Gonzo the Great (Dave Goelz) is Charles Dickens, narrating the familiar story while accompanied by Rizzo the Rat (Steve Whitmire). Michael Caine chills your soul as the Humbugging Mr. Scrooge. Kermit the Frog (Steve Whitmire) is his poor clerk, Bob Cratchit who is married to Mrs. Cratchit, Miss (Mrs?). Piggy (Frank Oz). Scrooge's nephew Fred is played by Steven Mackintosh. Fozzie Bear (Oz) is "Fozziewig." In perhaps the biggest departure from the original plot, Jacob Marley has a brother, Robert, and they are played by Jerry Nelson and Frank Oz, both of whom also provide voices for numerous other Muppet characters throughout, as does much of the cast.
The plot is more or less the same as any standard adaptation of this well known story, with some Muppety twists. The real beauty of what the Muppets do is integrate with human actors without so much as an eye blink. Singing fruit is just as commonplace in 1800's England as the cobblestone streets and where else would you get to see a singing frog join in with the penguins annual sliding contest? This is the Muppets at their near best, full of wit and skillful story retelling. The old story is fresh again many times over and will be enjoyed for years to come by ages of all variations. It is not perfect and has a song or two - yes it is a musical - that drag the pace down a bit. It is cast so perfectly though that you would think that Dickens wrote the story with a cast in mind that includes a beaker shaped person thing that doesn't talk and a brusque female pig. If you have not yet seen this one, plan to do so next Christmas - or even before!
**** (4/5 stars)
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