25 Days: The Muppet Christmas Carol

Over the weekend, my family and I watched a load of Christmas movies in order to catch up on my 25 Days of Christmas.

Following along the lines of my Muppet Day from yesterday, comes the final installment - The Muppet Christmas Carol.

Much in the same vein as all other Christmas Carol-type movies, this one of course stars those lovable Muppets.

Kermit stars as Bob Cratchet with Miss Piggy as his wife Emily. Tiny Tim is portrayed by Robin.

This version still has a narrator, however, this narrator is seen. Gonzo tells the story as Charles Dickens with Rizzo along for the ride.

Like all Christmas Carol-type movies, we follow Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine) as he is visited by his former partner(s) now deceased Jacob and Robert Marley (Statler and Waldorph).

The Marley's tell Scrooge he will be visited by three spirits (past, present and future) that should set Scrooge on a better way of life and avoid what they have to withstand in the after life.

The story is a classic, and the addition of the Muppets only makes it better. Caine was a brilliant Scrooge and in true Muppet fashion, the addition of musical numbers truly adds to the mistique.

Grade:

25 Days: A Muppet Family Christmas

For our second Muppet Christmas film, we tossed in A Muppet Family Christmas.

This originally aired in 1987 and, unfortunately the DVD film was cut up due to licensing issues. Some of the songs were forced to be removed, and although it would have been nice to have it in its original form - the cut up version is still awfully enjoyable.

This movie is about getting together for Christmas. Ma Bear (Fozzie's mother) is about to head to Hawaii for Christmas and has rented her house out to Doc and his dog (from Fraggle Rock). Little does she know that her son and his friends are on their way to surprise her for the holidays.

Once they arrive, things of course get out of control. Doc and his dog, who were looking forward to a nice quite holiday, aren't too thrilled when everyone arrives - while Ma is forced to cancel her trip.

Soon, the Sesame Street gang is heard singing carols outside - and they join in on the festivities.

The whole film revolves around everyone being together for the holidays, as a snowstorm hits and Miss Piggy is not at the house yet. But, Doc sets out to find her so everyone can be reunited.

This is one of the only places where you can find the Muppet crew, the Sesame Street characters, Fraggle Rock characters and even a puppet version of Muppet Babies.

It's also pretty funny to see a little red monster with the Sesame Street gang, who at this point didn't even have a name, but would later be known as Elmo.

Jim Henson has a small cameo at the end of the film, as he and Doc's dog do the dishes from the Christmas meal.

This is a pretty short film, but one that has been a staple in our household for years. The mixing of all four different television shows is pretty amusing to see - as you see Animal and Cookie Monster interact, as well as Bert, Ernie and Doc.

Grade:

25 Days: Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas

For the third night of the 25 Days of Christmas we took in one of the many Muppet Christmas movies, this one, however, starring some very different muppets.

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas was created by Jim Henson in 1977, and besides the narrator being Kermit the Frog, the film doesn't have any of the iconic muppet characters.

Instead, we follow Emmet Otter and his mother, Ma, as they struggle to make ends meet.

When Christmas rolls around, Emmet would do anything to purchase his mother a piano, while Ma knows Emmet had his eye on a brand new guitar.

To make ends meet, Ma bakes pies, knits and does laundry in her washtub. Emmet, meanwhile, helps out with odd jobs thanks to a tool kit his departed father left him.

News of a talent contest that offers the top prize of $50 quickly spreads to the Otter household, and Emmet joins his three friends in a jug-band, in hopes of winning and purchasing his mother that piano. The only downside is, to play the washtub bass he must put a hole in his mother's washtub.

Ma Otter also hears of the talent contest, and with some persuading by a neighbor, decides to enter the contest in hopes of getting Emmet that guitar. In order to get some fabric to make her costume, however, she has to sell Emmet's tool kit.

It's a pretty touching story, that has a pretty happy ending.

The puppeteering is a little old school, as on multiple occasions you can view the strings that are being used to move the marionettes.

But, for being a 1977 film, the overall look of the film is pretty well done.

Grade: