When you think of A Christmas Carol, if the Muppets don't come to mind first, we really need to talk. While we often think of this Charles Dickens classic as being an often grim and dark Christmas tale, with an eventual sense of hope and wonder, there is so much more to this story when given a Muppet twist.
This movie is perhaps the greatest version of this film ever made, and so much of it is due to the fact that the film cast the perfect Scrooge in the form of Michael Caine. If ever there was a man who can play a perfect foil to the wacky Muppets, it would be the cultural icon that is Caine.
Michael Caine elevated The Muppet Christmas Carol to epic heights that make the film an enduring Christmas classic today
Whether he was telling Bob Cratchit that he expected to see him at work on Christmas Day, being confronted by his ghosts, or being insulted by Muppets, the actor brought a seriousness to the role that perfectly fit the story, if not the rest of his cast mates. And that is what makes this movie work so well.
Michael Caine clearly decided that if he was going to play Ebenezer Scrooge on screen, then he was going to channel the character straight out of the books and make us believe he was a miserly man who refused to have a sense of the Christmas spirit. And it didn't matter if he was surrounded by a bunch of Muppets, if he was take on this role, then he was going to play it like he was stepping onto the stage for the entire royal family to see.
Perhaps the beauty of the way he chose to take on this character is the fact that Michael Caine helped to elevate this movie to a level far beyond what anyone could have expected. And because of that, this is one of the most enduring versions of this story.
When we think of A Christmas Carol, this is the first movie that comes to mind. And thanks to not only Caine, but also Gonzo and Rizzo as our narrators, Kermit and Miss Piggy as the Cratchits and the rest of the Muppets in their wider roles, we have a movie that is truly a must watch every single year. (Since 1992, it has been our go-to Christmas movie.)
If you are looking to watch this classic on Christmas Day in 2024, then you will want to check out Disney Plus. That being said, you can also rent this one on Apple TV, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video and more.