Just perfect...

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

Muppet Christmas special was originally made for HBO but has gone on to have a life outside of pay cable. Based on a book this is the story of Emmet Otter who wants nothing more than to get his mom a gift for Christmas. He forms a jug band in order to win enough money…and well what happens is the story. Beautifully performed by the Jim Henson Muppeteers who show clearly what they are capable of. Its clear that they could do more than the Muppet Show and Sesame Street , with beautiful sets and character design that would serve them well on projects like the Dark Crystal. If the story seems familiar, it should it's a variation on the classic O Henry tale, The Gift of the Magi, but with addition twists and turns. This is a lovely holiday tale and one that really should be seen more than just at Christmas.

This is my all-time favorite Christmas-time movie. My parents taped it off HBO back sometime in the mid-80s, and we would watch it every year (and sing along to all the songs). I don't know why nobody out there seems to have heard of this movie, but it's definitely worth a look (unless you're one of those people who don't like sort-of sad stories, although it's not really a sad story when you think about it). When I was in college, I was organizing a Christmas-movie viewing and when I said I wanted to show Emmet Otter, not a single person knew what I was talking about! And it's such as shame, because the sweet story about how all Emmet & Ma really need is each other is a real classic.Definitely check it out, even if you have to buy it.P.S. There are many different versions out there - personally I like the Kermit-narrated version, with the shorter songs, but probably because that's the version my parent's taped off TV years ago (and the more recent VHS version I bought about 5 years ago cut out the great "...fall off the dock" line, which was a travesty, and the songs just seemed to drag a little too long, especially the final song).

I had seen evidence around my city that very, VERY few people have seen this classic. My friend, Maggie, asked me if I had ever heard of it and commented a lot of people at our college thought she was a little loony. Having recorded it off TV back in '85, it's a classic my family loved to watch every Christmas season. She was thrilled & astounded when I told her how my family obtained the Jim Henson piece! I highly recommend this Muppet special for any family viewing. Going from poverty & odd-jobs just to get by & ending up entertaining with music, the Otter family has their trials & triumphs much like any other excellent Holiday classic. I recall, I believe, HBO airing this over 20 years ago.

So what if you can see wires on all the characters, this classic will remain a must view every year for my family and myself. Emmitt Otter's story is one that teaches us all, young and old, that the best things in life are the things that we take for granted. I am glad that my family can say after watching this gem, that "We're closer now than ever before".