As a therapist who got her undergrad degree in film, I swear that this channel was tailor-made for me. I’m so glad I discovered you guys this year. Happiest of holidays from Pennsylvania!
There used to be someone like you (sort of) who taught an improv class when she was a student in Colorado. (She apparently first got a theater degree and then a psychology degree.) I did not know her but she was still being talked about at a place where I went for classes about a year or so later. Reminds me of you. (I wonder if she ever watches this channel. ^___^)
A cool subtle thing that I think a lot of people miss is that in Christmas Past, Scrooge tells his fiancee 'business continues to be poor' and she says 'so you said last year'. Then in Christmas Present, Bob tells his wife that Scrooge said business is poor this year and his wife very rightly says 'not for him'. I think it so often gets missed but it feels like such a powerful reminder of Scrooge's obsession with wealth (maybe because he grew up somewhat poor?). As a young man starting out in humble beginnings he's already overly-obsessed with making money, but I think we understand it more because he's not as well off yet (though he has become partner in the firm when his fiancee leaves). But even in the story's present where Scrooge is so wealthy and powerful, he's still convinced that he's not doing well, that business hasn't grown 'as it should', that he's somehow falling short. I think it speaks in a really subtle but very powerful way to this deep-seated insecurity that he's carried with him so much through the years that no amount of time or wealth or any external factors changes his own perception that he hasn't met this imaginary mark where he'll have enough money and be secure. And it seems like he's spent his whole life in this hamster ball waiting to get to that imaginary 'and now I'm secure' point, like that's when his life can finally start. But because it's based on his own feelings and not reality, he can never get there, and his life never starts; he's just been on that hamster wheel this entire time. Also unrelated but Disney just added the When Love Is Gone song back into the movie and that's some of my favorite Michael Cane acting of his entire career.
ignoring the entire first part of this, actually they didn’t. went to disney plus for my annual rewatch for the movie, and it wasnt there. so pissed, but luckily had an original copy of it lmao so i just watched that :/ the song adds so much i was so annoyed it was taken out in the first place
We *don't know* why Ebenezer's father didn't seem to much like his son. We actually don't even know for sure if it's even just his son. Maybe he just didn't like anybody. Ebenezer's father is very much a mystery. He *could* actually have been somewhat similar to Ebenezer (adult Ebenezer) but we just do not know. One likely possibility certainly seems to be that perhaps adult Ebenezer has "turned into" the man that the boy Ebenezer would probably have least wanted to turn into. His father. Just a theory. 🤔 On the other hand. Another possible theory is that the son *may* actually have admired his father, perhaps even idolized or idealized him, and may always have looked up to him and wanted to please him, but his father just kept repeatedly and habitually shutting him out. Leading to his growing up without a suitable male role model in his life. Which could certainly also be what caused or at least potentially caused a lot of his problems. Just another theory. 🤔 Having fun thinking up interesting theories here today. ☺️
Scrooge's desire to get money could have initially sprung from a desire to be financially independent and to be his own man, dependent on no one but himself, ever again. No father, no schoolmaster, no employer, just himself. (Note that I'm only saying "could have".) At some point, his desire to accumulate money, in a normal way and of a normal amount, for relatively normal reasons, could eventually have changed to dependence on the money itself. Having it. Storing it. Hoarding it. And so on. Now he's turned into a dragon with a hoard of gold. (Not literally, of course. Only symbolically. Not like Eustace did in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.)
Thank you for covering this movie! I've read "A Christmas Carol" a *lot*, and studied it... It is NOT about money, it is about miserliness of *spirit*... it's brilliant psychologically... and I will happily argue that A Muppet Christmas Carol is seriously one of the best adaptations of the actual book. So many of the little touches you guys admire are straight out of the book... and this is one of the very, very, few adaptations that put what's in the book on the screen, and it does so beautifully.
It's about 👻👻👻 and being too stingy with both 💰 *and* everything else, and how the 👻👻👻 can help reform you and help you reform and help you not be like that any more, at 🎄. Happy end-of-December, everybody. Have a great New Year. ☺️
His love for Belle *could* have been the light of his life, the treasure of his days, his companionship in his old age, etc., but then it wasn't, because he chased her away by not loving her enough. Some people do that. And it's sad. 😟😢😥 But maybe, just maybe, some of them could reform, if Scrooge could. Interesting idea, anyway. 🤔
I think that in some ways this is sort of a "Pay it Forward" type of story. Only different, because its main character saw what happened when he *didn't* remember to "pay it forward" enough.
His miserliness of spirit (pun intended) apparently was a lot of what *led to* his miserliness with money, put it that way. Or, it could be, perhaps they both sort of led to each other. The book was actually originally written by Dickens as a deliberate message to help people remember to be good and kind and nice to others, especially at Christmastime, and presumably part of the author's idea was indeed to be generous with charitable contributions of food, clothing and money if you have it, but you're right that the book and its several film adaptations and stage adaptations are indeed not a story about money. This is basically a story about the (for a time miserly) spirit of a man named Ebenezer Scrooge. And the three spirits 👻👻👻 that he met one fateful Christmas Eve. 🎄🌲🎄 And how they forever changed his life. It's a Christmas ghost story focusing primarily on the desperate need for kindness and love and caring and compassion and generosity. And also, the terrible things that can happen because of the lack thereof. (If you wanted to encapsulate the whole thing into a nutshell, that is. 😉🌰😉)
That Factor commercial with Alan blorping smoothie all over his face, and throwing the meal into the nuke (and the meal bouncing out) was the best commercial I've seen in ages.
Since you did villain therapy for Michael as Scrooge in Muppet Christmas Carol, you should do a villain therapy of Tim Curry as Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island.
I saw somewhere that the two movies are so good because Michael Caine did a great job of pretending the Muppets were fellow actors while Tim Curry did a great job of pretending he was one of the Muppets.
As much as I'd love to see that it might be difficult as we don't see any of silver's life before the events of the movie and it's also hard to tell what if any of his stories are true or lies But I do think it's interesting that he's a bad person but is still capable of caring for someone else
Alan's "final form" was a laugh riot!🤣 And I'm glad that you pointed out that, even for Scrooge, not all of his problems are of his own creation. In pretty much every adaptation of "A Christmas Carol", his family life is awfully harsh. His mother is dead (in some versions, she died giving birth to Ebenezer), and his father ships him off to boarding school, and never lets him come home. The one ray of light in his home life is his sister, and her early death leaves him pretty much unmoored. Naturally, he doesn't do himself any favours with the choices he makes, but in a lot of ways Scrooge got dealt a lousy starting hand.
Bearing that in mind makes it even more touching that the only (?) friend he ever had, Marley, comes back from the afterlife to set up this whole thing for Scrooge's benefit. We have to suppose that Marley was no better than Scrooge, and that if Scrooge had died first, he might be the one doing this for Marley. Two bitter, lonely, misanthropic men, each with just enough of a glimmer of goodness in him to light a way out of the darkness for the other.
If I remember correctly, in one specific version ( I dont remember which ) his mother died in his childbirth, so his dad hates him, and his sister dies in fred?'s childbirth so Scrooge has issues with him, and thats part of his change
That's exactly how it feels - that movie was the first one made after Jim's (and Richard Hunt's) deaths. (The two actors who played Statler and Waldorf ... who appear in this movie as ghosts.) That "meetings and partings" speech, said in Kermit's not-quite-Jim-Henson's voice, never fails to melt me.
I've been waiting for you guys to do a video on this! Amazing! Fun fact: The Ghost of Christmas Present was directly written to resemble Father Christmas, the English mythological "Spirit of Christmas", who embodied the merriment and compassion of the festive season. Father Christmas was one of the several figures from pan-European folklore who ended up being amalgamated into the American character of Santa Claus during the late Victorian era. This is why Santa doesn't feature in A Christmas Carol - the character didn't exist at the time of Dickens' writing, but Father Christmas had existed for centuries. However, I'm very glad the filmmakers leant into the Santa-esque persona (jolly, big-hearted, kind, exuberant) in order to represent the essence of Santa Claus in the movie while keeping it true to the period.
Something I like about this redemption arc written in Dickens' time, is that it focuses on Scrooge's future. Scrooge has made decades of mistakes, and despite literally have the chance to time travel and see his past, the cure is focused on his present and future. He can't fix the harm he's done to all of the people in the past, and unlike other stories that "visit the past via time travel and explore how good life could have been if you had made better choices" (which is a weird method of persuading someone - sorry, you're living in the worst timeline, see how other timelines are better than yours), A Christmas Carol doesn't try. The redemption arc is focused on repairing the present to improve the future. This isn't to say Scrooge moves on without apologizing - in fact, he starts right away by apologizing to those he harmed just the day before, and goes on to be the best, most compassionate and giving person he can be.
This is the best adaptation of "A Christmas Carol". Michael Caine's performance is brilliant, the Muppets are a delgiht as always, and the music is classic. So glad you guys did this one. Also, I would absolutely watch "Alan Goes to Muppet Hell". Make it!
You guys are awesome:) I’m in a stage production of A Christmas Carol tonight! You released this at the perfect time! Thank you guys for all that you do 😊
@Cinema Therapy also during the time seeing Scrooge’s past he spent a lot of Christmas time alone during school than being home with family. My take was his father was abusive, his mom probably either died or left and his sister died during childbirth. Then when he was engaged to Belle he might’ve felt comfort for the first time but probably was scared and chose to want money than love
Sir Michael Caine has got to be my favourite version of Scrooge to date. He acted as though his costars were actual people, and not puppets, which really made his performance inviting.
@Sandshew apparently it was removed because they thought children couldn't relate to it & would find it boring, which, just....WHAT?! I very clearly remember crying during that scene over multiple viewings when it came out. I was 7. I also remember singing it with my friends because we all loved it. Removing it was a huge mistake, it took what used to be an scene that conveyed how devastating it is to have to let go because you can't keep emotionally exhausting yourself for someone who will never put you first, to one that, while still sad, doesn't have anywhere near the emotional depth it once had.
A few of his costars really were actual people. (Just saying.) Fred and Clara (nephew and wife) get to be played by humans. 👨👩 But that's...probably just so that they can be the same species as Scrooge. ^___^
An interesting, and important note about his relationship with Fred, which as I recall is left out of this film, is that Fred's mother (Scrooge's sister) was the only member of his family that was actually kind to him, and who he really cared for and loved. She died giving birth to Fred. It colors a lot of their interactions.
Just here to say that this channel is one of the reasons I opened up to my doctor about my depression! Every video Cinema Therapy has put out just radiates warmth and compassion for me (not to mention all the times I've cried when a topic hit particularly close to home). Thank you Alan, Jonathan, and the rest of the amazing team behind this channel!
This channel is one of the only times I don’t skip the sponsors, because they contain things like “WARNING: THIS FOOTAGE CONTAINS ALAN SEAWRIGHT’S FINAL FORM!” 😂
I didn’t know OCPD was a thing, but this really helped me to understand a coworker better. I would love to have suggestions for how to deal with people like this. The general result has been a tendency to burn bridges everywhere they go and with every group event they attend. Also, Gonzo and Rizzo should narrate every movie! “Light the lamp not the rat!” Love your channel!❤️
He referred to an article in Psychology Today written by Alan A Cavaiola who wrote the book Impossible to Please: How to Deal with Perfectionist Coworkers, Controlling Spouses and Other Incredibly Critical People, (2012), that book might help
i always thought that scrooge suddenly crying after the flashback with his fiancée felt misplaced, then i learned about the song that was cut from that scene!!! never understood why they’ve never re-released it because it explains why rizzo is crying as well
Even without the song, I could believe him crying, after all his heart is revealed gradually with the visiting of the Spirits, showing the emotion that is there behind all the “humbug”
Alan's Swedish Chef impression was impressive and had me rolling. But honestly this is one if my favourite versions of this story because Michael Cain did such an amazing job
Alan throwing the package in the microwave and it falling out was such great physical comedy... a thing, I didn't even know existed, before watching you guys! Also I almost died of laughter, it caught me offguard while eating. Cereal all over my keyboard. Love you guys
Sir Michael Caine's emotions during the times of Christmas Past impress me so much. Especially the song. 😭 My therapist told me once that therapy is like giving a sponge bath to a burn victim. It's going to hurt, but it's the path to healing.
Fun fact, John: Manah Manah isn't originally a Muppet song! It was written by an Italian composer, then the Muppets took it and made it memorable during The Muppet Show. But it is definitely one of the best two songs, and Statler and Waldorf's song is the other. Fantastic work, you two! I'd love to see more Muppets, especially if it means we get more Swedish Chef Alan.
Also, muppets sang Manah Manah long before the Muppet Show. Even before Sesame Street, if I recall correctly. But yeah, the Muppets totally pwned that song, back then, and forever!
The music of Paul Williams just added to the awesomeness of this movie. His talent is so overwhelming and it made this movie so special. Also, when Statler's head appeared as the doorknob in that one scene (before the Marley's show up), and he yelled "SCROOOOOGE!" Yeah. That terrified me as a child.
OMG, Alan’s Swedish Chef had me literally wheezing with laughter. Him going around on his knees and throwing the Factor boxes and getting the smoothie all over himself. Comedy gold!
I always felt there was impressive character in Belle. She has the strength of character to let go. To say to Scrooge, this is not the best for me. That is why I also love the song.
You know out of all the adaptations of a Christmas Carol, I think the Muppets Christmas Carol is the only one that actually shows Ebeneezer gradually change throughout, starting as a stodgy old black hearted miser, but slowly softening as he starts to take in the lessons the spirits are teaching him, becoming more empathetic towards the suffering of others, remembering how it was due to the kindness of others that helped him to prosper, even becoming more playful when he watches Fred play the game at the party, and then understanding that he was really acting like a jackass when they called him one, and feeling bad about it. Usually in adaptations he's just cold and heartless until ghost #3 scares the shit out of him and he changes heart
So true! The Henson company is so good and understanding how kids (and people in general) process feelings as it's their bread and butter. That's probably why they did such a wonderful job with plotting out Scrooge's emotional journey. Most directors/writers see him as a villain that begrudgingly turns good. However, Henson's crew see him as a lost soul that needs help. Very different angles.
@ProjectPhantomEden413 He changed because the world needed him. Tiny Tim would be lost without treatment and a living wage! So many would have been lost without that!
I adore this movie! It's a tradition for me to watch it every year close to Christmas. As you said how Sir. Michael Caine plays Scrooge, juxtaposed with the silliness of the Muppets, it's just perfect. Also, thank you for reminding me that it takes time to combat negative thoughts and forge new ways of thinking. I'm going through a bit of a rough time so I needed that reminder as I continue to heal and grow. Happy Holidays from Boston!
This version of Ghost of Christmas Present is still someone who I would hang out with! I loved his delivery, compassion, joy, and yet able to teach Scrooge.
Scrooge really is the first most detailed and layered character that I have witnessed. A Christmas Carol details what exactly makes a bad person become a bad person, and I love it.
Having Gonzo and Rizzo check out during the Ghost of Christmas Future scene under the guise of "being scared" was a great film making choice. Minimizing the silliness allows for the full emotional weight of the scene to be felt by the audience.
Okay as someone who has OCD, can I just say THANK YOU for featuring OCPD and mentioning that it is often confused for OCD. Almost every time I see OCD on TV it's always OCPD. Thank you so much! How many times I have had to explain to someone. OCPD: "I need X done a certain way because I think that is the right way to do it." OCD: "I don't want to do X in this way every time. It's exhausting. I hate this. I know it's irrational and pointless. But doing it is the only thing that makes my brain stop threatening me for 5 seconds."
“we only change if the pain of staying the same is worse than the pain of changing” !!! this rings so true for me after i moved schools and changed from the bullied victim mentality to the i refuse to be a victim mentality
I guess it comes down to motivation? We may receive some positive feelings from doing things to help others, or even some community recognition (esp. for business owners like Scrooge). But the problem IMO arises when that feeling becomes the reason why you're doing the right thing? Feeling good because you did the right thing isn't a problem, and although it's not a universal result of altruistic action, it's often a fairly natural one. Doing the right thing because it makes you feel good, NOT because it's the ethical action to take, is a big problem!
This message is deep yet disturbing in a way. It really makes me question whether true altruism exists. Maybe there can be no such thing as an ‘altruistic’ act that does not involve some element of self-interest, no such thing, for example, as an altruistic act that does not lead to some degree, no matter how small of pride or validation or satisfaction.
This. This is how I wanted to say what happened to me in Jan. 2021. I knew something had to change, because I was going downhill so fast, that the pain of staying on this path would be worse than the hard work I'd put into at least trying to change. That one line sums up that feeling perfectly. I'm going to use this to explain it from now on.
It was weird to me how I could see my mind shift from a certain state before and just one day got tired of it all and just clicked. It was like flicking a switch and my mind was suddenly renewed to see life in a different light. Bless you hotdog water lol
@Zach Scarbrough Any step is still a step, just take it on one at a time. Remember not to beat yourself up too much, just enjoy learning. Don't care about what other people say as this is for you and not for them. Bless you in your journey 👍depression sucks, been there
I actually discussed this movie weeks ago in therapy, turns out Scrooge was the relatable character which led to my dislike of Christmas as I saw many parallels (some real, some not so). Many points you raised have allowed me to better understand my own behaviours. Facts don't change but the meaning can; victims don't change, enjoying the holiday, the closeness and the warmth but choosing not to 🤯 All incredibly helpful guys, thank you so much!
This is my favorite version. I've read the book at least 30 times. But I always laugh at how the ghosts waited until Scrooge had accumulated a ton of wealth before saving him. It made it so much easier for him to be so generous. Tricksy ghosts
I am a huge fan of Cinema Therapy, and I have been waiting for so long for them to observe a character with OCPD. Plus it’s Scrooge so that really is the icing on the cake. Thank you!!!
Oh - thank you for doing this! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this movie! Singing fruit, hula dancing rats, Gonzo (and a chicken), Rizzo as affectionate sidekick, Michael Cane both coldhearted and human, the slightly forgetful ghost of the Christmas present, London looking like a Christmas window decoration, the heartful songs, all the elaborate details. For me this is the perfect version of the perfect Christmas story.
I was so mad when Disney took out Belle's "The Love is Gone" song for a little while in re-releases and on Disney+ because they felt it was too sad. The sadness was the point; I remember that song having a profound impact on me as a child because it was one of the first times a film moved me in such a way. So glad they're bringing back the song in the restored cut that comes out on the 11th!
And me. Having them sing "When Love Is Found" (A.K.A. "The Love We Found") without Belle's "When Love Is Gone") is jarring. The missing scene also shows that Belle's words hurt him - and it was his fault that she ended up saying them! Michael singing the words along with Meredith Braun shows that he actually DID focus on her words, despite Belle thinking the contrary.
I've had the VHS release, which had the song on it, and watching it with the song cut always felt really weird, especially when they reprise the song at the very end. It really shows that she had no hard feelings towards him, but his priorities were in a place she couldn't be in. With it cut she's like yeah you did love me once ok thanks bye whatever.
omg i’ve never had a chance to watch a version with the song in it!! didn’t even know about it until a few years ago because the non-song version of the film is so prolific
Taking out that song was horrible. That moment when he sings with Belle shows that he reflected on that moment for a long time, to the point he knows the song. It’s also the moment his armor cracks to allow change and he’s able to cry.
I love how John has just dove head first into the Christmas spirit with that suit and hat. And I say that without irony or sarcasm, it's 100% sincere. This is such a great movie, and it has the most underrated joke ever in it by naming a character Robert Marley.
Alan, I think you've missed your calling. Your over the top, physical comedy skills are superb. You had me dying, especially when you threw the food into the microwave and it bounced back out.
This truly is my favorite Christmas movie and one of my favorite Christmas stories. Redemption stories and breaking cycles is hitting harder in my life, so thank you for this video!
This is my favorite Christmas movie. I think one note you missed, was how AMAZING the historical costuming was. Abby Cox has a whole long video about it on her channel. The ladies who put together those outfits were off the charts. There are many very serious historical films that put far less effort into historically accurate costumes than the Muppets did. Also, Alan's Swedish Chef? Best ad ever.
Nicole's videos covering that Gonzo costume and its recreation are wonderful! They really made me respect the original costume designers' attention to historical accuracy & interesting detail. Nicole is also brilliant at providing the sociopolitical context to historical dress, for example her coverage of the environmental & workplace safety impacts of producing beaver-fur top hats.
I think Nicole Rudolf constructed an entire copy of one of the outfits over several months for herself, researching every garment and she made a wonderful series of KZclip videos last year.
This may be a little weird but on the assumption this is the only time you'll be talking about Ebenezer Scrooge on this channel I'd really like to give a little praise to my favorite version of this story. The Mickey Mouse one. It's the only version of a Christmas Carol I've seen where the Ghost of Christmas Future speaks. He only has two lines, but he ends up making probably the most powerful statement in the story. When they're at the graveyard Scrooge asks the ghost what poor soul's grave they're looking at that has no mourners. The ghost leans in and answers, "Why it's yours Ebenezer. The richest man in the cemetery." And it just does such a perfect job of putting Scrooge's life into perspective. Just that one sentence encapsulating so perfectly where it's all going to lead him, how little all of the money he's cared so much about will really matter in the end.
I'm mostly a lurker, but I have been watching a ton of these lately, having been shown one from my S/O a few months ago. I gotta say therapy was a big turning point in my life, and even though I am still not complete (is self improvement ever complete?) I have immensely enjoyed this content, and much like Alan, I'm an easy crier, so just about every episode makes me tear up or worse. I feel like a Patreon sub is well deserved and I hope you two and your team continue to produce and enjoy working on this series.
I think I would still have to say that the Patrick Stewart version will always be my all time favorite. Probably because it’s the version I grew up watching ❤
Sir Michael Caine: probably the only actor I can think of who is fully surrounded by nothing but Muppets, but acts like he's watching something as serious as a car crash while performing in a Shakespearean play. It's hilarious how straight he plays this role, and I love it dearly. It's probably one of my favorite Christmas Carol versions.
@riakun I don't see seriousness as characteristic of William Shakespeare or his works. Seriousness is just part of being a good actor, regardless of whose play you're performing.
@Josh-oo, the Zan Man Shakespearean: "relating to or characteristic of William Shakespeare or his works." Shakespeare plays were always done with such absolute seriousness. People also treat car crashes with absolute seriousness as well. It's a metaphor combining the two subjects, basically saying how Michael Caine treated working with puppets like he was watching a car crash unfold while being in a very serious Shakespearean play. He acts it extremely straight, while most people would laugh. That's what I mean by that.
I absolutely agree, Gonzo should narrate every movie, with his little rat buddy, Rizzo. This is really the best adaptation of A Christmas Carol. They put in so much work into everything and it shows. Thank you for making this video. I can tell you both also put a lot into these videos and I’ve really enjoyed them.
I love this version of a christmas carol cause not only do you see his gradually change over the movie. You also see how his past experiences lead him to be a jerk cause of his constant feeling like he never had enough. They should have never cut out when love is gone cause that scene adds so much
Best Christmas Carol adaptation in my book! Thank you for including the difference between OCD and OCPD. I recently learned of this difference myself (about a year ago). I'm pretty sure my mom has OCPD and it's exactly as you said; she can be cruel sometimes, but her flavor of it centers around the idea of safety rather than money. Which is coming from a place of love, but gets really twisted and can be stifling. She doesn't see it as a disorder, so she's not interested in therapy, but I go to therapy regularly and the tools I learn there are, I think, slowly influencing my mom as well. It's the best way I can help her. I wish I had ghosts at my disposal lol
We do have the supernatural for help, not ghosts, but something better, Jesus and the Holy Spirit to call on for help. I have and my family has healed this Christmas in a way that can only be deemed a miracle.
@Frances Skylar yeah I hear you. I've had to cut people out of my life before due to toxicity and luckily this is not that kind of situation. But if it ever turned into one, I would not have a problem walking away
Be careful. You can't save someone who isn't willing to do their own work. It's like getting close to a drowning person -they can drown you too. One of the hardest things in life is being in the situation where you need to reduce your relationship or walk away from someone you love because they harm you and don't care enough to change. Trying to "rescue" people can also be a trauma response, and one that can increase the drama in your life. Take care, and best of luck.
If it helps you feel better, Alan, I'm 29, and no matter what version of Christmas Carol I watch, this one included, the Marley scene ALWAYS freaks me the hell out! Even watching this one, I teared up and thought I'd have to fast forward 'cause it freaked me out so much! Ghosts in general scare the crap out of me, but especially ones that have creepy warnings like Marley! *shudders*
I think it’s important to note that Scrooge grew up during a time of great suffering and want. His greed is greatly impacted by growing up in want. Much like those who’s formative years were during the Great Depression. Scrooge feels he has to care for himself and it makes him distrustful and afraid. He’s learning in the story to put himself out there. I think his history shades his story with important elements
I loved the dialog about stage dropping out as the lights dimmed and how you have to be creative when you work with puppets. It reminds me of the scene in White Christmas where the camera pans in on Mary Clooney and people in the background start slinking to the side so she is the focal point. Classic!
I've heard about this version of A Christmas Carol, but I didn't really grow up with Muppet stuff so I've never seen it; it looks like such a fun and heartwarming movie! Thank you for introducing it to me with this great video! Let me see if I can return the favor: have either of you seen Klaus? It's one of my favorite Christmas movies of all time, second only to How The Grinch Stole Christmas. I highly recommend it! :)
“the love is gone” was such a fabulous ballad and they managed to recover it and keep it as a deleted scene on Disney+. It expands on that whole scene so greatly
“Hardships are the norm, that happiness is fleeting, but happiness is kind of a choice you make during hardship.” That was DEEP! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Thank you Alan.💙💜❤️
My favorite Christmas movie, the music and the lyricsa are just so damn good and Michael Caine just knocks all the emotional parts out of the ballpark.
I’m not sure how popular it would be, but it’d be cool to see you guys do Kenneth Branagh’s Henry V. There are some pretty solid themes in that movie and I found it healing in a lot of ways
The costumes are amazing. Rizzo’s shirt in the opening was hand embroidered by the costume department. The details are amazing but the Henson company is just amazing. And shout out to the music! Beautiful compositions. ❤
All of these are amazing!!! For the next villain therapy video (after Christmas?) maybe you guys should do either Lucille Sharpe from Crimson Peak to discuss how victims of domestic abuse grow up to become abusers themselves or Pearl from 2022’s Pearl to discuss maybe lack of boundaries with family, fantasy vrs reality, etc.
This film is such a big part of my childhood, it came out when I was a year old and we watched it every Christmas Eve for over 20 years. It just feels like Christmas! Although, when my parents were divorcing it was very awkward to be watching that "the Love is Gone" part with both of them there sitting silent for the whole song. We can all laugh about it now 😆. Still feels like Christmas 🎄
This is such perfect timing for me. I am a Librarian and just led this for my book 📖 discussion group. It's a great idea for holiday discussion and I talked about this Muppets film version as well.
It is absolutely the best take they could have gotten. And the fact that Alan had the mind to just stare at it for a beat, and then the timing on the editor's part with the hard cut... I'm literally tearing up, absolutely hysterical job. I don't normally watch ad reads, but with the effort that gets put into these, always worth it~ This is the only other channel I actually watch the ads for besides Critical Role.
2021 was the year that I finally got therapy after a burnout. I should have gotten therapy years ago due to depressions after getting bullied in school. It took eight months (Covid really made the waiting list long) after a burnout. I am so happy I did. You guys are right, the first weeks were not easy, my brain was fried and you have to process a lot of thoughts. The hardest part to me was changing my thought patterns and to be kind to myself. But last October, my therapist told me I could to it alone, and I can. And I still can't believe how much I have changed and now peaceful my own mind is. Therapy is not easy, but it is so worth it!
Yep, Muppet Hell sounds like a wicked destination 😂. Definitely a favourite of mine and often wondered what Scrooges personality issues was (had no idea that there was OCD and OCPD, wow)
This movie is the best adaptation of an absolute masterpiece of writing. No other story makes me strive to be a better human being than Christmas Carol.
Just wanted to say I’ve watched you guys for a year now and you guys are the reason why I’m 6 months into therapy! Happy holidays and happy healing to all!
I wrote a paper for my human development course on how Scrooge (from this movie in particular) fits Erickson’s stage on generavity vs stagnation, and how he moves from one to the other. Hands down my favorite paper I’ve ever written
It's definitely not his most badass performance as the antagonist. Get Carter, a British 70's Gangster Movie where he plays the lead character Jack is utterly ruthless not to mention brutally violent being a Gangster obviously. And then Harry Brown where he's an elderly Vigilante.
Not even in his top 5 best acting performances. Cider House Rules, Educating Rita, Harry Brown (film is so so his acting performance is great though), Second Hand Lions, The Man who would be King are all much better performances from him imho.
In general my favorite parts of Muppet movies are when the only human in the scene acts as if it’s completely normal and everyone around them is a normal human. But nobody did or has done it better than Michael Caine. Caine is such a unique individual where he’s a completely masterful and serious actor, but also has the greatest sense of warmth and humor. He could’ve gone full Muppet and done it perfectly. But instead he gave us Royal Shakespeare and made it even better.
My mom just made me watch this movie with her for movie night lol. Christmas Present is my favorite spirit, with Past being a close second, cause Present's forced perspective tricks and gradual aging is really well pulled off and well transitioned. And it also shows off pretty well, what he embodies (As a reference to Father Christmas), the joy and warmth can be felt by anyone, be you larger than life and well off (like Scrooge) or small and insignificant to others (the mouse family). And it's important that he's talking about little comforts in this too, I think, none of them are a big huge event- they're all small creature comforts that are more moments of rest. And then Christmas Past is just so freaking neat. Lookit her. I wonder how many puppets they had to make of her or if they did it all in one go, cause if I heard right she waws filmed under water. And the uncanny valley of her structure- it's so similar to the Dark Crystal muppets, and really looks like a porcelain doll. She's creepy but she's the only one that really feels like a spirit.
"Happiness is a choice made during hardship", the Cratchits are a perfect example of this; seeing them so happy despite poverty helped Scrooge realize that he had no excuse.
Love has much more power to change a person's heart than fear. This is one of my favorite movies of all time. I still have it on VHS and we watch it every year.
I love how Jonathan mentioned that Scrooge has figured out that the grave is his before even wiping the snow off, finally somebody other than myself that’s noticed that!😃
I always thought he knew as well, that's why he kept stopping & turning back to the spirit because he wanted to postpone the painful moment when he had to stare the truth in the face
I love that moment. It always felt like Scrooge knew what he was seeing since he overheard the men talking about the person who died. He was just hoping that he was wrong.
It’s a shame they cut Fan out of this version. Fan being so close to Ebenezer and the death being so devastating to him gives us an insight to why he’s so cold to his nephew while not completely cutting him out of his life. Also the realization that she died asking him to take care of her son but he missed it because he left before her death is a major part of his transformation. A part that seems to be tragically underutilized in multiple versions.
I love you guys SO much!! Your taste in films is excellent, and I love hearing Jono's explanations of the psychological principles that are illustrated. In this episode, I loved the comment, "You are miserable because of you." I have been working with a therapist over the last year or so, and this was one of the most important moments for me: I am miserable because of me. Only by accepting that have I been able to start making better choices and feel less miserable. I needed that reminder today, so thank you! (PS - I'd love to hear your taken on Casablanca sometime ... ;)
My family has always had a tradition that we watch this movie on christmas eve, which i have extended to my family and children now as an adult. Super glad to see you review this one =)
As a therapist who got her undergrad degree in film, I swear that this channel was tailor-made for me. I’m so glad I discovered you guys this year. Happiest of holidays from Pennsylvania!
There used to be someone like you (sort of) who taught an improv class when she was a student in Colorado. (She apparently first got a theater degree and then a psychology degree.) I did not know her but she was still being talked about at a place where I went for classes about a year or so later. Reminds me of you. (I wonder if she ever watches this channel. ^___^)
Great! :D
That's awesome! Happy holidays and thanks for watching! :)
A cool subtle thing that I think a lot of people miss is that in Christmas Past, Scrooge tells his fiancee 'business continues to be poor' and she says 'so you said last year'. Then in Christmas Present, Bob tells his wife that Scrooge said business is poor this year and his wife very rightly says 'not for him'. I think it so often gets missed but it feels like such a powerful reminder of Scrooge's obsession with wealth (maybe because he grew up somewhat poor?). As a young man starting out in humble beginnings he's already overly-obsessed with making money, but I think we understand it more because he's not as well off yet (though he has become partner in the firm when his fiancee leaves). But even in the story's present where Scrooge is so wealthy and powerful, he's still convinced that he's not doing well, that business hasn't grown 'as it should', that he's somehow falling short. I think it speaks in a really subtle but very powerful way to this deep-seated insecurity that he's carried with him so much through the years that no amount of time or wealth or any external factors changes his own perception that he hasn't met this imaginary mark where he'll have enough money and be secure. And it seems like he's spent his whole life in this hamster ball waiting to get to that imaginary 'and now I'm secure' point, like that's when his life can finally start. But because it's based on his own feelings and not reality, he can never get there, and his life never starts; he's just been on that hamster wheel this entire time.
Also unrelated but Disney just added the When Love Is Gone song back into the movie and that's some of my favorite Michael Cane acting of his entire career.
ignoring the entire first part of this, actually they didn’t. went to disney plus for my annual rewatch for the movie, and it wasnt there. so pissed, but luckily had an original copy of it lmao so i just watched that :/ the song adds so much i was so annoyed it was taken out in the first place
@VD Esatch sweet, thanks!
@Logan U It's a seperate option in the extras menu of the Disney+ version to restore When Love Is Gone
We *don't know* why Ebenezer's father didn't seem to much like his son.
We actually don't even know for sure if it's even just his son.
Maybe he just didn't like anybody.
Ebenezer's father is very much a mystery.
He *could* actually have been somewhat similar to Ebenezer (adult Ebenezer) but we just do not know.
One likely possibility certainly seems to be that perhaps adult Ebenezer has "turned into" the man that the boy Ebenezer would probably have least wanted to turn into.
His father.
Just a theory. 🤔
On the other hand.
Another possible theory is that the son *may* actually have admired his father, perhaps even idolized or idealized him, and may always have looked up to him and wanted to please him, but his father just kept repeatedly and habitually shutting him out.
Leading to his growing up without a suitable male role model in his life.
Which could certainly also be what caused or at least potentially caused a lot of his problems.
Just another theory. 🤔
Having fun thinking up interesting theories here today. ☺️
Scrooge's desire to get money could have initially sprung from a desire to be financially independent and to be his own man, dependent on no one but himself, ever again.
No father, no schoolmaster, no employer, just himself.
(Note that I'm only saying "could have".)
At some point, his desire to accumulate money, in a normal way and of a normal amount, for relatively normal reasons, could eventually have changed to dependence on the money itself.
Having it. Storing it. Hoarding it.
And so on.
Now he's turned into a dragon with a hoard of gold. (Not literally, of course. Only symbolically. Not like Eustace did in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.)
Thank you for covering this movie! I've read "A Christmas Carol" a *lot*, and studied it... It is NOT about money, it is about miserliness of *spirit*... it's brilliant psychologically... and I will happily argue that A Muppet Christmas Carol is seriously one of the best adaptations of the actual book. So many of the little touches you guys admire are straight out of the book... and this is one of the very, very, few adaptations that put what's in the book on the screen, and it does so beautifully.
Yes and no it’s not about one or the other it’s about both it’s about kindness and compassion and helping those in need and not being a downer ass
It's about 👻👻👻 and being too stingy with both 💰 *and* everything else, and how the 👻👻👻 can help reform you and help you reform and help you not be like that any more, at 🎄.
Happy end-of-December, everybody.
Have a great New Year. ☺️
His love for Belle *could* have been the light of his life, the treasure of his days, his companionship in his old age, etc., but then it wasn't, because he chased her away by not loving her enough.
Some people do that.
And it's sad. 😟😢😥
But maybe, just maybe, some of them could reform, if Scrooge could.
Interesting idea, anyway. 🤔
I think that in some ways this is sort of a "Pay it Forward" type of story.
Only different, because its main character saw what happened when he *didn't* remember to "pay it forward" enough.
His miserliness of spirit (pun intended) apparently was a lot of what *led to* his miserliness with money, put it that way.
Or, it could be, perhaps they both sort of led to each other.
The book was actually originally written by Dickens as a deliberate message to help people remember to be good and kind and nice to others, especially at Christmastime, and presumably part of the author's idea was indeed to be generous with charitable contributions of food, clothing and money if you have it, but you're right that the book and its several film adaptations and stage adaptations are indeed not a story about money.
This is basically a story about the (for a time miserly) spirit of a man named Ebenezer Scrooge.
And the three spirits 👻👻👻
that he met one fateful Christmas Eve. 🎄🌲🎄
And how they forever changed his life.
It's a Christmas ghost story focusing primarily on the desperate need for kindness and love and caring and compassion and generosity.
And also, the terrible things that can happen because of the lack thereof.
(If you wanted to encapsulate the whole thing into a nutshell, that is. 😉🌰😉)
Alan being the Swedish Chef had me dying of laughter. Swedish Chef is literally my favorite Muppet character which made it funnier. 😂
Same here, I was cracking up so much watching that scene XD
Did you see the little note from the editor? "Anyone looking for a new editor? Asking for a friend."
I had to pause the video because I was laughing too hard to hear what they were saying afterwards
That Factor commercial with Alan blorping smoothie all over his face, and throwing the meal into the nuke (and the meal bouncing out) was the best commercial I've seen in ages.
@Christian Price The worst throw? Or the BEST throw?
Since you did villain therapy for Michael as Scrooge in Muppet Christmas Carol, you should do a villain therapy of Tim Curry as Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island.
I saw somewhere that the two movies are so good because Michael Caine did a great job of pretending the Muppets were fellow actors while Tim Curry did a great job of pretending he was one of the Muppets.
As much as I'd love to see that it might be difficult as we don't see any of silver's life before the events of the movie and it's also hard to tell what if any of his stories are true or lies
But I do think it's interesting that he's a bad person but is still capable of caring for someone else
What a wonderful suggestion for a wonderful movie!
Alan's "final form" was a laugh riot!🤣
And I'm glad that you pointed out that, even for Scrooge, not all of his problems are of his own creation. In pretty much every adaptation of "A Christmas Carol", his family life is awfully harsh. His mother is dead (in some versions, she died giving birth to Ebenezer), and his father ships him off to boarding school, and never lets him come home. The one ray of light in his home life is his sister, and her early death leaves him pretty much unmoored. Naturally, he doesn't do himself any favours with the choices he makes, but in a lot of ways Scrooge got dealt a lousy starting hand.
Where do they mention this? I didn't catch it being talked about, I thought this was something that they had missed out.
It's the same message as The Wall. You're not responsible for what happens to you, but you *are* responsible for how you deal with it.
Bearing that in mind makes it even more touching that the only (?) friend he ever had, Marley, comes back from the afterlife to set up this whole thing for Scrooge's benefit.
We have to suppose that Marley was no better than Scrooge, and that if Scrooge had died first, he might be the one doing this for Marley.
Two bitter, lonely, misanthropic men, each with just enough of a glimmer of goodness in him to light a way out of the darkness for the other.
@ned ben That's the magnificent 1950 "Scrooge" starring Alistair Sim. (The 1984 George C. Scott version swiped most of its best bits from that movie.)
If I remember correctly, in one specific version ( I dont remember which ) his mother died in his childbirth, so his dad hates him, and his sister dies in fred?'s childbirth so Scrooge has issues with him, and thats part of his change
According to filmmakers, Kermit's speech about meetings and parting was aimed at Jim's passing and it still brings me to immediate tears.
not just Jim but Richard Hunt fellow Muppet performer too
I also wonder about that little pause when Kermit says "Tiny Tim", as if he wasn't sure.
That's exactly how it feels - that movie was the first one made after Jim's (and Richard Hunt's) deaths. (The two actors who played Statler and Waldorf ... who appear in this movie as ghosts.) That "meetings and partings" speech, said in Kermit's not-quite-Jim-Henson's voice, never fails to melt me.
not just of Jim Henson but also Richard Hunt
Now I’m not gonna look at it the same again 😢
I've been waiting for you guys to do a video on this! Amazing!
Fun fact: The Ghost of Christmas Present was directly written to resemble Father Christmas, the English mythological "Spirit of Christmas", who embodied the merriment and compassion of the festive season. Father Christmas was one of the several figures from pan-European folklore who ended up being amalgamated into the American character of Santa Claus during the late Victorian era.
This is why Santa doesn't feature in A Christmas Carol - the character didn't exist at the time of Dickens' writing, but Father Christmas had existed for centuries. However, I'm very glad the filmmakers leant into the Santa-esque persona (jolly, big-hearted, kind, exuberant) in order to represent the essence of Santa Claus in the movie while keeping it true to the period.
@TheGerkuman I see! Well, I'm all for education. Merry Christmas!
@Grymbaldknight yeah, that was for the benefit of other people who saw your comment and didn't know :)
@TheGerkuman I know. I'm English. :)
We still call Santa 'Father Christmas'. But the cookies and milk are often done over here as minced pies and some form of alcohol
Something I like about this redemption arc written in Dickens' time, is that it focuses on Scrooge's future. Scrooge has made decades of mistakes, and despite literally have the chance to time travel and see his past, the cure is focused on his present and future. He can't fix the harm he's done to all of the people in the past, and unlike other stories that "visit the past via time travel and explore how good life could have been if you had made better choices" (which is a weird method of persuading someone - sorry, you're living in the worst timeline, see how other timelines are better than yours), A Christmas Carol doesn't try. The redemption arc is focused on repairing the present to improve the future. This isn't to say Scrooge moves on without apologizing - in fact, he starts right away by apologizing to those he harmed just the day before, and goes on to be the best, most compassionate and giving person he can be.
This is the best adaptation of "A Christmas Carol". Michael Caine's performance is brilliant, the Muppets are a delgiht as always, and the music is classic. So glad you guys did this one.
Also, I would absolutely watch "Alan Goes to Muppet Hell". Make it!
It would be like Dante's "Inferno", but less preachy.
It's not just felt...
It's heartfelt.
You guys are awesome:) I’m in a stage production of A Christmas Carol tonight! You released this at the perfect time! Thank you guys for all that you do 😊
@Cinema Therapy also during the time seeing Scrooge’s past he spent a lot of Christmas time alone during school than being home with family. My take was his father was abusive, his mom probably either died or left and his sister died during childbirth. Then when he was engaged to Belle he might’ve felt comfort for the first time but probably was scared and chose to want money than love
@Cinema Therapy Yes we do!
@Cinema Therapy Absolutely.
@Cinema Therapyyes they do! At least I did.... 18 years ago! 😅
How'd it go?
Sir Michael Caine has got to be my favourite version of Scrooge to date. He acted as though his costars were actual people, and not puppets, which really made his performance inviting.
@Courtney Gonzales they added it back on Disney plus luckily! You just have to go to extras and select full movie
@Sandshew apparently it was removed because they thought children couldn't relate to it & would find it boring, which, just....WHAT?! I very clearly remember crying during that scene over multiple viewings when it came out. I was 7. I also remember singing it with my friends because we all loved it. Removing it was a huge mistake, it took what used to be an scene that conveyed how devastating it is to have to let go because you can't keep emotionally exhausting yourself for someone who will never put you first, to one that, while still sad, doesn't have anywhere near the emotional depth it once had.
A few of his costars really were actual people. (Just saying.)
Fred and Clara (nephew and wife) get to be played by humans. 👨👩
But that's...probably just so that they can be the same species as Scrooge. ^___^
Link to the episode: kzclip.org/video/JedQPFzYYJA/бейне.html
@Natalia Panfichi A Hearth's Warming Tail (Episode 8 of season 6 of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic).
An interesting, and important note about his relationship with Fred, which as I recall is left out of this film, is that Fred's mother (Scrooge's sister) was the only member of his family that was actually kind to him, and who he really cared for and loved. She died giving birth to Fred. It colors a lot of their interactions.
Just here to say that this channel is one of the reasons I opened up to my doctor about my depression! Every video Cinema Therapy has put out just radiates warmth and compassion for me (not to mention all the times I've cried when a topic hit particularly close to home). Thank you Alan, Jonathan, and the rest of the amazing team behind this channel!
This channel is one of the only times I don’t skip the sponsors, because they contain things like “WARNING: THIS FOOTAGE CONTAINS ALAN SEAWRIGHT’S FINAL FORM!” 😂
I didn’t know OCPD was a thing, but this really helped me to understand a coworker better. I would love to have suggestions for how to deal with people like this. The general result has been a tendency to burn bridges everywhere they go and with every group event they attend.
Also, Gonzo and Rizzo should narrate every movie! “Light the lamp not the rat!”
Love your channel!❤️
He referred to an article in Psychology Today written by Alan A Cavaiola who wrote the book Impossible to Please: How to Deal with Perfectionist Coworkers, Controlling Spouses and Other Incredibly Critical People, (2012), that book might help
lol. Thank you for reminding me of that.
i always thought that scrooge suddenly crying after the flashback with his fiancée felt misplaced, then i learned about the song that was cut from that scene!!! never understood why they’ve never re-released it because it explains why rizzo is crying as well
Even without the song, I could believe him crying, after all his heart is revealed gradually with the visiting of the Spirits, showing the emotion that is there behind all the “humbug”
@LostWhitsI never understood all the “controversy” because I’ve always had the version with the song in it
I've read many times this week that Disney has rereleased it with the song included.
Alan's Swedish Chef impression was impressive and had me rolling.
But honestly this is one if my favourite versions of this story because Michael Cain did such an amazing job
@Emily Martin Exactly
@Princess Pixel humbug
@Helen L i think he is referring to Michael Caine 🤔
@ChickenOfAwesome Factor is paying for Alan's new kitchen?
Good for him! 😜
Same to both. I was literally crying by the time Alan was done doing the impression
Alan throwing the package in the microwave and it falling out was such great physical comedy... a thing, I didn't even know existed, before watching you guys! Also I almost died of laughter, it caught me offguard while eating. Cereal all over my keyboard. Love you guys
Sir Michael Caine's emotions during the times of Christmas Past impress me so much. Especially the song. 😭 My therapist told me once that therapy is like giving a sponge bath to a burn victim. It's going to hurt, but it's the path to healing.
Fun fact, John: Manah Manah isn't originally a Muppet song! It was written by an Italian composer, then the Muppets took it and made it memorable during The Muppet Show. But it is definitely one of the best two songs, and Statler and Waldorf's song is the other.
Fantastic work, you two! I'd love to see more Muppets, especially if it means we get more Swedish Chef Alan.
Also, muppets sang Manah Manah long before the Muppet Show. Even before Sesame Street, if I recall correctly. But yeah, the Muppets totally pwned that song, back then, and forever!
Awesome factoid…thanks.
More politely, an adult film. But substantially correct.
It was used in porn first lol
The music of Paul Williams just added to the awesomeness of this movie. His talent is so overwhelming and it made this movie so special.
Also, when Statler's head appeared as the doorknob in that one scene (before the Marley's show up), and he yelled "SCROOOOOGE!" Yeah. That terrified me as a child.
OMG, Alan’s Swedish Chef had me literally wheezing with laughter. Him going around on his knees and throwing the Factor boxes and getting the smoothie all over himself. Comedy gold!
I always felt there was impressive character in Belle. She has the strength of character to let go. To say to Scrooge, this is not the best for me. That is why I also love the song.
The only thing that would have been better would be another person being Alan's arms, as the Swedish chef is puppeted to great comedic effect XD
Poor dude! 😂 Hope at least the laugh made him feel better when he stopped passing out!!
Husband is on the tail end of covid and laughing makes him cough and found it so funny he nearly perished and had to leave the room loool
You know out of all the adaptations of a Christmas Carol, I think the Muppets Christmas Carol is the only one that actually shows Ebeneezer gradually change throughout, starting as a stodgy old black hearted miser, but slowly softening as he starts to take in the lessons the spirits are teaching him, becoming more empathetic towards the suffering of others, remembering how it was due to the kindness of others that helped him to prosper, even becoming more playful when he watches Fred play the game at the party, and then understanding that he was really acting like a jackass when they called him one, and feeling bad about it.
Usually in adaptations he's just cold and heartless until ghost #3 scares the shit out of him and he changes heart
@moongirl786 Fair.
@Gasquid Xeno YES seriously do it's the best one out there.
I'd add a newer adaptation to the list of ones that do that, Starkid's A VHS Christmas Carol :) It's definitely my preferred take.
So true! The Henson company is so good and understanding how kids (and people in general) process feelings as it's their bread and butter. That's probably why they did such a wonderful job with plotting out Scrooge's emotional journey. Most directors/writers see him as a villain that begrudgingly turns good. However, Henson's crew see him as a lost soul that needs help. Very different angles.
@ProjectPhantomEden413 He changed because the world needed him. Tiny Tim would be lost without treatment and a living wage! So many would have been lost without that!
You guys should do Home Alone! That would be interesting to hear your thoughts and how the family needs therapy tips.
I adore this movie! It's a tradition for me to watch it every year close to Christmas. As you said how Sir. Michael Caine plays Scrooge, juxtaposed with the silliness of the Muppets, it's just perfect. Also, thank you for reminding me that it takes time to combat negative thoughts and forge new ways of thinking. I'm going through a bit of a rough time so I needed that reminder as I continue to heal and grow. Happy Holidays from Boston!
@Cinema Therapy Thank you, really appreciate the response and encouragement!
Best wishes as you navigate this rough patch. You got this! Happy holidays!
This version of Ghost of Christmas Present is still someone who I would hang out with! I loved his delivery, compassion, joy, and yet able to teach Scrooge.
Muppet Hell? I laughed so hard! Thank you so much for the laughter, tears and healing💜💞 You two are the best! Happy Holidays🌠🌌
Scrooge really is the first most detailed and layered character that I have witnessed. A Christmas Carol details what exactly makes a bad person become a bad person, and I love it.
Emily's retort of "And I'm about to raise you right off the pavement" remains one of my favorite lines of dialogue.
@Jeri Huish YES! And the bit where the girls are so shocked at the "BADLY DRESSED" line... that always cracks me up
@Jeri Huish Lol! I love that! Too fun!
My whole family will say “it does, doesn’t it?!” in Miss Piggy’s voice whenever something smells good in the kitchen
Yasss! Omg! The delivery, how she moves Kermit out of the way, and everything about it makes me laugh so hard every time!
Having Gonzo and Rizzo check out during the Ghost of Christmas Future scene under the guise of "being scared" was a great film making choice. Minimizing the silliness allows for the full emotional weight of the scene to be felt by the audience.
Can we please have more puppet Alan in the future? That was absolutely brilliant.
"It's the Summer of the soul in December..." Oh, how I love that muppet and that lyric. Just perfection.
Thank Paul Williams! I'm constantly amazed at how much he's composed, and how much of it I'm familiar with because of the Muppets.
Well, down here it's also the summer of the year in December! 😄
Okay as someone who has OCD, can I just say THANK YOU for featuring OCPD and mentioning that it is often confused for OCD. Almost every time I see OCD on TV it's always OCPD. Thank you so much!
How many times I have had to explain to someone.
OCPD: "I need X done a certain way because I think that is the right way to do it."
OCD: "I don't want to do X in this way every time. It's exhausting. I hate this. I know it's irrational and pointless. But doing it is the only thing that makes my brain stop threatening me for 5 seconds."
I love Sir Michael Caine in this role
I love the psychology of Scrooge and I’m so glad you guys did this 😊
“we only change if the pain of staying the same is worse than the pain of changing” !!! this rings so true for me after i moved schools and changed from the bullied victim mentality to the i refuse to be a victim mentality
I guess it comes down to motivation? We may receive some positive feelings from doing things to help others, or even some community recognition (esp. for business owners like Scrooge).
But the problem IMO arises when that feeling becomes the reason why you're doing the right thing? Feeling good because you did the right thing isn't a problem, and although it's not a universal result of altruistic action, it's often a fairly natural one. Doing the right thing because it makes you feel good, NOT because it's the ethical action to take, is a big problem!
This message is deep yet disturbing in a way. It really makes me question whether true altruism exists. Maybe there can be no such thing as an ‘altruistic’ act that does not involve some element of self-interest, no such thing, for example, as an altruistic act that does not lead to some degree, no matter how small of pride or validation or satisfaction.
This. This is how I wanted to say what happened to me in Jan. 2021. I knew something had to change, because I was going downhill so fast, that the pain of staying on this path would be worse than the hard work I'd put into at least trying to change. That one line sums up that feeling perfectly. I'm going to use this to explain it from now on.
It was weird to me how I could see my mind shift from a certain state before and just one day got tired of it all and just clicked.
It was like flicking a switch and my mind was suddenly renewed to see life in a different light.
Bless you hotdog water lol
@Zach Scarbrough Any step is still a step, just take it on one at a time. Remember not to beat yourself up too much, just enjoy learning. Don't care about what other people say as this is for you and not for them.
Bless you in your journey 👍depression sucks, been there
I actually discussed this movie weeks ago in therapy, turns out Scrooge was the relatable character which led to my dislike of Christmas as I saw many parallels (some real, some not so). Many points you raised have allowed me to better understand my own behaviours. Facts don't change but the meaning can; victims don't change, enjoying the holiday, the closeness and the warmth but choosing not to 🤯
All incredibly helpful guys, thank you so much!
This is my favorite version. I've read the book at least 30 times. But I always laugh at how the ghosts waited until Scrooge had accumulated a ton of wealth before saving him. It made it so much easier for him to be so generous. Tricksy ghosts
I am a huge fan of Cinema Therapy, and I have been waiting for so long for them to observe a character with OCPD. Plus it’s Scrooge so that really is the icing on the cake. Thank you!!!
I once described therapy as going to the gym and my therapist was kinda offended so I'm glad you said it 😂
Oh - thank you for doing this! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this movie! Singing fruit, hula dancing rats, Gonzo (and a chicken), Rizzo as affectionate sidekick, Michael Cane both coldhearted and human, the slightly forgetful ghost of the Christmas present, London looking like a Christmas window decoration, the heartful songs, all the elaborate details. For me this is the perfect version of the perfect Christmas story.
I was so mad when Disney took out Belle's "The Love is Gone" song for a little while in re-releases and on Disney+ because they felt it was too sad. The sadness was the point; I remember that song having a profound impact on me as a child because it was one of the first times a film moved me in such a way. So glad they're bringing back the song in the restored cut that comes out on the 11th!
And me. Having them sing "When Love Is Found" (A.K.A. "The Love We Found") without Belle's "When Love Is Gone") is jarring.
The missing scene also shows that Belle's words hurt him - and it was his fault that she ended up saying them! Michael singing the words along with Meredith Braun shows that he actually DID focus on her words, despite Belle thinking the contrary.
I've had the VHS release, which had the song on it, and watching it with the song cut always felt really weird, especially when they reprise the song at the very end. It really shows that she had no hard feelings towards him, but his priorities were in a place she couldn't be in. With it cut she's like yeah you did love me once ok thanks bye whatever.
omg i’ve never had a chance to watch a version with the song in it!! didn’t even know about it until a few years ago because the non-song version of the film is so prolific
Taking out that song was horrible. That moment when he sings with Belle shows that he reflected on that moment for a long time, to the point he knows the song. It’s also the moment his armor cracks to allow change and he’s able to cry.
I was so sad when it was cut, I had the original vhs and was so confused when it was cut everywhere else
I love how John has just dove head first into the Christmas spirit with that suit and hat. And I say that without irony or sarcasm, it's 100% sincere.
This is such a great movie, and it has the most underrated joke ever in it by naming a character Robert Marley.
Alan, I think you've missed your calling. Your over the top, physical comedy skills are superb. You had me dying, especially when you threw the food into the microwave and it bounced back out.
This truly is my favorite Christmas movie and one of my favorite Christmas stories. Redemption stories and breaking cycles is hitting harder in my life, so thank you for this video!
I love this movie!! It's the best version of a Christmas Carol! Great acting, songs, and visuals!
Alan “muppet-ing” during the sponsorship is... solid gold! 😂😂
This is my favorite Christmas movie. I think one note you missed, was how AMAZING the historical costuming was. Abby Cox has a whole long video about it on her channel. The ladies who put together those outfits were off the charts. There are many very serious historical films that put far less effort into historically accurate costumes than the Muppets did. Also, Alan's Swedish Chef? Best ad ever.
Yeeeeesss! That video by Abby Cox was just great and I loved it.
Nicole's videos covering that Gonzo costume and its recreation are wonderful! They really made me respect the original costume designers' attention to historical accuracy & interesting detail. Nicole is also brilliant at providing the sociopolitical context to historical dress, for example her coverage of the environmental & workplace safety impacts of producing beaver-fur top hats.
@K. S. K. She did! She made one of Gonzo's outfits and it's amazingly deep on the history of each piece. So good. And so cute.
I think Nicole Rudolf constructed an entire copy of one of the outfits over several months for herself, researching every garment and she made a wonderful series of KZclip videos last year.
Alan's Swedish Chef impression is the best thing I've seen all week. I'm actually dying 🤣
Excellent as always. Also at 27:08: "Better turkey than ham. That would be in bad taste." I actually spit out my mouthful of coffee 🤣
This may be a little weird but on the assumption this is the only time you'll be talking about Ebenezer Scrooge on this channel I'd really like to give a little praise to my favorite version of this story. The Mickey Mouse one.
It's the only version of a Christmas Carol I've seen where the Ghost of Christmas Future speaks. He only has two lines, but he ends up making probably the most powerful statement in the story.
When they're at the graveyard Scrooge asks the ghost what poor soul's grave they're looking at that has no mourners. The ghost leans in and answers, "Why it's yours Ebenezer. The richest man in the cemetery." And it just does such a perfect job of putting Scrooge's life into perspective. Just that one sentence encapsulating so perfectly where it's all going to lead him, how little all of the money he's cared so much about will really matter in the end.
I'm mostly a lurker, but I have been watching a ton of these lately, having been shown one from my S/O a few months ago. I gotta say therapy was a big turning point in my life, and even though I am still not complete (is self improvement ever complete?) I have immensely enjoyed this content, and much like Alan, I'm an easy crier, so just about every episode makes me tear up or worse. I feel like a Patreon sub is well deserved and I hope you two and your team continue to produce and enjoy working on this series.
I think I would still have to say that the Patrick Stewart version will always be my all time favorite. Probably because it’s the version I grew up watching ❤
His version is amazing and is tied for perfection with this version. I love how utterly Human Scrooge is in this one.
I remember having the audiobook of that version and he played all the characters. It was awesome.
FINALLY SOMEONE OUTSIDE OF MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY IS GIVING HIM THE RESPECT HE DESERVES
Sir Michael Caine: probably the only actor I can think of who is fully surrounded by nothing but Muppets, but acts like he's watching something as serious as a car crash while performing in a Shakespearean play. It's hilarious how straight he plays this role, and I love it dearly. It's probably one of my favorite Christmas Carol versions.
Alastair Sim is a easy second.
@riakun You weren't treating it like a joke a few minutes ago, but okay.
@riakun I don't see seriousness as characteristic of William Shakespeare or his works. Seriousness is just part of being a good actor, regardless of whose play you're performing.
@Josh-oo, the Zan Man Shakespearean: "relating to or characteristic of William Shakespeare or his works."
Shakespeare plays were always done with such absolute seriousness. People also treat car crashes with absolute seriousness as well. It's a metaphor combining the two subjects, basically saying how Michael Caine treated working with puppets like he was watching a car crash unfold while being in a very serious Shakespearean play. He acts it extremely straight, while most people would laugh. That's what I mean by that.
I absolutely agree, Gonzo should narrate every movie, with his little rat buddy, Rizzo. This is really the best adaptation of A Christmas Carol. They put in so much work into everything and it shows. Thank you for making this video. I can tell you both also put a lot into these videos and I’ve really enjoyed them.
I love this version of a christmas carol cause not only do you see his gradually change over the movie. You also see how his past experiences lead him to be a jerk cause of his constant feeling like he never had enough. They should have never cut out when love is gone cause that scene adds so much
The Christmas carol I grew up watching, is absolutely the scariest and still haunts me, Jim Carey’s Christmas Carol
Best Christmas Carol adaptation in my book! Thank you for including the difference between OCD and OCPD. I recently learned of this difference myself (about a year ago). I'm pretty sure my mom has OCPD and it's exactly as you said; she can be cruel sometimes, but her flavor of it centers around the idea of safety rather than money. Which is coming from a place of love, but gets really twisted and can be stifling. She doesn't see it as a disorder, so she's not interested in therapy, but I go to therapy regularly and the tools I learn there are, I think, slowly influencing my mom as well. It's the best way I can help her. I wish I had ghosts at my disposal lol
We do have the supernatural for help, not ghosts, but something better, Jesus and the Holy Spirit to call on for help. I have and my family has healed this Christmas in a way that can only be deemed a miracle.
@Frances Skylar yeah I hear you. I've had to cut people out of my life before due to toxicity and luckily this is not that kind of situation. But if it ever turned into one, I would not have a problem walking away
Be careful. You can't save someone who isn't willing to do their own work. It's like getting close to a drowning person -they can drown you too. One of the hardest things in life is being in the situation where you need to reduce your relationship or walk away from someone you love because they harm you and don't care enough to change. Trying to "rescue" people can also be a trauma response, and one that can increase the drama in your life. Take care, and best of luck.
If it helps you feel better, Alan, I'm 29, and no matter what version of Christmas Carol I watch, this one included, the Marley scene ALWAYS freaks me the hell out! Even watching this one, I teared up and thought I'd have to fast forward 'cause it freaked me out so much! Ghosts in general scare the crap out of me, but especially ones that have creepy warnings like Marley! *shudders*
The funniest part about that little rabbit character is the puppeteers hated how cute he was so they made him suffer in every scene he was in
That’s hilarious, I was low key happy he was suffering too lol
I told my grandma this cus she feels so bad for the little guy. Im just lucky i had her favourite box of chocolates to comfort her lol
I think it’s important to note that Scrooge grew up during a time of great suffering and want. His greed is greatly impacted by growing up in want. Much like those who’s formative years were during the Great Depression. Scrooge feels he has to care for himself and it makes him distrustful and afraid. He’s learning in the story to put himself out there. I think his history shades his story with important elements
I loved the dialog about stage dropping out as the lights dimmed and how you have to be creative when you work with puppets. It reminds me of the scene in White Christmas where the camera pans in on Mary Clooney and people in the background start slinking to the side so she is the focal point. Classic!
I've heard about this version of A Christmas Carol, but I didn't really grow up with Muppet stuff so I've never seen it; it looks like such a fun and heartwarming movie! Thank you for introducing it to me with this great video!
Let me see if I can return the favor: have either of you seen Klaus? It's one of my favorite Christmas movies of all time, second only to How The Grinch Stole Christmas. I highly recommend it! :)
This was my cousin's favourite Christmas movie and I made it a tradition to watch it every Christmas Eve in his honour. ❤️
“the love is gone” was such a fabulous ballad and they managed to recover it and keep it as a deleted scene on Disney+. It expands on that whole scene so greatly
“Hardships are the norm, that happiness is fleeting, but happiness is kind of a choice you make during hardship.”
That was DEEP! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Thank you Alan.💙💜❤️
My favorite Christmas movie, the music and the lyricsa are just so damn good and Michael Caine just knocks all the emotional parts out of the ballpark.
I’m not sure how popular it would be, but it’d be cool to see you guys do Kenneth Branagh’s Henry V. There are some pretty solid themes in that movie and I found it healing in a lot of ways
The costumes are amazing. Rizzo’s shirt in the opening was hand embroidered by the costume department. The details are amazing but the Henson company is just amazing. And shout out to the music! Beautiful compositions. ❤
This is my favorite Christmas movie! A true beautiful and heartfelt classic 💕
All of these are amazing!!! For the next villain therapy video (after Christmas?) maybe you guys should do either Lucille Sharpe from Crimson Peak to discuss how victims of domestic abuse grow up to become abusers themselves or Pearl from 2022’s Pearl to discuss maybe lack of boundaries with family, fantasy vrs reality, etc.
I don't think I've ever laughed so hard at an ad section. But Alan staying in character the entire time was beautiful.
He *definitely* committed to the bit.
@Guild Meister Yes!!! That was my favorite part! 😂
The ad section is one of my favorite parts of their videos because they’re so funny! 🤣🤣
Seriously, that was amazing!
@Cinema Therapy That you do! Love you guys 👍
This film is such a big part of my childhood, it came out when I was a year old and we watched it every Christmas Eve for over 20 years. It just feels like Christmas! Although, when my parents were divorcing it was very awkward to be watching that "the Love is Gone" part with both of them there sitting silent for the whole song. We can all laugh about it now 😆. Still feels like Christmas 🎄
Like most people, I tend to skip the sponsor part, but this one NEEDS to become viral!!! it's amazing
I love how Alan PERFECTLY imitates the Swedish chef and I haven't seen that character in like 13 years
This is such perfect timing for me. I am a Librarian and just led this for my book 📖 discussion group. It's a great idea for holiday discussion and I talked about this Muppets film version as well.
There were a few scenes that used to freak me out but then I watched some of the CGI Christmas Carol and realized how child friendly Muppets is.
Alan sent me with the Swedish Chef impression. The moment he THREW the food in the microwave and it dropped out, I cackled so hard.
It is absolutely the best take they could have gotten. And the fact that Alan had the mind to just stare at it for a beat, and then the timing on the editor's part with the hard cut... I'm literally tearing up, absolutely hysterical job. I don't normally watch ad reads, but with the effort that gets put into these, always worth it~ This is the only other channel I actually watch the ads for besides Critical Role.
I laughed for the rest of the commercial! It was a favorite
@Cinema Therapy your very own Boss Ross happy accident.
@Cinema Therapy That's what we call skill 😆
Not even planned, just perfect timing and sheer luck.
This is my favorite rendition of The Christmas Carol. From Michael Caine, to the Muppets, to the funny inside jokes… it’s awesome!
2021 was the year that I finally got therapy after a burnout. I should have gotten therapy years ago due to depressions after getting bullied in school. It took eight months (Covid really made the waiting list long) after a burnout. I am so happy I did. You guys are right, the first weeks were not easy, my brain was fried and you have to process a lot of thoughts. The hardest part to me was changing my thought patterns and to be kind to myself. But last October, my therapist told me I could to it alone, and I can. And I still can't believe how much I have changed and now peaceful my own mind is. Therapy is not easy, but it is so worth it!
Yep, Muppet Hell sounds like a wicked destination 😂. Definitely a favourite of mine and often wondered what Scrooges personality issues was (had no idea that there was OCD and OCPD, wow)
I’m really glad they mentioned the freaky uncanny Ghost of Christmas past. Imagine that thing popping up like a jump scare!
Amazing video as always but omg Alan's Final Form AKA Alan as The Swedish Chef had me in tears
No matter how many times I've watched this movie, it still looks like Beaker is giving Scrooge the finger when he gets outside.
@Kyle Morello At the door where Scrooge was.
@Renenutet_Nuvo at what tho?
Saw the same clip the other day and was convinced I saw him give the finger. Now, he was strongly pointing.
I mean, his main language IS beeping.
And then when Scrooge redeems himself the next morning, Beaker gives him his 🧣.
I won't often rewatch these videos, but I will absolutely rewatch Alan's final form from 03:56 again 😂
This movie is the best adaptation of an absolute masterpiece of writing. No other story makes me strive to be a better human being than Christmas Carol.
This is my favorite Christmas movie, and I re-read the novella every year. This episode makes me very happy
Just wanted to say I’ve watched you guys for a year now and you guys are the reason why I’m 6 months into therapy! Happy holidays and happy healing to all!
I wrote a paper for my human development course on how Scrooge (from this movie in particular) fits Erickson’s stage on generavity vs stagnation, and how he moves from one to the other. Hands down my favorite paper I’ve ever written
It's really hilarious that Michael Caine's best performance is opposite a muppet.
@Garret LeBuis the cricket term is "knocked it for 6"
You score if you hit it to beyond the boundary - like hitting out out of the park
It's definitely not his most badass performance as the antagonist. Get Carter, a British 70's Gangster Movie where he plays the lead character Jack is utterly ruthless not to mention brutally violent being a Gangster obviously. And then Harry Brown where he's an elderly Vigilante.
@Nathan Thom I LOVED him in Secondhand Lions!
I hesitate to say, “best [ever].” He’s pretty accomplished. You may not have seen dirty rotten scoundrels…?
Not even in his top 5 best acting performances. Cider House Rules, Educating Rita, Harry Brown (film is so so his acting performance is great though), Second Hand Lions, The Man who would be King are all much better performances from him imho.
In general my favorite parts of Muppet movies are when the only human in the scene acts as if it’s completely normal and everyone around them is a normal human. But nobody did or has done it better than Michael Caine. Caine is such a unique individual where he’s a completely masterful and serious actor, but also has the greatest sense of warmth and humor. He could’ve gone full Muppet and done it perfectly. But instead he gave us Royal Shakespeare and made it even better.
16:40 Therapy sounds a lot like physiotherapy for your emotions! Complete with the whole "hurts like hell to help"... 🙈
My mom just made me watch this movie with her for movie night lol. Christmas Present is my favorite spirit, with Past being a close second, cause Present's forced perspective tricks and gradual aging is really well pulled off and well transitioned. And it also shows off pretty well, what he embodies (As a reference to Father Christmas), the joy and warmth can be felt by anyone, be you larger than life and well off (like Scrooge) or small and insignificant to others (the mouse family). And it's important that he's talking about little comforts in this too, I think, none of them are a big huge event- they're all small creature comforts that are more moments of rest.
And then Christmas Past is just so freaking neat. Lookit her. I wonder how many puppets they had to make of her or if they did it all in one go, cause if I heard right she waws filmed under water. And the uncanny valley of her structure- it's so similar to the Dark Crystal muppets, and really looks like a porcelain doll. She's creepy but she's the only one that really feels like a spirit.
"Happiness is a choice made during hardship", the Cratchits are a perfect example of this; seeing them so happy despite poverty helped Scrooge realize that he had no excuse.
Love has much more power to change a person's heart than fear.
This is one of my favorite movies of all time. I still have it on VHS and we watch it every year.
I love how Jonathan mentioned that Scrooge has figured out that the grave is his before even wiping the snow off, finally somebody other than myself that’s noticed that!😃
The Scrooge played by George C. Scott in 1984 also knew the grave was his own.
And Scrooge is frantically trying to talk his way to a loophole - "Are these things that will be, or things that MAY be only?" He knows all right.
I always thought he knew as well, that's why he kept stopping & turning back to the spirit because he wanted to postpone the painful moment when he had to stare the truth in the face
I love that moment. It always felt like Scrooge knew what he was seeing since he overheard the men talking about the person who died. He was just hoping that he was wrong.
@silverstar1178 I thought so too
It’s a shame they cut Fan out of this version. Fan being so close to Ebenezer and the death being so devastating to him gives us an insight to why he’s so cold to his nephew while not completely cutting him out of his life. Also the realization that she died asking him to take care of her son but he missed it because he left before her death is a major part of his transformation. A part that seems to be tragically underutilized in multiple versions.
I love you guys SO much!! Your taste in films is excellent, and I love hearing Jono's explanations of the psychological principles that are illustrated. In this episode, I loved the comment, "You are miserable because of you." I have been working with a therapist over the last year or so, and this was one of the most important moments for me: I am miserable because of me. Only by accepting that have I been able to start making better choices and feel less miserable. I needed that reminder today, so thank you!
(PS - I'd love to hear your taken on Casablanca sometime ... ;)
My family has always had a tradition that we watch this movie on christmas eve, which i have extended to my family and children now as an adult. Super glad to see you review this one =)