"The Muppet Christmas Carol"

1992
-directed by Brian Henson
I approached this with equal parts excitement and dread.
Excitement because Paul Williams' music was returning to the Muppet universe, and to a lesser extent because Michael Caine could conceivably pull off a great Scrooge.
Dread because this was the first Muppet film without Jim. It's not entirely pessimistic to wonder whether all Muppet creation should have stopped, on that summer day that he died. Or at least anything involving characters he himself had brought to life. I wonder what sort of discussions were held by those directing the Muppet universe, in that year of 1990? Was there agreement on the right way to continue his work? Because what came out in the years since has been at best lacking, and at worst cringeworthy. I suppose i'm thinking mostly of whomever had to become the "new" Kermit. It may have been just one fellow, Steve Whitmire to this day. I remember the first time i heard the new Kermit, and inside there was this feeling of "oh no no no". It was almost as painful as that childhood day when they foisted a different Ronald McDonald on us, a moment that probably ranks as the single greatest moment of disillusionment in my life. I actually heard Jim's real voice in an interview for the first time yesterday. Great googily, that man sounded like Kermit! I've not followed Muppet creations closely as an adult, but occasional exposures seemed, at best...a touch sad. Because that wasn't really Kermit. I mean, it's not all gloom and doom...i do know that KERMIT UNPIGGED is kind of a pretty great album.
Anyway...
The movie began, my dread probably outweighing excitement.
And a strange thing happened.
Ten minutes went by before i remembered that Jim was gone. Ten minutes before i remembered that this was not his voice at all. Ten minutes. Astonishing. Ten minutes of laughter and smiles, a little wave of which continued throughout the movie.
Director Brian Henson made interesting choices, and amazingly seemed more prepared to helm his first feature film than either Jim or Frank had been. Instead of relying on a group of known actors to play supporting roles as had been done previously, Caine was the only name actor. And it worked. Lead roles were given to new muppets, particularly the ghosts. And while none of them resonated with all the old magic, they worked fine, and indeed i wondered whether having "old" muppets play all the supporting parts might not have felt a little dusty. Caine himself was a big part of why the movie worked. There were a couple of his scenes i wish they'd shot another take of, but generally he turned in a performance that will be remembered as one of his best. The music wasn't up to William's work for the original, but was definitely a cut above the previous sequels. I had originally been angry at Disney for its recent editing, in particular for taking out the song "When Love Is Gone". Some felt it revealed the shabbier aspects of the Disney worldview to leave out an authentic but sad song. For once though, i can't fault Disney. That song is pretty flat, and i wouldn't have missed it. Rowlf was again conspicuously a non-presence, but it says something about how well this movie works that i even wished for some replacement performer to try to bring him to life. The hero of the movie, the award for best performance goes to...Beaker! What joy. After he'd been virtually a non-presence in the previous sequels, his scenes here are the greatest treasure of the film.
3 stars.