History Film / TheMuppetChristmasCarol

* IfYouCanReadThis: A sign in London says "Statler and Waldorf".

* YetAnotherChristmasCarol: Behind the scenes, Director Brian Henson was originally opposed about doing ''another'' Christmas Carol... but after they worked out that Scrooge and the Ghosts would not be played by regular Muppets was when they decided to move forward.

** Jacob and Robert Marley, during Fozziwig's christmas party, has them sitting in a VIP balcony for some
reason while heckling Fozziwig. Guess who the Marley brothers [[StatlerAndWaldorf are portrayed by]] (and [[ParodyName Fozziwig, for that matter]])?

The film largely follows the story of the book with the typical Muppet humor thrown in. The film was praised for using specially created Muppets to portray the ghosts, instead of established Muppets, in order to keep true to Dickens's descriptions and, remarkably, is actually one of the most faithful Christmas Carol adaptations, with most of the dialogue intact and the omniscient narration quoted in large chunks by the character of Dickens himself - it's just that it's spoken by Muppets.

The film is also the first time Gonzo the Great and Rizzo the Rat appeared as a double act. Gonzo played Charles Dickens and acts as the narrator, while Rizzo is well… [[AsHimself Rizzo]].

The film was followed up with ''Film/MuppetTreasureIsland'' in 1996. It also had humans playing vital roles while [[HumanFocusedAdaptation The Muppets played supporting characters.]]

** Jacob and Robert Marley, during Fozziwig's christmas party, has them sitting in a VIP balcony for some reason while heckling Fozziwig. Guess who the Marley brothers [[StatlerAndWaldorf are portrayed by]] (and [[ParodyName Fozziwig, for that matter]])?

-->'''Mrs. Cratchit''': I suppose that on the blessed day of Christmas, one must drink to the health of, uh, Mr Scrooge, even though he is odious...\\

* BigShutUp: Animal does this to assist Fozziwig.

** As Christmas Present is showing him, they pass a small choir, composed of babies.

'''Gonzo''': All right. ''[averts his eyes and holds his hand out]'' Um, there's a little mole on my thumb, and a scar on my wrist, from when I fell off my bicycle-\\

* DarkerAndEdgier: The movie follows very closely the book, and can be seen as very dark for a Muppet movie. The emotion is often put before the laughter, Gonzo and Rizzo provide more than half of the comic relief, and the part with the ghost of Christmas Yet To Come is both be scary and sad. The Marley scene is one of the most NightmareFuel in the franchise, even though they are portrayed by StatlerAndWaldorf.

-->'''Gonzo''': The Marleys were dead, to begin with.
-->'''Rizzo''': Uh, wha- Pardon me?!
-->'''Gonzo''': That's how the story begins, Rizzo: "The Marleys were dead, to begin with"!
-->'''Rizzo''': Oh.
-->'''Gonzo''': As dead as a doornail.
-->'''Rizzo''': It's a good beginning. It's creepy and kinda -- hoo hoo! -- spooky.
* HappilyMarried: Scrooge's nephew Fred and his wife Clara; The Cratchits.

* HeelFaceTurn: Just like in the book.

-->'''Rizzo''':''(buried upside down in snow after Fred comes knocking)'' You're very good at that, "Mr. Dickens"!

* LargeAndInCharge: Scrooge, being human, towers over his <3 foot tall underlings, and pretty much the entire Muppet cast. Used to good effect in the opening number, where he wades through a sea of knee-high Muppets singing about how oppressive he is.

* ShooOutTheClowns: Gonzo and Rizzo vanish from the scene after the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come shows up, not returning until after Scrooge wakes up in his own bed and the story is almost over. It's both [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] and {{justified|Trope}}, in that they point out that they're leaving because they're ''scared'' of the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come. As this is the point where the original and ALL adaptations of the story gets DarkerAndEdgier, Gonzo's address to the audience is probably included so the kiddies won't be too scared.

* SparedByTheAdaptation: It's all but implied that Fezziwig has since passed on since Scrooge worked for him, and several adaptations have even directly stated it. In this version an elder Fezziwig, or Fozziwig as he's referred to here, is shown to be still alive in the present when Scrooge visits him during the ending.

-->'''Rizzo:''' Are you sure it's okay to be up here? [on a window ledge]
-->'''Gonzo:''' Scrooge is saved! What could happen?
-->''Scrooge flings open the window, throw them to the ground.''

--> '''Rizzo:''' (''blowing on his feet'') I fell down a chimney and landed on a flaming hot goose!
--> '''Gonzo:''' (''dejected'') You have all the fun!

* TriumphantReprise: "When Love is Gone" midway through becomes "The Love we Found" at the end.
* VillainSong: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsiKOJOXMJU&feature=related "Marley & Marley"]] comes the closest to this.
* TheVillainSucksSong: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBthi_An5qQ "Scrooge"]]. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsiKOJOXMJU&feature=related "Marley & Marley"]] as well, [[SelfDeprecation even though it is the villainous Marley brothers who are singing it.]]

-->'''Sam the Eagle''': Mm, you will love business. It is the ''AMERICAN'' WAY!
--> ''(Young Ebenezer looks extremely confused)''
--> '''Gonzo''': Ack! Uh, Sam... ''(whispers in Sam's ear)''
--> '''Sam the Eagle''': Oh... It is the ''BRITISH'' WAY!
--> '''Gonzo''': Good. ''(thumbs up)''
--> '''Young Ebenezer''': Yes, Headmaster.
--> '''Sam the Eagle''': Hmm. ''(looks around, confused)''

-->'''Scrooge:''' You're a little absent-minded, spirit.
-->'''Ghost of Christmas Present:''' [[ActuallyPrettyFunny No, I'm a LARGE absent-minded spirit!]]
* YetAnotherChristmasCarol: Behind the scenes, Director Brian Henson was originally opposed about doing ANOTHER Christmas Carol... but after they worked out that Scrooge and the Ghosts would not be played by regular Muppets was when they decided to move forward.

-->''Rizzo:'' Wow what a great story!
-->''Gonzo:'' You think that's good, [[Literature/AChristmasCarol you should read the book.]]

* CharacterAsHimself: "...and Rizzo the Rat as Himself"

* ShownTheirWork: As the YetAnotherChristmasCarol page points out, this film uses dialogue from the original novel, which is more than most ''Literature/AChristmasCarol'' adaptations can say. The ghosts are also closer to Dickens' descriptions; the choice to ''not'' to use established Muppets for the ghosts vastly improves the film.

* TheVillainSucksSong: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBthi_An5qQ "Scrooge"]]. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsiKOJOXMJU&feature=related "Marley & Marley"]] as well, [[SelfDeprecation even though it is the villainous Marley brothers who are singing it.]]

The film largely follows the story of the book with the typical Muppet humor thrown in. The film was praised for using specially created Muppets to portray the ghosts, instead of established Muppets, in order to keep true to Dicken's descriptions and, remarkably, is actually one of the most faithful Christmas Carol adaptations, with most of the dialogue intact and the omniscient narration quoted in large chunks by the character of Dickens himself - it's just that it's spoken by Muppets.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Throughout the course of the movie Beaker flips off Scrooge[[hottip:*:Granted, he only has four fingers, so it ''might'' be his index finger, but the outrage is definitely there]], Gonzo says "Damn it," and Miss Piggy gropes Kermit. There's also the complaint of Scrooge's clerks: "our [[IncrediblyLamePun assets]] are frozen!"

* TheOtherDarrin: This was the first appearance [[hottip:*: In film. Whitmire previously voiced Kermit for the prime time "The Muppets Remember Jim Henson" special]] of Steve Whitmire as Kermit and Beaker, Jerry Nelson as Statler, and Dave Goelz as Waldorf.

* MassiveNumberedSiblings: When Gonzo asks Rizzo if he was ever a lonely child, Rizzo replies, "I had 1,274 brothers and sisters!"
** And of course, The Ghost of Christmas Present had more than 1,800 brothers, each of them representing a year of Christmas.

* StealthPun: They split the role of Jacob Marley in two so both StatlerAndWaldorf could play it. So now we have Robert Marley (think about it).

* KnightofCerebus: The Spirit of Christmas Yet To Come.

** Sam the Eagle, as a gaffe, says his catchphrase "It's the American Way" when telling Young Ebenezer he is to join a business upon graduation. Ebenezer gives him a confused look, before Gonzo informs Sam hushedly that the novel takes place in Britain, then amending the catchphrase.

* BigShutUp: Animal does this to assist Fozziewig.

* ActorAllusion: Several, regarding the Muppet actors:** Sam the Eagle, as a gaffe, says his catchphrase "It's the American Way" when telling Young Ebenezer he is to join a business upon graduation. Ebenezer gives him a confused look, before Gonzo informs Sam hushedly that the novel takes place in Britain, then amending the catchphrase.