It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002)

Movie Info

Ms. Piggy scrubs up!

Christmas is coming and the Muppets are at a crossroads.  The Muppet Theater is on the verge of being lost to a greedy industrialist named Rachel Bitterman (Joan Cusack) and Kermit the Frog blames himself for the situation.  As Kermit contemplates his life, an angel named Daniel (David Arquette) tries to encourage his superior “boss” (Whoopi Goldberg) to help Kermit.  Kermit will see a world where he never existed and find the real meaning of the holiday.

Directed by Kirk R. Thatcher, It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie follows other Muppet films in parodying classic stories.  The film is Muppet retelling of the Frank Capra’s 1946 movie It’s a Wonderful Life and the first full length Muppet TV movie.  It features the first vocals of Janice since Richard Hunt and Eric Jacobson’s first performing of Frank Oz’s characters.

You’re a mean one Mr. Grinch

There have been tons of adaptations of It’s a Wonderful Life from TV shows to other movies.  Adding the Muppets to the mix seem like a natural and since the Muppets already pulled off The Muppet Christmas Carol in 1992, It’s a Wonderful Life was a smart follow-up.

It’s a Wonderful Life is a dark, dark Christmas story.  Obviously, the Muppets can’t go as dark as the original film, but they try…and do it with humor.  I think Fozzie Bear holds my favorite part in this story as the “Uncle Billy” character from It’s a Wonderful Life and he finds himself crossing over with another holiday classic when he is dyed green and thought to be the Grinch…complete with Whos.

Welcome to the Moulin Scrooge!

The Muppets have always been about their guest stars and the movie is loaded with visiting actors.  Ms. Piggy’s attempts at acting lead to an appearance from the entire cast of Scrubs (Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Neil Flynn, John C. McGinley, and Judy Reyes) on the set of their show.  Mel Brooks provides the voice for Joe Snow, and you get the weakest “Muppet” ever with an appearance by Triumph the Insult Comic Dog of Conan O’Brien fame.  Matthew Lillard, William H. Macy, Carson Daly, Kelly Ripa, Joe Rogan, and Molly Shannon also have roles in the special.  Whoopie Goldberg returns to the Muppets as “the Supreme Being” and is aided by David Arquette.  Plus, you get the always entertaining Joan Cusack as Rachel Bitterman who eats up all her scenes…unfortunately Snoop Dogg’s scenes were cut.

Hey Frog…I poop on you!

Muppets are Muppets.  The movie looks like your standard Muppet movie which isn’t a bad thing, but it also isn’t that inventive.  The character designs are as always great and I have to love the Muppets.

I enjoyed It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie and of the multiple Muppet movies, it is one of the better ones.  In addition to being a nice Muppet movie, it is a nice holiday film.  There are tons of bad Christmas movies out there and it always nice to see a fun new one that is halfway decent.