Heard this once said: Caine played his character as a very straight human, while Tim Curry played his character in Muppet’s Treasure Island like he’s himself an unhinged muppet. To the credit of both of these actors, it works perfectly in their respective movies.
Caine is the latest of many human actors (including the great Orson Welles) to fight for screen space with the Muppets, and he sensibly avoids any attempt to go for a laugh. He plays the role straight, and treats the Muppets as if they are real. It is not an easy assignment.
- Roger Ebert
I think we can all agree that, creatively, it worked perfectly.
And that is exactly the silliest thing Michael Caine could have done, and it deserves a standing ovation or three.
I read a fun story about that movie the other day. When they test-marketed it for kids, they asked what the rats did wrong to get coal at the end. Brian Henson and the others hadn’t even made that connection.
Oh, I just finally watched this for the first time. If your interested, I wrote my thoughts but you can skip that if your just looking for a good Christmas movie then do it. Out of six or so I have watched, this definitely was my favorite.
If you can, find the non-widescreen DVD version.
They left the most important, emotional scene of the film (along with the song they used a “pop” version of for the ending credits anyway) out of the theatrical cut of the film.
It’s the scene where Scrooger gets dumped, and there’s a beautiful duet of Michael Caine singing along with his ex-fiance as his heart breaks and he starts to become human.
Without that scene, he suddenly goes from being the man at the beginning of the film to the much friendlier Scrooge with the Giant.
They put it back in recently!
I’m going to make it my homework tonight. I may have to revise my thoughts as well if it makes a great movie into a perfect one. Thank you very much. 😄
The reason you have to find the non-widescreen version I think is because they released the scene initially for the VHS cut and I don’t think they have a surviving copy of the original non-4:3 cut.
Also: find the soundtrack. There’s a few songs that didn’t make the film. There’s a forgettable Sam Eagle song, but a lovely Bunson and Breaker song with a Beaker solo.
It must be better than Jim Carey’s rendition, which is so dark that even when he’s saved, there is no joy to be found.
I totally forgot that exists. I never actually saw it.
We just watched it last night and agreed as a family that we wished we hadn’t.
Oh you made a mistake, that 4 at the top is supposed to be a 5
I’ve been told I’ve watched without an essential song included so you may be right!
If you’re watching on Disney+ you need to go in the Extras section for the non theatrical version with one more song :)
This doctor saved my life! 4/5
Best, period.
We see it in the theater each Christmas season.
What’s crazy is that this movie was hated when it came out. People had no taste back then
As if I don’t watch this movie enough throughout the year already (I try to alternate between this one and Muppet Treasure Island)… Time to fire it up again. Merry Christmas, Lemmy! 🎄🎅⛄
Muppets Take Manhattan ftw. I don’t watch many movies but will always stop to watch this one.
so much nostalgia in one movie.
My favorite serious Christmas Carol - The one with Patrick Stewart in it
My favorite silly Christmas Carol - Musical with Kelsey Grammer and Jason Alexander
Have you seen Spirited? I liked Spirited.
Brilliant!!
