Story

Charles Dickens, author of the 1843 classic, A Christmas Carol (aka Gonzo from the Muppets), narrates this story of Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine).

Scrooge is a cold-hearted, ruthless mortgage broker, who cares for nothing but his own profits. Because of his complete lack of empathy, everyone fears and hates him. Christmas is his least favourite time of the year, because his subordinates spend money on ‘humbug’ and want time off work.

One Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of Robert and Jacob Marley (Statler and Waldorf). These former business associates were just as nasty and greedy as Scrooge. They warn Scrooge that, unless he changes his ways, he’s doomed. They also announce that three more ghosts will visit Scrooge that night – the ghosts of Past, Present, and Future Christmases.

Will the ghosts be able to open Ebenezer’s eyes and heart to prevent disaster and help him change for the better?

Themes

Family Christmas classic; Muppets; humour; kindness and generosity

Violence

There’s no violence in The Muppet Christmas Carol.

Sexual references

None noted.

Alcohol, drugs and other substances

None noted.

Nudity and sexual activity

None noted.

Product placement

The following products are displayed or used in The Muppet Christmas Carol: Muppets.

Coarse language

The Muppet Christmas Carol has some very mild coarse language in this movie, including ‘idiot’.

Ideas to discuss with your children

The Muppet Christmas Carol is a cute, kid-friendly adaptation of Charles Dickens’s classic Christmas tale. It’s full of positive and inspiring messages about kindness and generosity.

This movie does have some sad and heavy themes, but these are tempered by the presence of well-known, endearing Muppet characters. There are also plenty of funny and light-hearted scenes and songs, as well as helpful commentary from narrators Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat. We recommend parental guidance for young and sensitive viewers.

These are the main messages from this movie:

  • It’s never too late to make positive changes.
  • Being generous and kind is good for the people around you, and it also enriches your own life and happiness.

Values in this movie that you could reinforce with your children include:

  • kindness
  • generosity
  • willingness to share
  • gratitude
  • self-reflection
  • readiness to make up for past mistakes.

This movie could also give you the chance to talk with your children about real-life issues like greed, lack of empathy and their effects on people. For example, after years of ruthlessly exploiting others, Scrooge leads a lonely and joyless life. He’s feared and despised by the people around him.

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Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. Member organisations are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health.

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