It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie Review

It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie


Broadcast Date: 29th November 2002 - USA


Production Companies
National Broadcasting Company
(NBC) (presents)
The Jim Henson Company (presents)
Jim Henson Productions


Genre: Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 100 minutes
                 85 minutes (DVD)



Plot Summary
'Tis the night before
Christmas, and the Muppet
theatre is in danger of being
torn down. And when bad
goes to worse, Kermit begins
to believe the world would be
a better place if he'd never
been born. But don't worry!
With heavenly help and
hilarious send-ups of just
about every holiday movie
ever made. Kermit and the
Muppets discover what

matters most is their 

love for each other.


Cast
David Arquette - Daniel
Joan Cusack - Rachel Bitterman
Matthew Lillard - Luc Fromage
Whoopi Goldberg - Daniel's 'Boss'
William H. Macy - Glenn
Mel Brooks - Joe Snow (Voice)
Chantal Strand - Nancy Nut-
What
Dave 'Squatch' Ward - Sally
Ann Santa Claus

Muppet Performers
Steve Whitmire - Kermit/
Various
Eric Jacobson - Miss Piggy/
Fozzie Bear/Animal/Yoda
Dave Goelz - Gonzo/Various
Bill Barretta - Swedish Chef/
Various
David Rudman - Scooter/
Various
Jerry Nelson - Robin the
Frog/Various
Brian Henson - Scooter/
Various
Kevin Clash - Sam the Eagle
Allan Trautman - Joe Snow/
Eugene the Tuba Player
John Henson - Sweetums
John Kennedy - Dr. Teeth

Cameo Guest Stars
Zach Braff - Dr. John 'J.D.' Dorian
Carson Daly - Himself
Kelly Ripa - Herself
Molly Shannon - Herself
Bill Lawrence - Himself - 'Scrubs' Producer
Judy Reyes - Nurse Carla Espinosa
Neil Flynn - The Janitor
Robert Smigel - Triumph the Comic Insult Dog (Voice)
Sarah Chalke - Dr. Elliot Reid
John C. McGinley - Dr. Perry Cox

Crew
Director - Kirk R. Thatcher
Writers - Tom Martin and Jim Lewis
Executive Producers - Juliet Blake and Brian Henson
Producers - Martin G. Baker and Warren Carr
Co-Producers - Bill Barretta and Ruth Caruso
Production Designer - Michael S. Bolton
Costume Designers - Polly Smith and
Sandra J. Blackie (Uncredited)
Director of Photography - Tony Westman
Choreographer - James Hibbard
Film Editor - Gregg Featherman
Music - Mark Watters


Review
It's Christmas Eve. everyone! It's been a few years since I last reviewed 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' which is the best seasonal offering from The Muppets. While I haven't had the chance to review any of the Muppet movies since, (well I only have done two films) I have waited a long time to review 'IT'S A VERY MERRY MUPPET CHRISTMAS MOVIE' which nowadays is overlooked by everyone. It wasn't released in theatres but the movie was actually shown on television after their last cinema outing 'Muppets from Space' failed before coming back with a brief resurgence in 2011.

This feature is a loose parody of 'It's a Wonderful Life' and even though the plot is too predictable, it still has that signature Muppet zaniness. It also came out before the 2011 film (click here) which has similarities to the story-line including the Muppets trying to save their theatre from being torn down by a heartless rich person who wants to replace it with his/her new establishment. Containing a lot of spoofs and pop cultural references to TV shows and films including 'Scrubs', 'The Grinch', 'Moulin Rouge', 'The Crocodile Hunter' and 'Star Wars', it even features a musical number "Everyone Matters" which is a nice song although a bit forgettable.

Joan Cusack plays a truly heinous villain who behaves like a bratty child and it seems Cusack was having fun with her role. In a stroke of casting genius, Whoopi Goldberg plays God but her performance is something less than holy. The celebrity cameos are a blast in typical Muppet fashion, there are actors such as Matthew Lillard, Mel Brooks, Molly Shannon and William H. Macy.

While this movie isn't ingenious enough to be considered the greatest of the Muppets. 'IT'S A VERY MERRY MUPPET CHRISTMAS' is definitely worth-seeing.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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