Welcome to the Galactic Theater, where we'll explore the works of master manipulators of light waves, examine the themes brought to play, and critique the final products of months of hard work.
This review does not represent the opinions of the general public. It reflects my personal thoughts and opinions on the movie.
That said, on to the review!
For children who have moved away to find work elsewhere in the country, there's nothing quite like going home for the holidays. Well, what goes for humans holds true for other creatures as well...like the Muppets!
Fozzie Bear is going home to his mother's farm, and he's bringing the entire Muppet gang with him, from his best pal Kermit the Frog to the piano-playing Rowlf the Dog to Animal! There's just one problem, maybe two: Mrs. Bear has plans to go to California for the winter, and she's rented out her farm to a man and his dog! Now what is everybody going to do? What else can they do but open up the house, pull out the pillows and the blankets, and find a place for everyone to sleep for Christmas!
And while the huge gathering lends itself well to the festive air that makes Christmas so fun, it isn't over by half. Because while the farmhouse rocks with Christmas carols old and new, who should come a-caroling but the entire Sesame Street gang, from Big Bird to Ernie and Bert to Oscar the Grouch! "Make room, everybody! The entire Muppet family's coming together!" And there's going to be a huge problem of actually feeding such a large crowd, something the Swedish Chef is all too keen to handle by roasting a turkey. The turkey he invited, however, has other plans in mind and sets the Chef first on Sprocket the Dog, then on Big Bird himself! Fortunately, Big Bird's generous gift of chocolate-covered birdseed touches the Chef's homesick heart and he decides on serving something else as the main dish.
And that's still not the end of it all! Because Robin, Kermit's nephew, finds a Fraggle hole in Mrs. Bear's basement, and that of course leads them into Fraggle Rock where they share the meaning of Christmas to the Fraggles, who are celebrating a similar holiday of their own. Kermit and Robin return to the upper world soon enough, because Kermit's worried about Miss Piggy, who hasn't yet arrived from a late photo shoot. But you know that whenever Miss Piggy shows up, she always shows up in style, making a grand entrance that everyone anticipates but no one fully expects. And with the gathering of the Muppets finally complete, it's time for the exchanging of gifts and the mistletoe kisses. And finally, it's time to wish everyone a "Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!"
If you like the Muppets, I'm sure you'll like this video. It has a lot of singing going on, from traditional songs like "Deck the Halls" to more recent favorites like "Jingle Bell Rock." And there's something about the way the performers do these songs that appeals to the heart, making you bob along through "We Need a Little Christmas" or feel for the Swedish Chef through "The Christmas Song." This is the way Christmas should be: friends and family gathered together to share the best season of the year.
Although I'm probably old enough to remember it, I don't recall seeing this as a Muppet television special that included more than is on the video tape. According to the online reviews at Amazon.com, several of the scenes are currently missing from the original show. But you know what? Who cares? This is still a great video for adults and children alike to enjoy during the Christmas season. It is, perhaps, a bit more suitable for a general audience than The Muppet Christmas Carol is (I'd gear that towards at least PG-7 or PG-10 viewers). Still, there might be points in the video that will require a parent's or adult's explanation, such as when some of the jokes play out.
I can't say much more since there isn't a whole lot to discuss (approximately 42 minutes). Don't sell it short just because it is. Muppet Family Christmas is Christmas the way it was meant to be, and you can't go wrong with that.
You can purchase Muppet Family Christmas on videotape at just about any video store, though you might find it easier to locate during the holiday season than any other time of year.
Interested in buying this video? You can! Just follow the link for information on ordering the VHS version. You can also visit the Stellar Video Store for other titles.
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