I have a very soft spot for Muppet CC - fond memories of going to see it on a snowy day in Manchester - but objectively it's not one of the better adaptations of Dickens' immortal tale. I generally watch it at some point over Christmas, and I think if anything familiarity has obscured the fact that it is just not a very good idea. The incorporation of existing Muppet characters into the story has only limited success, and sometimes the attempt is jarring. The use of Gonzo to link it, with Rizzo the rat (not previously an important character), is downright awkward. The landscapes look more like America than Britain, and some of the accents are distinctly hokey. Paul Williams' numbers are not the strongest, and even Scrooge himself, Michael Caine, doesn't compare well to the many great previous performances. Caine is okay as long as he can underplay - when he tries to emote, it's not a good look.
But it is fun, certainly a helluva lot better than Muppet Treasure Island. Miss Piggy, with her lookalike and actalike daughters Bettina and Belinda, is fantastic.
For what it's worth, I think the best Muppets film is the revival one with Jason Segel.
But it is fun, certainly a helluva lot better than Muppet Treasure Island. Miss Piggy, with her lookalike and actalike daughters Bettina and Belinda, is fantastic.
For what it's worth, I think the best Muppets film is the revival one with Jason Segel.