A VERY
FUNNY
VIEW OF
SCROOGE
THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL
Review by John Delia
Just in time for the holidays Disney brings back a classic tale of a miser with a comedic twist who finds the spirit of Christmas in The Muppet Christmas Carol. This 20th Anniversary issue has just been released for the first time on Blu-ray. When the Muppets get hold of this Charles Dickens tale, it’s a laugh a minute for youngsters who love live action and puppetry with some cool sight gags and enjoyable songs. If you want your children to get into the holiday spirit, then this Blu-ray Combo Pack will do the trick.
On November 6, 2012, the Charles Dickens-inspired classic holiday story “The Muppet Christmas Carol†will ring in its 20th anniversary with the Blu-ray™ debut of this family favorite.
And now, a word from Gonzo: “Greetings, holiday movie fans and lovers of culture, I am Gonzo … or perhaps better known to fans of this classic motion picture as literary legend Charles Dickens. Are you ready to laugh, cry, sing, frolic, cavort and enjoy yourself beyond belief!? Well, you’re in luck, because this 20th Anniversary Edition of Disney’s “The Muppet Christmas Carol†is guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit that will stay with you forever—or at least until your Aunt Edna starts complaining that nobody is eating the fruitcake she brought … again!â€
“Available for the first time ever on Blu-ray with high definition sound and picture, so you can enjoy even more of my blue-ness, not to mention the incredible spectacle of Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit, Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit, Academy Award® winner Michael Caine (Best Supporting Actor, 1999, “The Cider House Rulesâ€) as Scrooge, wonderful songs by Oscar® winner Paul Williams (Best Original Song, 1976, “Evergreen†from “A Star Is Bornâ€) and, of course, my pal Rizzo the Rat as … well, Rizzo the Rat.â€
Special Bonus Features Include:
- Disney Intermission: Pause the movie and see what happens!
- Audio commentaries: With Kermit, Gonzo, Rizzo and more – With Director Brian Henson
- Frogs, Pigs and Humbug: Unwrapping a holiday classic- Experience an in-depth behind the scenes exercise in controlled chaos as Director Brian Henson and Rizzo explore the making of the film
- On the set – Blooper reel
- Pepe profiles- Gonzo a portrait of the artist as a young weirdo – Get up close and personal with The Great Gonzo- and come away more confused – in this very special look posted by Pepe the King Prawn
- Christmas around the World- Gonzo and Rizzo discuss Christmas traditions and Aunt Ruth’s fruitcake.
FINAL ANALYSIS: What’s Christmas without Scrooge, the Muppet way. (B)
Specifications and additional film information:
- Directed by: Brian Henson
- MPAA Rating: G
- Genre: Comedy
- Running Time: 1 hr 26 min
- Street Date: November 5, 2012
- Original Television Release Date:
- Language: English, French, And Spanish
- Format: Blu-ray
- Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- Video: 1080p High Definition, Widescreen 1.85:1
- Subtitles: English SDH, French, and Spanish
- Number of Discs: 2
- Distributed by: Walt Disney Home Entertainment