrayal in 1951's A Christmas Carol took his disinterest in the common man to a whole new level.  It seemed as if life had beaten him down so much that there was nothing left for him but resentment.  He showed no compassion to anyone because he was physically incapable of finding those emotions.  The human race became foreign to him and their joy at Christmas irritated him because he was unfamiliar with it.

Caine, however, plays Scrooge as a jerk who just enjoys being a jerk.  When he sends Bob Cratchit to prepare the many eviction notices due on Christmas, he seems to exhibit a villainous glee at the prospect of people losing their homes.  Scrooge may be cold-hearted and unsympathetic, but evil?  That's pushing the character a little too far.  Scrooge's main fault is that he is self-absorbed, not malicious.

Money for the poor?  I'd rather watch them starve to death while I stroke my cat.

Kermit as Bob Cratchit, like Gonzo as Dickens, is another inspired Muppet casting choice.  Kermit's humility is almost identical to Cratchit's meek yet optimistic persona.  One welcome addition to the original dialogue is when Cratchit tries to ask for Christmas day off from work.  Usually, Scrooge reluctantly gives in to the custom, decrying it, but acknowledging it nonetheless.  Here, he puts up some resistance, prompting Cratchit to appeal to his thriftiness by logically explaining he would lose more money by staying open on a day when all other businesses are closed.  That's very clever and bold for the usually subservient Cratchit.

But why he has to be surrounded by a gaggle of unnecessary rat co-workers is beyond me.

I shall conclude today's post with Kermit/Cratchit's pleasant song "One More Sleep 'Til Christmas."  Like with "Scrooge," I find that the visuals and the lyrics do not exactly match up, as the rat bookkeepers exhibit many playful slapstick as they pack up shop while Kermit sings a low-key tune.  This is one of those moments that distracts the viewer as the story is placed on hold to allow for puppet antics.

The end of the song with the shooting star presents a nice contrast as the camera pans over to a homeless Bean Bunny, struggling to keep warm in the trash.  What is a beautiful Christmas Eve night for one person is a source of extreme discomfort for another.  Despite being a background character, Bean has managed to steal the show with the most heart-wrenching scene in the film.

I hope the rest of the movie is as meaningful as this five-second moment.

New Toys: A Year Later

Last year, as part of my Christmas specials retrospective, I provided a fairly in-depth review of The Christmas Toy.  I was afraid of repeating myself as a re-watched the special this year, but, much like the message of the show, there is still life in the old and forgotten.  The story centers around a toy tiger named Rugby who fancied himself to be the best toy in the children's playroom due to being the big Christmas gift last year.  As the next Christmas approaches, Rugby must learn that as time passes, the new becomes the old.  His time in the spotlight will soon be at an end.

Like Rugby, my first review is now a year old, but I shall pull it out again this Christmas to see if my interpretations still remain relevant.  Old material will be in italics to keep things organized.  And now, The Christmas Toy, again!

(The version I watched last year was a home-recorded tape that was uploaded to YouTube.  This year, I watched the DVD version that is available on Netflix Instant.  The major differences are that the Kermit the Frog introduction is cut out, as are the commercials/sponsorship with Kraft Cheese.  But at least the picture and sound and editing fares a lot better.)

Now with better video quality!

It's Christmas Eve, and the toys in the Jones family playroom are preparing for the arrival of new toys. However, Rugby, a stuffed tiger, doesn't quite understand what Christmas means. He was the big present at last year's Christmas, and became the children's favorite toy. He thinks that Christmas is a day to celebrate him, so he plans to sneak back under the Christmas tree with the rest of the presents so that the children can open him out of his box again. The rest of the toys band together to get Rugby back to the playroom before Christmas morning. Not only do they want to spare him is inevitable disappointment, but it's crucial to save his life.

For you see, if a moving toy is found by a human, it will become "frozen" (i.e. die).

And within 5 minutes, the tone is immediately darker than your average Christmas special.

For as rare as this Christmas special is, I was initially let down by the production quality. The actors who play the human family are extremely wooden, the dialogue was very weak, and the storyline wasn't very engaging. In Toy Story, the rules of how the toys live aren't explained, we just accept what we see, and learn things along the way. In The Christmas Toy, half of the dialogue is exposition. Characters say things like "It's a good thing us toys can't feel pain." Who talks like that? All of the toys behave like children, which is understandable since they live in a children's playroom, but it gets annoying when they all state the obvious and need the rules of their world explained to them.

Includes 2 AA batteries, movable parts, and the ability to dispense exposition at the push of a button!

What Henson does best is that he makes fully realized worlds and creates ways to make puppets come alive. In the playroom, there are so many toys moving and walking around, it's amazing to believe that no computer trickery created this effect. It's not a cartoon, it's real.

Allow me to expand on this for a bit.  The design that went into each character is incredible.  Toys, large and small, are uniquely crafted so that they look "realistic" when they come to life.  A few look like simple hand puppets, but the smaller ones incorporate sophisticated technology to allow their mouths and limbs to move.  Ed Christie, a puppet designer, has cited Belmont the Horse as one of his greatest creations, due to the combination of foam and gears to recreate a commonly seen children's toy.

And the kids can actually ride on him too!

Even more surprising is the near constant presence of a floor.  In every Muppet production, there must be some way to conceal the puppeteers.  But in this show, there are many shots showing the puppets walking (or rolling) around the floor and talking at the same time.  I try not to think too much about how these effects are accomplished for I don't want to lose the magic.

It's the 20th Century, puppets can walk now.

All of the toys are owned by the two Jones children, except for Mew, a little catnip mouse. None of the toys respect him because he smells bad and isn't "a real toy." So when Rugby sets off on his journey, Mew is the only one who supports him, because he too doesn't know what really happens at Christmas. Being the only toy who has been out of the playroom (via the cat's mouth), Mew helps Rugby to make sure he makes it downstairs without being frozen. And all the while, Rugby still treats him terribly. Then, after all of the toys convince Rugby to come back to the playroom, and you think the special is over, Mew gets frozen! All he wanted to do was fit in, and he suffers for it. During the whole special, there are corny jokes and cheesy dialogue, yet the foreboding presence of death looms in the background. I feel this special would have been amazing if they trimmed it by half, taking out the unnecessary exposition and focused more on the relationship of Rugby and Mew. That's where the true core of the story lies.

I knew the story before watching the special, so nothing surprised me, even the dramatic turn of events. I was ready to call the whole thing a dud, but then this moment redeemed the whole special for me. Rugby approaches the frozen Mew and sings a song called "Old Friend." It's a very simple song with obvious lyrics about friendship and love, yet it seems so pure the way he sings it. He realizes too late how much he cared for this toy. Mew's death didn't get to me, but the song certainly did.

Old toys, new friends.  Each one is a gift.  Don't take them for granted.

A year later, there is one aspect of the special I wish I had mentioned.  I cut out the section of my review that compared this to Toy Story in depth because the similarities are so numerous I do not need to point them all out.  But I'm surprised I failed to mention the importance of one other character.  I was so focused on the relationship between Rugby and Mew, that I ignored another key player: Apple.

Forever alone.

This redheaded doll was originally in Rugby's position, tossed aside as soon as he entered the picture.  She knows the pain of being dumped by those who love you the most and swore they would never forget her.  The ongoing march of time inherently reminds us that there will come a point where everything will be forgotten.  Despite our best intentions, our greatest devotions will cease to be.  Apple learned this and, while hurt, she did not put much weight on the situation.  She used her premature replacement as the primary source of joy to forge new relationships while still being their for her child when she needed her the most.

It is for love that we make sacrifices.  To place ourselves in discomfort or danger to protect those we care about.  Mew sacrificed himself to help a new friend, while Apple sacrifices herself every day, to help an old one.  Although there is no life in a toy, we associate our cherished childhood possessions with having a soul.  It does not matter that their eyes are made of plastic or cotton.  They have eyes and when you look into a toys eyes, you can remember all the times you played with them, all of the adventures you imagined, all of the memories you share.

The toys hold on to these memories for you and never let go.  When we lose a toy, we do not cry for the monetary value that is lost with it.  We cry for the displacement of our memories.  They are extensions of ourselves, keeping our thoughts organized.

As you grow, you may grow tired of many things.  You play with your toys less often and soon not at all.  But every once in a while, it does not hurt to retrieve your old friends from wherever you stored them away.

They are waiting for you.  And they will continue to wait for you.  Year after year.

Loyal friends to the end.