If ever the future of the Muppets was unclear, the early 1990’s was the time. Creator, father and lead puppeteer Jim Henson had died suddenly at age 53 in 1990. The Muppet Show, canceled nearly a decade earlier, had quietly disappeared from syndication and the once popular Muppet Babies, was cancelled in 1991. As it turned out, Jim Henson’s son Brian and his father’s crew of talented puppeteers weren’t about to let Kermit the Frog and his buddies fade into the woodwork. They all came together to make The Muppet Christmas Carol, a true holiday classic.

A retelling of the classic Charles Dickens novel, Carol represented a real departure from Muppet films of the past. Gone were the celebrity cameos and totally carefree attitude. Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a rather dark tale and the Muppets stay surprisingly faithful to its core story. With that being said, recapping the entire plot of A Christmas Carol seems redundant, so I’ll just cut to the chase. While sticking to the story, the Muppets wisely add their own touches of humor, keeping longtime fans entertained and youngsters scare free.

The Muppet Christmas CarolThe core Muppets are cast in largely supporting roles. Kermit the Frog (Steve Whitmire assuming the voice of one of Jim Henson’s oldest and best characters) plays the role of Bob Cratchit. Kermit’s young nephew Robin is Tiny Tim and Miss Piggy (Frank Oz) is Cratchit’s wife, Emily. Fozzie the Bear (Oz, again) is Fozziewig, of course. Oscar winner Michael Caine plays Ebenezer Scrooge and fulfills every aspect of the character we’ve come to expect. One of the best aspects of A Muppets Christmas Carol is the fact that narrating duties are fulfilled by The Great Gonzo (Dave Goelz) and Rizzo the Rat (Steve Whitmire), respectively. They both add humorous touches to the proceedings as needed.

Released just two years after Jim Henson’s death, I’ve always felt an air of sadness surrounds The Muppet Christmas Carol. With the Muppets creative force gone, I can only imagine that things were a bit emotional behind the scenes. After all, the themes intrinsic to A Christmas Carol are the passage of time, loss and regret. One has to think those involved were thinking about Jim Henson and his legacy. Considering that Henson’s son Brian made his directorial debut here, hearts had to be heavy. On occasion, the film’s cinematography seems to show the crews mourning, In one scene, Kermit looks up into the clear night sky, seemingly reflecting on his life and looking into the future. In a sense, The Muppet Christmas Carol serves as a fitting tribute to Jim Henson, but also assured fans that Kermit and his friends would indeed have a future. Along the way, The Muppet Christmas Carol has become a true holiday classic.

Presented in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio, Disney’s 1080p transfer is very nice looking. The puppets really come to life, as you can really see their textures and detail throughout. Colors are bright and vivid, while black levels are excellent, which is paramount given the amount of night scenes. There are a few overly grainy shots, but none of this hampers the overall experience.

The Muppet Christmas Carol is presented with a fine DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. While this is a nice presentation, it doesn’t take full advantage of the entire soundfield. Primarily front heavy with little rear activity, the dialogue is crystal clear through the center channel. Ambient sounds and music come across clearly in the fronts.

English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles are available.

Along with a Digital Copy, the following special features are included:

  • Audio Commentaries: We get two commentaries. First up is an all-new exclusive commentary with Kermit the Frog, Gonzo the Great and Rizzo the Rat. It’s really just a gimmick. The ad-libbed comments grow old fast and it’s not particularly funny. Up next is an informative commentary with director Brian Henson, taken from the 2005 DVD. Henson discusses the film’s set design and trick photography, the integration of the Muppets and human actors, the adaptation of Dickens’ story, the characters and performances, and much more. I’d suggest sticking with the second track.
  • Holiday Intermission Songs (HD, 6:52): Pause the film at any point and enjoy one of five Christmas songs, performed by some of the Muppets.
  • Frogs, Pigs and Humbug: Unwrapping a New Holiday Classic (SD, 21:56): Gonzo, Rizzo and “Bri” Henson host this lengthy look behind the scenes, includes interviews with members of the cast and crew.
  • Gonzo: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Weirdo (SD, 5:29): Pepe the Prawn hosts this early ’90s look back at Gonzo’s life and career.
  • Christmas Around the World (SD, 2:58): Gonzo and Rizzo discuss holiday traditions around the world.
  • Blooper Reel (SD, 2:33): Outtakes.