A Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens in 1843, is one of the most enduring and iconic works of literature in history. The beloved story has been adapted dozens of times for television and cinema, including 1951’s Scrooge, Disney’s 2009 computer-animated version, and the 1988 contemporary comedy interpretation, Scrooged, starring Bill Murray.
Arguably the most beloved retelling of this Christmas classic, though, features Jim Henson’s cast of lovable Muppets. Originally released in 1992, The Muppet Christmas Carol sees Sir Michael Caine take on the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, as he is visited by a variety of puppet ghosts. Elsewhere, we see Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit and Fozzie Bear as “Fozziwig” with narration from The Great Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat. It masterfully blends the chaotic humor of The Muppets with the bleak but, ultimately, heartwarming tale of Scrooge’s path to Christmas redemption.
Below we’ve chosen 10 classic quotes from the movie that demonstrate exactly why it is one of the funniest Christmas movies ever made.
10
“I told you; storytellers are omniscient. I know everything!”
Gonzo (Charles Dickens)
Despite ending with a heartwarming message of hope, forgiveness and redemption, A Christmas Carol is a surprisingly bleak story, especially for a Muppet movie. Fortunately, Gonzo and Rizzo are on hand to lighten the mood when things get particularly dark.
In this retelling of the Dickens classic, narration duties are handled by Gonzo the Great and Rizzo the Rat.
Acting as the movie’s main comic relief, the duo’s fourth-wall-breaking meta-commentary is a definite highlight. After Rizzo is confused about how Gonzo can know what is happening out of sight, Gonzo explains that his role as the storyteller gives him an omniscient viewpoint – perfectly setting the tone the two will play in the movie by offering a humorous meta-commentary on the nature of narration.
9
“It is the American way. … Oh. It is the British way.”
Sam Eagle
In the Muppet universe, Sam Eagle is best known for his uptight adherence to rules and his intense American patriotism. Because The Muppet Christmas Carol is set in Victorian England, the setting is immediately at odds with Sam’s entire persona.
The movie plays with this when he makes a reference to America and must correct himself – a meta joke that highlights the clash between his Muppet character and the story’s period setting.
8
“Wait a second! You’re not Charles Dickens!”
Rizzo
As the movie’s primary narrator, Gonzo speaks from the perspective of the original story’s author, Charles Dickens. In another hilarious example of Jim Henson’s Muppets colliding with Dickensian storytelling, Rizzo is thrown by Gonzo ‘acting’ as the Victorian writer and reminds him that he is, in fact, a blue, furry Muppet — not the famous 19th-century novelist.
7
“One might say that December is the foreclosure season.”
Scrooge
The Muppet Christmas Carol isn’t all just Muppet mayhem. Spoken by a sour-faced Ebenezer Scrooge, in a deadpan performance by Michael Caine, “One might say that December is the foreclosure season,” is used to justify his miserly behavior by explaining that he sees December as a time when he can profit from other people’s financial hardship, as they spend money on holiday festivities and fall behind on their mortgages. It’s a bleakly practical observation, spoken matter-of-factually by Scrooge, highlighting, in a darkly humorous way, just how cold-hearted he is.
6
“I had 1,274 brothers and sisters.”
Rizzo
Cutting through the melancholic moment of witnessing how, via the Ghost of Christmas Past, Scrooge was ignored and isolated throughout much of his childhood, Rizzo comments on how he is unable to relate.
When asked to elaborate, he explains that growing up, he had “1,274 brothers and sisters,” referring to his rat character and the fact that rat families are typically far larger than their human counterparts, although, in true Rizzo form, there might be a slight exaggeration for comic effect.
5
“This is culture!”
Gonzo
Another hilariously meta moment occurs when, at a particularly dark part of the story, Rizzo, aware of The Muppets’ family-based fan base, is concerned things might be getting a little scary for “the kids in the audience.” Gonzo points out that “It’s all right. This is culture.” – a joke referring to the original story’s place in history as a renowned piece of classic literature.
4
“And I am here for the food.”
Rizzo
Rizzo and Gonzo’s friendship is among the most iconic in The Muppets universe, one that thrives on mutual support and a fantastic sense of humor. The way The Muppet Christmas Carol introduces their characters perfectly captures the playful essence of this one-of-a-kind friendship.
Tending to an apple market stall, the (slightly) more sensible Gonzo informs viewers that he is “here to tell the story,” as Rizzo jokingly adds that he is simply “here for the food.”
3
“I’m a large absent-minded spirit!”
Ghost of Christmas Present
When visited by the larger-than-life Ghost of Christmas Present, Scrooge immediately observes the character’s endearing brand of childlike Muppet buffoonery and states that the Ghost is “a little absent-minded spirit,” to which he humorously responds that he is, in fact, “a large absent-minded spirit.” It’s a playful play on words reminding us how it’s the simple things that often elicit the biggest smiles.
2
“This is my island in the sun…”
Rats
Taking place in Scrooge’s office, the temperature is kept to a minimum to avoid ‘unnecessary’ spending on heating. The Muppet rats, who are working as Scrooge’s bookkeepers in the movie, are not afraid to voice their dissatisfaction with the situation, delivering some great puns in the process, including “Our pens have turned to inkcicles!” and “Our assets are frozen!”
Scrooge angrily threatens them with unemployment if they continue to complain, to which, in a moment of true Muppet-style defiance, the rats impulsively don tropical attire (grass skirts and headdresses) and begin singing “Heat wave! Arriba! This is my island in the sun!” as they dance off-screen.
1
“Light the lamp, not the rat!”
Rizzo
When Gonzo, as Dickens the Narrator, attempts to light a Victorian streetlamp, to set the mood for the bleak, winter evening ahead, he accidentally sets Rizzo’s tail alight. “Light The Lamp, Not the Rat!” Rizzo shouts as he becomes engulfed in flames before falling into a bucket of snow to extinguish them. The sequence is a spontaneous moment of Muppet madness that catches viewers so off guard, one could be forgiven for wondering if it was ever actually scripted at all.
- Release Date
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December 11, 1992
- Runtime
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85minutes