Pros and Cons of The Muppet Christmas Carol

Pro: Michael Caine!

Con: Michael Caine, singing

Pro: Statler and Waldorf as the Marley brothers

Con: Terrifying expressionless doll-head as the Ghost of Christmas Past

Pro: Uplifting morality tale leaves five-year-old filled with the true meaning of Christmas

Con: Idea that ghosts will visit him in the night leaves five-year-old unable to sleep with the lights off or be left alone for any length of time

Pro: One of the few movies for Henry that doesn't make me wish for the sweet release of death

Con: I can no longer pee by myself

Comments

[Mara]

I LOVE that movie, freaky babydollhead and all. We must watch it every year, despite having no children.

[Megan]

There are no cons. There are. no. cons.

Well, except the bit where the girlfriend sings really really meaningfully about love and stuff and the kids get bored and start punching each other again.

[shannon]

oh god, i could have written that. she has aways weirded me out.

[shannon]

oh god, i could have written that. she has always weirded me out.

[DM]

I absolutely love the Muppets. Might have to watch this again. And thanks for the warning as to why I should not get this for my nephew. Except apparently he is completely hooked on The Transformers movie and I would have thought that was a little scary for a 4 year old. And yet they won't let him watch Buffy. Sigh.

[Stephanie]

Let me recommend the other two Muppets Christmas shows -- one with John Denver (who could be scared of John Denver) with a sweet environmental theme, and another with the Fraggles where the gang goes to Fozzie's mom's house for Christmas dinner. This one has ALL the muppets...Fraggles, Sesame Street Gang, and the Muppet Show folks.

[Strizz]

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas. watch it

[Tara]

For some reason, doesn't look like comments are open on your current post. Anyway, 2 things:

a) I KNEW the new masthead was a Dooce design! I feel vindicated.b) Get some rest, take some ibuprofen for the hurty throat and some vitamin C just for good measure. Hope you feel better soon!

[JennyM]

The Muppet Christmas Carol! I *KNEW* there was something missing from the season so far.

Traditionally, everything goes well until the Scrooge's girlfriend starts singing "The looooove is gooooooone" -- it's at this point my sister and I point out that the girlfriend has ginormous nostrils, and then we all fall asleep before the song is over.

Light the lamp, not the rat!!!

[amy]

here's the con you forgot - while muppets were in the movie, they were not the stars :(

i loved the movie, but it made me kind of wistful. muppet movies are supposed to be their own special brand of crazy storyline and original music..

that being said.. i still love it :)

[Andy]

This one is a must-have every year for us-- Gonzo as Charles Dickens? Priceless!Rizzo: "And I am here for the food."

Our boys love the part where the girlfriend sings, "The Love is Gone." It's kinda the heart of the story, where Scrooge sees where he went wrong. Plus, if it makes the rat weep, we can handle it. Somebody cut it from the DVD version, though. The kids must've been punching each other again. ;)

"Light the lamp, not the rat!"

...and another vote for "Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas!" ("He tried sellin' snake oil, but it seems like nobody wants to oil a snake anymore.")

[Arabella]

Pro: Beaker actually gives the finger. Go ahead; pause it and rewind it. You'll see.