It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002) (TV)

Director:

Kirk R. Thatcher

Writers (WGA):

Tom Martin (written by) and
Jim Lewis (written by)

Release Date:

29 November 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Comedy | Family

Tagline:

More holiday fun then humanly possible!

Plot:

On Christmas Eve, an angel petitions God to send help for Kermit the Frog who has lost all hope after losing the Muppet Theatre.

Plot Keywords:

The Muppets | Christmas | Angel | Theater | Theatrical Show

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Dec. 20	6:00 PM	WGNAMER
Fri. Dec. 25	11:00 AM	WGNAMER

Cast

Steve Whitmire	...	Kermit / Rizzo the Rat / Beaker / Bean Bunny / Mr. Poodlepants / Statler (voice)
Dave Goelz	...	The Great Gonzo / Dr. Bunsen Honeydew / Waldorf
Bill Barretta	...	Pepe the Prawn / Dr. Teeth / Rowlf the Dog / Swedish Chef / Johnny Fiama / Bobo the Bear / Howard / Lew Zealand
Eric Jacobson	...	Miss Piggy / Fozzie Bear / Animal / Yoda
David Arquette	...	Daniel
Joan Cusack	...	Rachel Bitterman
Matthew Lillard	...	Luc Fromage
William H. Macy	...	Glenn
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Daniel's 'Boss'
Carson Daly	...	Himself - Cameo Appearance
Kelly Ripa	...	Herself
Joe Rogan	...	Himself - Cameo Appearance
Molly Shannon	...	Herself - Cameo Appearance
Robert Smigel	...	Triumph the Insult Comic Dog (voice) (as Triumph The Insult Dog)
Zach Braff	...	Dr. John 'J.D.' Dorian
Sarah Chalke	...	Dr. Elliot Reid
Neil Flynn	...	The Janitor
John C. McGinley	...	Dr. Perry Cox
Judy Reyes	...	Nurse Carla Espinosa
Bill Lawrence	...	Himself - 'Scrubs' Producer
Mel Brooks	...	Joe Snow (voice)
Brian Henson	...	Scooter / Sal Manilla / Janice / Muppet Performer (voice)
Jerry Nelson	...	Robin the Frog / Statler / Announcer / Pops / Floyd Pepper / Kid #1 / Muppet Performer
Kevin Clash	...	Sam the Eagle / Muppet Performer (voice)
Alice Dinnean	...	Muppet Performer (as Alice Dinnean-Vernon)
Allan Trautman	...	Muppet Performer
Geoff Redknap	...	Muppet Performer / Sweetums Suit Performer (as Geoff Rednap)
Denise Cheshire	...	Muppet Performer
Drew Massey	...	Muppet Performer
Adam Behr	...	Muppet Performer
Gordon Robertson	...	Muppet Performer
John Henson	...	Muppet Performer / Sweetums
Dawn Lewis	...	Fear Factor Contestant
Colin Foo	...	Security Guard
Yee Jee Tso	...	Angel 1
Dan Joffre	...	Angel 2
Jonathan Bruce	...	Fat Angel
Cameron McDonald	...	Safari Animal Tracker
Darrell Lee-Izeard	...	Thin Angel (as Darrell Izeard)
Chantal Strand	...	Nancy Nut-What
Robin Mossley	...	Nicki Nut-What
Dan Payne	...	Handsome Executive
Dave 'Squatch' Ward	...	Sally Ann Santa
Julia Arkos	...	Sally Ann Representative
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jon Stewart	...	Himself (scenes deleted)
Marci Dacus	...	Fear Factor Contestant (uncredited)
Ray Galletti	...	(uncredited)
Conan Graham	...	Executive Assistant (uncredited)
Lawrence Trilling	...	Himself (uncredited)
Sisi Wang	...	Old Muppet's Date (uncredited)

Directed by
Kirk R. Thatcher

Writing credits (WGA)
Tom Martin		(written by) and
Jim Lewis		(written by)

Produced by
Martin G. Baker	....	producer
Bill Barretta	....	co-producer
Juliet Blake	....	executive producer
Warren Carr	....	producer
Ruth Caruso	....	co-producer
Brian Henson	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Mark Watters

Cinematography by
Tony Westman		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Gregg Featherman

Production Design by
Michael S. Bolton		(as Michael Bolton)

Art Direction by
James Steuart		(as Jim Steuart)

Set Decoration by
Linda Vipond

Costume Design by
Polly Smith
Sandra J. Blackie		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Sandy Cooper	....	key makeup artist
Harlow MacFarlane	....	special makeup effects artist
Charles Porlier	....	special makeup effects artist
Debra Wiebe	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Warren Carr	....	production manager
Annie Court	....	post-production supervisor
Drew Locke	....	unit manager: second unit
Ritamarie Peruggi	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Fred Frame	....	second unit director
Leann Harvey	....	trainee assistant director
Alexis Hinde	....	second assistant director: second unit
Patrice Leung	....	first assistant director
David Mills	....	first assistant director: second unit
Tracey Poirier	....	second assistant director
Patrick Stark	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Dave Conway	....	construction coordinator
Brian Epp	....	assistant property master
Phil Gough	....	property master: second unit
Kevin Griffin-Park	....	on-set dresser
Frank Haddad	....	greensman
Leesa Hanna	....	set dresser
John Marcynuk	....	set designer
Wendy McAllister	....	storyboard artist
Roxanne Methot	....	assistant art director
Beth Nelson	....	assistant set decorator
Christine Shaw	....	set dresser
Grant Swain	....	property master
Patrick Zahorodniuk	....	art department coordinator

Sound Department
Darren Brisker	....	sound recordist
Neil Cedar	....	adr recordist
Ryan Darden	....	assistant sound editor
Stephen Fitzmaurice	....	sound mixer (as Steven Fritzmaurice)
Richard C. Franklin	....	adr supervisor (as Rick Franklin)
Sara Kohlman	....	sound assistant
Carey Milbradt	....	foley recordist
Charles O'Shea	....	boom operator (as Charlie O'Shea)
Chris Ostler	....	sound recordist
Larry Stensvold	....	sound mixer
Richard Taylor	....	sound supervisor
Sarah Workhoven	....	adr assistant

Special Effects by
Jim Fisher	....	first assistant special effects
Brant McIlroy	....	special effects
Robert Yeager	....	special effects coordinator (as Rob Yeager)

Visual Effects by
Adrian Banton	....	digital character and visual effects: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Hal Bertram	....	digital character and visual effects: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Jason Bielski	....	digital character and visual effects: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Clare Burgess	....	digital character and visual effects: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Charlene Eberle Douglas	....	on-set visual effects coordinator (as Charlene Eberle)
Alan Latteri	....	digital character and visual effects: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Nick Lloyd	....	digital character and visual effects: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Dusan Strugar	....	digital character and visual effects: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
John B. Anderson	....	senior shader writer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (uncredited)
Adrian Banton	....	digital artist: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (uncredited)
Hitesh Bharadia	....	matchmove supervisor/technical director: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (uncredited)
Mike Connolly	....	digital compositor: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (uncredited)
James Furlong	....	digital tracking: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (uncredited)
Myf Hopkins	....	head of production: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (uncredited)
Alberto Montañés	....	digital compositor: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (uncredited)
Mike Pope	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Dan Sheerin	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Marny Eng	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
John Adams	....	gaffer: second unit
Toby Armitt	....	second assistant camera
Trevor Butt	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Harvey Fedor	....	key grip
Niall Fraser	....	best boy electric
Rob Graham	....	video assist operator: second unit
Peter Grotek	....	dolly grip (as Pete Grotek)
Peter Grotek	....	key grip: second unit
Martin Hass	....	dolly grip
Colin Hudson	....	Steadicam operator
Simon Hunt	....	gaffer
Armin Matter	....	camera operator
Carl Pederson	....	video engineer
Randal Platt	....	director of photography: second unit
Brian Rose	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Charlie Schultz	....	best boy grip
Lance White	....	video assist
Keith Woods	....	rigging gaffer

Casting Department
Lynne Carrow	....	casting: Canada
Allison Cowitt	....	casting: US
Mike Fenton	....	casting: US
Ann Frederick	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jessica Lythgoe-Green	....	costumer
Anthea Mallinson	....	costume dyer
Kurtis Reeves	....	costume supervisor: second unit
Heather Rupert	....	costume dyer

Editorial Department
Brian Anton	....	assistant editor
Frank Mazzaro	....	on-line editor
Leeanna Romero	....	post-production intern
Sati Tooray	....	colorist

Music Department
Michael Atwell	....	score recordist: Pro-Tools
Tim Bryson	....	additional mixes: score
Annmarie Crivelli	....	assistant to composer (as Annemarie Crivelli)
Audrey DeRoche	....	music coordinator (as Audrey deRoche)
Ross DeRoche	....	orchestra contractor (as Ross deRoche)
Ira Hearshen	....	orchestrator
Jimmy Hoyson	....	second score engineer
Robert Irving III	....	synthesizer programmer (as Robert Irving)
Andrew Kinney	....	orchestrator
Christopher Klatman	....	orchestrator (as Chris Klatman)
Dino A. Moriana	....	music editor
Don Nemitz	....	orchestrator
Bill Newlin	....	orchestrator
John Richards	....	score engineer
J. Eric Schmidt	....	orchestrator (as Eric Schmidt)
Nan Schwartz	....	orchestrator
Stephen James Taylor	....	orchestrator
Christopher Klatman	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Ron James	....	transportation coordinator
Tony Johnson	....	transportation captain
Jason Wayne Spencer	....	driver: van

Other crew
Mary Brehmer	....	Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop
Sophie Brodovitch	....	script coordinator
Brittan Brown	....	post-production accountant
Edward G. Christie	....	Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop (as Ed Christie)
Ric De Groot	....	assistant accountant (as Ric Degroot)
Ric De Groot	....	first assistant accountant
Andrea Detwiler	....	Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop
Brad Elliott	....	Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop (as Brad Elliot)
Sandy Fox	....	loop group voice
Kathleen Gati	....	loop group voice
Jerry Gelb	....	loop group voice
Alexander Glua	....	production assistant
Jane Gootnick	....	Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop
Catherine Gordon	....	assistant accountant
Michael Gough	....	loop group voice
Teresa Gough	....	assistant location manager
Paul Hartis	....	Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop
James Hibbard	....	choreographer
Ann Marie Holdgruen	....	Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop
Lauri Johnson	....	loop group voice
Lorne Kostyshin	....	craft service
Lana Krotenko	....	script supervisor: second unit
Lex Lang	....	loop group voice
Stephanie Leavitt	....	assistant to producers
Laura Livingstone	....	production coordinator
Danny Mann	....	loop group voice
Mona Marshall	....	loop group voice
Tom Martin	....	executive consultant
David M. McLoughlin	....	office assistant (as Dave McLoughlin)
Tim Miller	....	Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop
Kelly Moon	....	script supervisor
Robert Murdoch	....	location manager
Tom Newby	....	Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop
Joan Parkinson	....	Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop
Karen Pelrine	....	second assistant coordinator: second unit
Michael Roberts	....	production accountant
Lia Sargent	....	loop group voice
Adrienne Sol	....	assistant production coordinator
Rhonda Taylor	....	assistant to director
Mike Atwater	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Simon Bright	....	key production assistant (uncredited)
Raimey Casiro	....	key production assistant (uncredited)
Allison Chretien	....	set supervisor (uncredited)
Ian Doig	....	animal trainer (uncredited)
Grace MacLeod	....	cat trainer (uncredited)
Jason Wayne Spencer	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (presents) (as NBC)
• Jim Henson Company, The (presents)
• Jim Henson Productions

Distributors

• MGM International TV Distribution (2002-) (worldwide) (TV)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (2002) (USA) (TV)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Japan (2003) (Japan) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Chum Television (200?) (Canada) (TV)
• Disney Channel (2007) (Japan) (TV)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (VHS)
• Net5 (2004) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Jim Henson's Creature Shop (digital character and visual effects by)

Other Companies

• Complete Post  on-line editing
• DGC  acknowledgment (as DGC Directors Guild of Canada)
• Deroche Music  music preparation (as deRoche Music, Inc.)
• Directors Guild of America (DGA)  acknowledgment
• Ear Whacks!  loop group casting
• Endemol Entertainment  copyright owner: "Fear Factor" appears courtesy of (as Endemol USA)
• Freaky Beats and Eats  catering
• I.A.T.S.E. Local 669  acknowledgment (as I.A.T.S.E. 669 International Photographers Canada)
• I.A.T.S.E. Local 891  acknowledgment (as I.A.T.S.E. 891 Motion Picture Technicians)
• NBC Studios  copyright owner: "Last Call With Carson Daly" appears courtesy of
• Panavision Canada  camera equipment (as Panavision)
• Rainmaker Digital Pictures  dailies
• Technicolor Creative Services  post-production audio
• Touchstone Television  copyright owner: "Scrubs" appears courtesy of
• Union of B.C. Performers  acknowledgment (as UBCP)
• Westwind Media  post-production audio
• William F. White International  lighting equipment (as William F. White Ltd.)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild thematic elements.

Runtime:

100 min | Netherlands:85 min (DVD)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:G | Netherlands:6 | Germany:o.Al. | UK:U | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Lion's Gate Studios, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Trivia:

Snoop Dogg filmed a cameo appearance but his scene was deleted. In an interview with Kermit the Frog on "The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn" (1999), Kermit stated that because of Snoop's involvement in Doggystyle (2001) (V) it was considered inappropriate to have him appear in a Muppet movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Miss Bitterman is showing Pepe her Club Dot, her head changes position in front of the window between shots.

Quotes:

Daniel: I know. We'll alert the press. We'll start a media frenzy...
Kermit: It's no use. Bitterman owns the papers, she owns the television stations, and three-quarters of the internet.
Daniel: How can one person own so much?
Kermit: Corporate synergy. It's out of control.
[Kermit crosses his legs, exposing an NBC logo under his flipper]

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Soundtrack:

Everyone Matters

A collection of spoofs and homages but still very entertaining

On Christmas Eve Kermit sits alone on a park bench - a broken frog. His lost cries reach the angels but they can do nothing, until one of them, Daniel, takes the case to God herself and shows Her what brought Kermit to this state in the hope that She will send an angel to help him.

While the TVM status of this film might suggest that it is a lesser product that the Muppet movies that used to be cinema draws, let me assure you that this is not the case and that this film actually benefits from being on TV and keeping the humour of the show rather than having the pressure of becoming a big screen outing. The overall plot is `It's A Wonderful Life' however the back story watched by the angels and us holds spoofs of Moulin Rouge and Scrubs as well as references to A Beautiful Mind, The Grinch, Entrapment and lots more. The downside of this is that the plot is very episodic, but the plus side is that the film is funny and will easily engage adults as well as children.

Opening with the stage manager removing a snowman narrator by calling him a `Burl Ives wannabe' the film keeps this sense of humour that you've come to expect from the TV show. My favourite line from the whole film is Bunsen replying to Beaker with `thank you Beaker - I think you have a beautiful mind too'!

The cast of muppets are very good - with all the new characters from the television show having a bit of time, including Pepe, Risso the Rat, Johnny Fiama and his monkey etc. The voices are not done by the original cast for a variety of reasons but they are still very good - I had to look at the credits to spot that it wasn't Frank Oz doing Fozzie (and Yoda!). The human cast is amusing even if it doesn't all work. The cast of Scrubs are wasted and not funny apart from showing up but cameos from Arquette, Macy, Goldberg and Lillard are all amusing and Cusack seems to enjoy herself.

Overall this was a fun festive film, it has the usual message to it and it has moments that just don't work and the plot really is just a salvage job from other films, but it still works and is surprisingly funny with lots of film references. The downside of this I suppose is that the film won't stand the test of time as the topical references get forgotten over time, but that's why it was a TVM I guess, cause that won't matter.