It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas
(November 21/03)

It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie delivers exactly what you might expect from a film with such a title, and though the usage of Dickens' Christmas Carol is reaching its breaking point, the Muppets manage to keep things lively enough to keep the majority of viewers entertained.

Given that this is the latest riff on Dickens' classic story, it doesn't take a genius to guess that Kermit's eventually going to wonder why he was ever born. The event that gets him to that point is the imminent destruction of his beloved Muppet theater, at the hands of an evil banker (played by Joan Cusack). Though Kermit and the gang put on a show and raise a lot of money to save the theater, Fozzie proves to be the worst choice to make the delivery. After putting the blame on himself, Kermit wishes aloud that he was never born - raising the interest of God herself (Whoopi Goldberg). She sends an angel (David Arquette) to show Kermit what would've happened to his friends if he'd never existed. Not surprisingly, it's not exactly a pleasant world (Pepe the shrimp is about to be eaten on Fear Factor, while Gonzo is homeless).

There's nothing terribly original or groundbreaking about It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, but one gets the impression that's the idea. The movie stays true to the Muppets and allows each of them a good amount of screen time, and the variety of cameo appearances only adds to the easy-going vibe. Cusack is clearly having a good time playing an over-the-top villain, while Arquette does a nice job of playing this meek, slightly insecure character (if only he was this restrained in flicks like See Spot Run). Even William H. Macy (!) pops up at one point, though his part is minimal.

But really, the film belongs to the Muppets and they're just as charming and enjoyable as ever. Relative newcomer Pepe steals all his scenes, though it was a little odd that his elephant sidekick from the latest incarnation of The Muppet Show was absent. Old favorites like Miss Piggy and even those two old hecklers make appearances, but Kermit remains the heart and soul of the troupe. The fact that he's such a compelling figure makes it fairly easy to overlook the familiarity of this story and its oftentimes juvenile sense of humor.

It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie will never make it onto the list of classic holiday flicks, but it's agreeable enough to warrant a mild recommendation (particularly if you're a fan of the Muppets).