It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
A Muppet homage to It's a Wonderful Life.
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie is a 2002 American television film that blends musical, fantasy, and comedy genres. Directed by Kirk R. Thatcher, with a script by Tom Martin and Jim Lewis, it first aired on NBC on November 29, 2002, marking the Muppets' first made-for-TV movie. The Jim Henson Company and NBC Studios produced it. The story follows Kermit the Frog as he despairs over losing the Muppet Theatre; an angel then shows him an alternate reality where he was never born, directly echoing the plot of Frank Capra's 1946 classic It's a Wonderful Life.
This film was the first Muppet production without veteran performer Frank Oz. Instead, Eric Jacobson took over Oz's roles—Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, and Animal—making his feature debut as those characters. The cast includes Muppet performers Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta, and Eric Jacobson, alongside human actors David Arquette, Joan Cusack, Matthew Lillard, William H. Macy, and Whoopi Goldberg.
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie was the final Muppets project before the Walt Disney Company acquired the franchise from the Jim Henson Company in 2004. Consequently, it is one of the few Muppet productions not owned by Disney; along with Sam and Friends, it is currently owned by NBCUniversal.
The plot begins during the holiday season as the Muppet Theater faces financial ruin. Kermit, stressed and irritable, laments lost money and his perceived uselessness. An angel named Daniel discusses Kermit's situation with his Boss. Earlier, Kermit prepares a Christmas show with Bobo the Bear as Santa. Banker Rachel Bitterman threatens foreclosure unless Kermit pays. Pepe the King Prawn leaves the Muppets after falling for Bitterman, and Miss Piggy departs for Hollywood. Kermit retrieves Miss Piggy from the set of Scrubs, where she was fired. Pepe learns Bitterman moved the deadline from midnight to 6:00 p.m., but his attempts to warn Kermit are repeatedly interrupted. The Muppets perform Moulin Scrooge, a parody of Moulin Rouge!, to a standing ovation. Afterward, Pepe finally tells Kermit about the deadline. Kermit sends Fozzie with the money, but Fozzie encounters a crazed nature-show host, is dyed green at a Christmas tree lot, mistaken for the Grinch by residents of "Whatville," and after a steam bath, returns to normal.
Quick Facts
- Based On
- The Muppets · Jim Henson
- Writer
- Tom Martin / Jim Lewis
- Director
- Kirk R. Thatcher
- Starring
- Steve Whitmire / Dave Goelz / Bill Barretta / Eric Jacobson / David Arquette / Joan Cusack / Matthew Lillard / William H. Macy / Whoopi Goldberg
- Music
- Mark Watters
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Executive Producer
- Juliet Blake / Brian Henson
- Producer
- Martin G. Baker / Warren Carr
- Editor
- Gregg Featherman
- Cinematography
- Tony Westman
- Runtime
- 88 minutes
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
This film was the first Muppets television movie and the first Muppets production without veteran performer Frank Oz. Eric Jacobson performed Oz's characters Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, and Animal, marking his feature film debut as those characters. It is the final Muppets production before the characters and franchise were acquired in 2004 by the Walt Disney Company from the Jim Henson Company, and it is one of the few Muppets-related productions currently not owned by Disney, instead owned by NBCUniversal along with Sam and Friends.
During filming, veteran Muppet performer Jerry Nelson was in poor health, resulting in most of his characters being puppeteered on set by others and later dubbed by Nelson in post-production. Scooter, performed by Brian Henson, makes his first significant appearance since the death of his original performer Richard Hunt. The film features the original song 'Everyone Matters' and pays homage to the classic Muppet song 'Rainbow Connection' with a statue of Kermit. Snoop Dogg was originally cast in a cameo role, but his scene was removed due to backlash over his involvement in adult entertainment at the time.
Reader's Guide
The film is notable as the first Muppet television movie and for being the final Muppets production before the franchise's acquisition by Disney. It received generally positive reviews, holding an 83% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Barbara Schultz of Common Sense Media rated it 4 out of 5, describing it as a 'classic story retold in funny, touching Muppet romp.' The film's plot directly parallels It's a Wonderful Life, with an angel showing Kermit a world where he was never born. Its production history includes the removal of a Snoop Dogg cameo and the inclusion of the Twin Towers in a background mural, which was created before the September 11 attacks. The film is currently owned by NBCUniversal, making it a rare Muppet property outside Disney's control.
Did You Know?
- This was the first Muppets television film and the first Muppets production without Frank Oz.
- Eric Jacobson made his feature film debut as Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, and Animal in this film.
- The film is one of the few Muppets-related productions not owned by Disney; it is owned by NBCUniversal.
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