"Miser Brothers Christmas"

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 10:28pm

Gotta say, despite it looking totally wrong, and not having the late great Dick Shawn's voice, it was better than I expected it to be.

I liked: The score, innocuous but tuneful; the script, even though it spent too long setting up the conflict and too little time resolving it; hearing the magnificent George S. Irving as Heat Miser again

I didn't like: The North Wind character's vocal performance, the puppet's design.

Anybody else have any thoughts?

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 12/15/08 at 11:18am

I watched it last night. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed it...but disagree with you on pretty much everything else.

I thought the score (well, the songs) were dreadful. I just kept thinking to myself, "Oh please, PLEASE, don't sing." Thankfully, there weren't a lot of them. I enjoyed the look of the North Wind, and the characters in general. The creators clearly weren't looking to replicate the design of the Rankin/Bass specials, but they managed to create their own homage-filled look that fit in nicely with the existing Miser Brothers design.

I was completely shocked that this whole thing was even made, and couldn't believe I hadn't heard about it earlier. I mean, Mickey Rooney and George S. Irving reprising their roles? I couldn't believe it.

Anyway, I do agree about the script though -- but it wasn't NEARLY as insipid as I thought it might be (or as that sad, sad Rudolph & the Island of Misfit Toys thing).

[Calvin]

Posted: 12/15/08 at 11:22am

I didn't see it, but it couldn't have been as offensive to my childhood memories as the live-action remake with John Goodman, Martin Short and Harvey Fierstein that they aired last year.

Posted: 12/15/08 at 11:43am

Is it going to be a new annual event- pick at the bones of a beloved holiday special again, in a new lame way?

[mauriposa]

Posted: 12/15/08 at 1:24pm

Calvin, I completely agree with you. That was just painful. It's actually the reason I stayed away from "Miser Brothers Christmas." One disastrous movie attached to one of my favorite Christmas memories was quite enough for me.

[Jon]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 11:51am

Funny - I thought the title of this thread had a typo, and that you were talking about the MIZNER Brothers Christmas - some kind of holiday spin-off of Sondheim's ROADSHOW (a.k.a. "Bounce", "Gold", "Wise Guys").

[tazber]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 11:55am

Next year they're doing Rudolph's Tour of the Magical Meat Factory.

He finally finds out what became of his parents after that special Christmas.

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 7:45pm

Hey Joe: You've used that "picking the bones of a beloved Christmas memory" line in a couple of threads now. I'm certain your little chest swells with pride every time to remind yourself how clever you were in thinking it up, but give it a rest.