Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that the Ghost of Christmas Future is scarier than the others and may frighten more sensitive children. In one version of the future, Tiny Tim is projected to die. Scrooge has to confront his cruel behavior and learns life lessons because of it.
Families can talk about whether Scrooge learned his lesson and how he saw the error of his ways. What did he miss out on by only caring about work and money instead of friends or family? How do you show the people in your life that you love them? Are you generous? How?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Heather Boerner
THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL may be your child's first introduction to the classic story, and in that capacity this fuzzy version does its job well. It's gentle and includes classic characters your children will love, as well as a few danceable songs.
Charles Dickens himself, played by the chicken-crazy Great Gonzo (Dave Goelz), narrates this tale of Ebenezer Scrooge's (Michael Caine) spoiled life. Scrooge is hated by all. Even the (puppet) mice in the street know he's no good. He's "Mr. Skinflint, Mr. Greed" to them. "He must be so lonely, he must be so sad. He goes to extremes to convince us he's bad," a group of carolers sing. "He's really a victim of fear and of pride. Look close and there must be a sweet man inside. ... Nah!"
Scrooge runs a mortgage company where the holidays are the "moneylenders' harvest" because so many people default on their mortgages during that time of year. He relishes the debtors' misfortune and sneers at his nephew and solicitors. When he heads home and is visited by the ghosts of Richard and Jacob Marley and then the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, Scrooge has to decide whether to live out the fate he sees or thaw his heart for a better, more loving life.
Since we all know what happens, let's instead focus on what makes this version so sweet and kid-appropriate. Unlike the grim live-action films of the tale, there's just enough Muppet madness and kindness here to keep kids feeling safe and entertained. There are some great touches: the businessmen soliciting for charity are Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beeker. Robert and Jacob Marley are played by Statler and Waldorf, the two critics from The Muppet Show -- and they continue to heckle, even in death.
But best of all, the Great Gonzo is accompanied by Rizzo the Rat (Steve Whitmire), who has a way of saying what kids are thinking. When the Ghost of Christmas Future shows up in his Grim Reaper garb, for example, Rizzo says, "This is too scary. I don't think I want to see any more." He and Gonzo then disappear until the next scene. This is a good time to either fast-forward through the scary part for particularly sensitive children or to warn and cuddle up with them for the potentially frightening parts.
Overall, The Muppet Christmas Carol deserves a place on the shelf with A Charlie Brown Christmas and the animated How the Grinch Stole Christmas as heartwarming, kid-friendly holiday fare.
For more Muppet holiday cheer, try A Muppet Family Christmas and the recent CD A Green and Red Christmas.
Rate It!
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ViolenceGonzo and Rizzo get knocked off a window ledge a few times, but no one is injured. |
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LanguageFine, unless you consider "bah humbug!" a curse word. |
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Social BehaviorScrooge learns to be generous and compassionate and to enjoy life. |
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