Christmas family movie nights are one of our family traditions. Along with drives to look at holiday lights, cookie baking, and attending worship, the holidays wouldn’t be the same without time gathered together enjoying the classics as well as new favorites. Use this movie review and recipe, Muppet Christmas Carol and White Chocolate Candy Cane Oreo Pops Recipe, as the perfect duo for your next family holiday gathering.
Hint: Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post where we are hosting a GIVE-AWAY!
THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (1992)
A review by Jeff Marshall
© 1992 Walt Disney Pictures − All right reserved.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie and company joining forces with Oscar winner Michael Caine to stage their own version of Charles Dickens’ immortal classic A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Without doing specific research, I’m rather comfortable in saying A CHRISTMAS CAROL is probably the most filmed Christmas story of all time, and countless television shows have at least used the general backbone of Dickens’ novel for their holiday-themed episodes.
So how does THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL stack up to the rest? I’m heartbroken to say not as well as I had hoped.
Let me say upfront that I love the Muppets. I mean – I LOVE the Muppets. I believed for decades that they truly exist and that they live and breathe like the rest of us. And no one has been able to convince me otherwise. Perhaps that is why my disappointment was so great!
© − All right reserved.
That’s not to say that THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL is terrible. It’s certainly watchable with a couple catchy tunes and the inevitable good will of Dickens’ source material. But “watchable” is the last adjective I want to use in describing a movie featuring my Jim Henson friends. Younger kids less familiar with Scrooge and company may find a bit more originality in this film.
I suppose what bothered me the most is the missed opportunity – this could have been a Christmas classic. This is a Muppet movie, so why make a human the lead character? Michael Caine is a wonderful actor (having two Oscars to prove it), but this is a role he could do in his sleep.
I totally would have made one of the Muppets the lead Scrooge character and had a ball coming up with some inventive choices of human actors for the three ghosts that visit Ebeneezer on Christmas Eve. Why not throw caution to the wind and let Miss Piggy play a female Scrooge? Her classic temper and sarcasm would have been ideal, especially for the first third of the movie.
And why not make it a comedy? There are a couple very small moments of levity, but the filmmakers have basically taken the exact same story that has been filmed a jillion times and replaced it with Muppets. Put humans back in, and there would be absolutely nothing special or memorable about the film.
© − All right reserved.
Perhaps the filmmakers wanted to introduce the Dickens story to a new generation. Perhaps they felt it unthinkable to tweek too much of an undisputed classic. The Bill Murray film SCROOGED, which came out four years earlier, while not a great film, took pains to modernize and try breathing new life into the story.
It should be noted that Jim Henson, the original creative genius behind the Muppets, passed away two years before the film’s release, so I imagine this was probably the first Muppet film without Henson at the fore. It was probably a difficult endeavor in that regard for all involved, and I wish the result would have been more worthy of previous Muppet successes.
All this being said, if you have kids who have shown interest in the Muppets, it’s probably still a worthwhile film for them or for a family movie night. Let’s face it, mediocre Muppets is certainly better than no Muppets at all.
But, oh, what could have been…
So, I’m going to let Sara take over now as she shares a recipe that sounds delicious for this time of year, and I CAN’T WAIT to give it a try. Enjoy!
White Chocolate Candy Cane Oreo Pops
Make these white chocolate candy cane Oreo pops as a fun family activity (and treat for the Muppets movie family night!), or bring them to your next holiday party.
Lollipop sticks 100 count 6 inch
Wilton Chocolate & Candy Melts Melting Pot, 2104-9006Wilton Baker & Decorator Candy Melt Bundle, Light Cocoa & WhiteNabisco Limited Edition Hot Cocoa Sandwich Cookies, 10.7 ozMississippi Mud Pie Sandwich Cookies Limited Edition!! 10.7 ozFIlled Cupcake Oreo, Limited Edition, 10.7oz – 2 packsBrachs 12- 6oz. Peppermint Candy Canes
White Chocolate Candy Cane Oreo Pops Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Wilton white chocolate melts
- 6 Oreo cookies double stuff
- 3 Candy canes crushed
- 6 lollipop sticks
Instructions
- Insert a lollipop stick into the double stuff Oreo.
- Put candy canes into a ziploc bag and crush with a rolling pin or the bottom of a glass cup. Place the crushed candy canes into a wide bowl.
- Melt the white candy melts in microwave or with Wilton Melting Pot.
- Dip the Oreos into the white chocolate and then immediately into the crushed candy canes.
- Set aside on parchment paper to harden.
Nutrition
Insert the Lollipop stick into each Double Stuff Oreo
Dip the Oreos into the white chocolate and then immediately into the crushed candy canes.
After melting chocolate, immediately dip oreos into chocolate.
Sprinkle with crushed candy canes or dip into bowl. Lay on parchment paper to dry.
Enjoy!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – time for the annual 25 Days Of Christmas Movies Blog Hop! #ChristmasMoviesHop
We have 25 talented bloggers gathered together to share with you all the wonderful crafts and recipes you can make this Christmas season, based off of some of the most beloved holiday classic films. There are 25 films to be inspired by for your holiday season, and 25 talented bloggers to aid your inspiration. If you love Christmas movies, you have come to the right place!
Let’s Meet The Hosts!
Megan ~ C’mon Get Crafty | Erlene~ An My Pinterventures | Lindsay ~ seeLindsay
Marie ~ The Inspiration Vault | Maureen ~ Red Cottage Chronicles | Emily ~ Domestic Deadline
Stephanie ~ The Tip Toe Fairy | Rebecca ~ The Moments at Home | Michelle ~ Our Crafty Mom
Pam ~ P.S. I Love You Crafts | Sue ~ A Purdy Little House | Heather ~ The Busy Giffs
Erica ~ 5 Little Monsters | Valerie ~ Occasionally Crafty | Sara ~ The Holy Mess
Tina ~ Sweet and Salty Sisters | Sam ~ Raggedy Bits | Christine ~ Where the Smiles Have Been
Allie ~ Vigor it Out | Lyne ~ Lynn’s Everyday Ideas | Evelin ~ Evey’s Creations
Nina ~ Crazy for Cookies and More | Carrie ~ A Princess and Her Pirates
Jaclyn ~ The Dotted Nest | Kelley ~ Simply Inspired Meals
Now let’s check out the rest of the amazing Christmas creations!
OTHER BLOGS YOU MIGHT ENJOY
How to Choose Meaningful Christmas Traditions for Your Family
5 Ways to Eat Healthfully at Your Holiday Party…and Still Have Fun!
Free Movie List!
Top 20 Christmas Movies NOT to Be Missed
Get your free printable list now.
I grew up watching the Muppet Show, but I don’t remember watching this? I probably did and forgot…lol. Maybe I can make these Oreo pops and watch it with my kids.
Very cute, easy and looks special, thanks for sharing!
Sara, I love these! So cute! I tried Oreo pops once, and they were NOT as pretty as yours! How adorable! Nice work!
What an absolutely creative and delicious idea! They turned out beautiful and would be so much fun to make with my girls! Thanks for the yummy idea.
I’m intrigued by your casting ideas, I think Miss Piggy as Scrooge could have been a LOT of fun! I do love that movie anyway, but those are some fun choices!
Yummmmm! I love anything with chocolate and peppermint mixed together!
These look so good. Anything with Oreos has to be amazing, right??