Sure, it’s way too early for a Christmas movie, but the next theatrical film that the Muppets released was their take on the classic Charles Dickens story, A Christmas Carol. The human roles are few and far between, but Michael Caine is perfectly cast as Ebenezer Scrooge.

When it comes to takes on A Christmas Carol, I have two films I go to, Scrooged, and The Muppet Christmas Carol. There are those who love Alistair Sims’ version, and while I appreciate it as a film it has never really engaged me.

And I absolutely love the fact that The Henson Company thought it was a great idea to move from Muppet-centric tales to classic stories and cast them with Muppets. This time around, Kermit (Steve Whitmire replacing the late Jim Henson) takes on the role of Bob Cratchett to Caine’s Scrooge, and Gonzo (Dave Goelz) and Rizzo the Rat (Whitmire) serve as guides and partial narrators to guide the audience into this version of a Dickensian Christmas.

Paul Williams, who did such a fantastic job on the songs in The Muppet Movie, returns to write the songs for The Muppet Christmas Carol, and they work wonderfully. Caine leans into the role and seems to be having a great time playing everything completely straight.

All the classic moments you expect to populate any version of A Christmas Carol are here and accounted for, given that unique Muppet twist, and it’s a delight to see how and where fan favourites show up throughout the story.

At the time of the film’s release, it did alright, unfortunately having to fight for holiday box office bucks against Home Alone 2. But A Muppet Christmas Carol has endured, and become a classic and a yearly festive treat. Sure, it’s July right now, so I’m way early, but that just means I can watch it twice this year.

The film also continues the marriage of Piggy (Frank Oz) and Kermit, as she plays Cratchett’s wife in this movie. It’s also filled with tons of little nods not only to Dickens but to the creative minds and characters behind the Muppets.

A Muppet Christmas Carol is an absolute delight, and it was a brilliant idea by the company to take classic tales and give them the Muppet treatment. Something that they would use again theatrically, as well as directly to home video.

And as much as I love A Muppet Christmas Carol, I can’t even begin to tell you how delighted I am that the next film features Tim Curry when the muppets take on Robert Louis Stevenson with Muppet Treasure Island!