TV Show Info
TV Show Name: A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa
Studio: The Muppet Studio
Genre(s): Comedy/Seasonal
Release Date(s): December 17, 2008
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
You better have my money!
When the Muppets accidentally cause havoc at the local post office the day before Christmas, Gonzo finds he missed mailing letters to Santa Claus…including the letter of a young friend Claire (Madison Pettis). Now, the Muppets must travel to the North Pole in time to reach Santa (Richard Griffiths) before he goes on his Christmas Eve journey. This means getting to the airport by taxi (driven by Whoopi Goldberg), getting tickets (from Uma Thurman), passing TSA security (led by Nathan Lane), and facing Santa’s head elf (Paul Williams). Can the Muppets do it in time to save Christmas?
The only way to fly!
Directed by Kirk R. Thatcher, A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa was a made-for-TV holiday special that aired on NBC on December 17, 2008. The movie featured sons by Paul Williams who also appeared as the Chief Elf.
The Muppets are an institution, and their level of “adult” content varies. With The Muppet Christmas Carol and It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, the Muppets are no stranger to the holidays. Though this is the most recent version of the Muppets’ take on Christmas, it also is probably the weakest.
Hey, Chef…your human hands are creeping me out!
This Muppet adventure is primarily for kids though adults will find a few things in it that do provide some laughs. The basic story is very kid-friendly (though there is some question if Pepe the Prawn really believes in Santa Claus…it is shown he does). It is a rather harmless adventure, but it could have been better.
In addition to all of the favorite Muppets, the Muppets has always been about the guest stars. As a kid, I hated the “celebrity” parts of The Muppet Show, but now they are the best part since the sheer oddity of guests they get. Here, they have Jane Krakowski (as Claire’s mother), Richard Griffiths (aka Harry Potter’s uncle as Santa Claus), Nathan Lane, Sopranos veterans Steve Schirripa and Tony Sirico, Uma Thurman, model Petra Nemcova, and Jesse L. Martin. Muppet veterans Whoopi Goldberg and Paul Williams also visit for the holidays.
Lets get “sledding”!
I still love the Muppets and how they look. For essentially a bunch of plush covered stuffed animals, the puppeteers behind them really make them feel real. With the strong voice actors (obviously Kermit’s original voice Jim Henson is replaced by Steve Whitmire and Piggy is Eric Jacobson), even the voice work for the characters is perfect.
If you love the Muppets, The Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa is worth seeking out. It isn’t the most developed story, nor it is it the best holiday special, but it does have heart (something some specials feel like they are lacking). The Muppets are fun, and the holidays are a better place because of them.
