“It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie” was released in 2002. The flick was directed by Kirk R. Thatcher and written by Tom Martin and Jim Lewis. It includes the Muppet characters that we all know and love. It also includes a handful of human co-stars as it rehashes the theme of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
The Muppets are always fun, but this movie misses the mark a bit. Maybe it’s the inclusion of so many non-Muppet characters. Or the chaos of the plot itself.
As the movie opens, Kermit the Frog is depressed. The Muppet theater is in jeopardy of closing down at the hands of the seductive Rachel Bitterman (Joan Cusack) who has given Christmas Eve as the due date for an insurmountable debt. Kermit blames himself and makes the wish that he had never been born.
Joan Cusack plays the antagonist and is great in the part. Cusack has the perfect look of a sexy temptress who is driven by greed. The always hysterical David Arquette plays Kermit’s angel who shows him the way ala Clarence. Cusack and Arquette fill the human roles nicely.
But there are others.
Matthew Lillard, Whoopi Goldberg, William H. Macy, and the voice of Mel Brooks to name a few. Plus there are cameos from Carson Daly, Kelly Ripa, Joe Rogan, Molly Shannon, John C. McGinley, and the gorgeous Sarah Chalke. Not to complain. Get me some mistletoe. Wink, wink.
That’s a lot, seeing as dozens of Muppets appear as well in the 90-minute story. I would have liked to see the Wonderful Life story done predominantly with the Muppets. Like the aforementioned Christmas Carol. This one goes off the rails like an Animal drum solo.
“It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie” is noted as being the final Muppets movie done as a Jim Henson production before being acquired by Disney.
The Muppets are always a good time, and this is no exception. While not as amazing as their other Christmas film, its still a fun one to check out.
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