Gef’s Festive Film Advent Calendar: 24 Dec

24 Dec

Muppets Christmas Carol

*Available to watch on Disney+

In my eyes, there is no better retelling of Dickens’ all-time classic ‘A Christmas Carol’ than this one. It is joyous, heart-breaking, and terrifying in equal measure. (Freddy Kruger has nothing on The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come)

It’s told with a Christmas charisma that can only be achieved by a Jim Henson muppet. The way Michael Caine interacts with them is exceptional. A testament not just to him but to the puppeteers. The music is wonderful. It makes your heart swell before slicing it in two with a turkey carving knife. I’m referring to the devastating song ‘The Love is Gone’ which, for some reason, was scrapped from various versions of the production. I can only assume because it caused an influx of calls to the Samaritans.

This film has the opposite affect on me though. It’s what I put on immediately after breaking up with my long-term boyfriend while I was traveling on the other side of the world. Coming off the phone, broken-hearted, I turned to my friend and said through snotty tears:

‘I need vodka. And the Muppets Christmas Carol.’ 

My friend kindly didn’t bother pointing out to me that it was the middle of June.

There’s just something about this one that has the ability to bring people of absolutely any age together to watch and enjoy it, which is pretty magical. And isn’t that what Christmas is all about? A little bit of magic, while bringing people together.

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Before I leave you, here are some bonus films that aren’t technically Christmas ones but have a festive feel to them:

• Green Book (Watch on Amazon Prime)
• Hunt for the Wilderpeople (Watch on Amazon Prime)
• Silver Linings Playbook (Watch on Amazon Prime)
• Jumaji: Welcome to the Jungle (Watch on Amazon Prime)
• Die Hard – it is a Christmas film, I just couldn’t fit it in. Also watch on Amazon Prime)

And a couple of classic must-watch-at-Christmas TV episodes:

• Vicar of Dibley – The Christmas Lunch Incident (Watch on BBC iPlayer)
• Extras Christmas special (Watch on Amazon Prime)
• Community – Regional Holiday Music (Watch on Netflix)
• BBC’s Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Watch on BBC iPlayer)

Thus concludes your festive film advent calendar. Thank you for watching. For Christmas Day viewing, I recommend giving your eyes a break from the screen and instead bring up politics at the dinner table and watch 90 minutes of Christmas carnage ensue.

Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals.

Love, Gef

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CREDITS

Director: Rhian Evans

Producer: Gef

Cast: Rhian Evans, Kim Graziano, Sam Jones, Dion Jones.

Graphics: Kim Graziano

Props: Gef

Key Grip: Gef’s mate

Gaffer: Gef’s second cousin twice removed

Film co-ordinator: Gef’s arch nemesis, Hef.

Computer Engineering: Gef’s twin., Ggeeff.

Stunt Co-ordinator: Jackie Chan