Please forgive me but I have to gush about Muppet Christmas Carol for a sec.
I'm a bit disillusioned with Christmas in general because of yknow the state of the world and consumerism etc etc, but literally nothing gets me into the christmas spirit like that movie. Like. Specifically the Muppet One. Not only is it one of the most faithful adaptations of the original story for some reason, but it's also incredible historically accurate with costuming, Michael Cane's completely straight performance of Scrooge juxtaposed with the earnest humor of the muppets, the INCREDIBLE soundtrack and songs, but also it doesn't hold back because it's a Muppet Movie. It shows Scrooge's grave. The ghost of christmas past and future are genuinely eerie and terrifying, the Marleys mention BEING IN HELL and mentions of torture and suffering are not sugar-coated, the practical effects hold up, Tiny Tim dies. Like it's not subtle. Scrooge is directly confronted with his own mortality in a way that pulls no punches. He is forced to see the suffering he has caused and is causing. The poor muppets are shown in scenes of abject poverty and misery, covered in dirt and grime and lying in the street. I think them BEING muppets makes it all the more tragic; muppets are so lovable and it paints a stark picture of Scrooge's greed and cruelty, and it uses intelligent language that isn't dumbed down for the audience. I genuinely think it's Michael Cane's best role and I'm not exaggerating. And then at the end of it, the earnestness and whimsey of the muppets shines through to culminate in an ending that feels genuinely heartwarming in a way that other Christmas movies don't, even other adaptations of A Christmas Carol. The muppets forgive Scrooge unequivocally and accept him without question when he makes actions to provide recompense. It's starkly forgiving. The people that created this movie were determined to make a movie that was accurate, heartwarming, and beautiful and they did just that.
