"A Muppet Family Christmas" is just that sort of old-fashioned TV special that plays on all of the best aspects of Christmas. Simply out, it's a gathering of family, near and extended, in one place for the occasion. It's just that in this case it's the colliding worlds of the Muppets, Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock. The sight of these characters interacting is something in its own right, but the legal clearances required make it all the more remarkable. The stars really aligned for this.All of the songs in this special are standards - those well-worn tunes that FM radio play right into the ground on an annual basis. But here, they're performed with a refreshing heart and a new sheen. Big Bird and Swedish Chef share (honest to god), the greatest duet. And by the time this draws to a close with an appearance from the late Jim Henson, the pitch perfect sentiment is enough to leave you in tears. Or at the very least, shot up with warmth and fuzziness. I smiled so widely it hurt.I love this special.10/10

OK, it's very likely you're sitting down already. Which is a good thing. This TV Special has got the Muppets. With the Sesame Street Gang. And the Fraggles. Oh, and the Muppet Babies. Plus a cameo from Jim Henson.I need to write more? Oh… If I must.Fozzy and the guys descend on his mothers house for Christmas. This comes as a surprise to Ma, who has rented out the house to visiting Doc and Sprocket and is herself heading off for a Christmas spent surfing. Still, never mind.This special feels more like a prolonged episode of the Muppet Show than any other Muppet Christmas movie. Or, rather, it feels more like scenes from the collected Muppet Studio family, with a slightly odd interlude where Kermit and Robin discover the Fraggles who proceeded to gift them with a song and a yellow stone. It made sense at the time… Actually, no it didn't. But it was a pretty catchy tune.One of the more conspicuous things here is just how similar the different characters from the different franchisees sound. Now if you're me you find this cute and endearing, and frankly it's something you get used to watching the Muppets. Still, it is noticeable… Highlights are the annual 'Carol Sing', with plenty of stand out bits, especially Robin and Kermit singing 'It's in Every One of Us', a song from a previous Christmas album featuring John Denver and which is a personal favourite of mine. Also, I assume, of Jim Henson as it was sung during his memorial service only three years after this special was shot. Another lovely moment comes when Bert and Ernie, who have confused Doc by commenting on the first letter he uses during each reply with line's like "Yes? Yes is a Y letter". The pair obviously understand his confusion and explain why first letters hold so much attraction to them. "This is small talk where we're from." It's hard to describe why this holiday special is one of the few I've watched to actually deserve that moniker. The Muppets manage to pull off sentiment without ever being to sentimental. They are warm and happy and loving without ever feeling the need to wink at the audience due to embarrassment. When they sing about family it doesn't feel like schmaltz, because you feel that they are a family and, more than that, they want you to be part of that family.This special, with it's oddness, kooky moments and shear stupidity (Seriously, Two Headed Monster as Father Christmas!? As Sam asked 'Is nothing sacred?') is one that everyone in your family will be able to enjoy. I recommend it heartily.

Absolutely essential Christmas offering. I watched this for the first time in at least 14 years, and yet I recalled every scene. It was such a charming experience to sit through this again. Fozzie and the Muppets head to his grandmother's house for Christmas. Before you know it, the Sesame Street gang and the Fraggles show up. What might have been an overcrowded crossover works due to the hilarious sketches. The scenes between the Turkey and the Swedish Chef are perfect examples of the Muppets' weird and rowdy wit. Common themes such as friendship and family are covered, but The Muppets always have a way of making these sweet, rather than sickly.

Jerome "Doc" Christian (Gerry Parkes) rents a home from Fozzy's mom, only to find that the house has been taken over by the Muppets! Interestingly, Gerry Parkes also plays "Doc" in both "Boondock Saints" movies... coincidence? But, that is just an aside.This film is pretty much for anyone who grew up with the Muppets, which should be almost everyone. The regular Muppets are here, the Fraggles show up (briefly), the Sesame Street clan is here, and even the Muppet Babies are around for a moment. Few characters are left out. One missing is Telly, I guess, but that could be worse. And this is before the Elmo craze, so although Elmo appears, it is only in the background and it was tolerable.The better Mupper Christmas film, by far, is "Muppet Christmas Carol", but if you love them so much you need two movies, this would be Mupper film number two. (Jim Henson's Otter Jug Band Christmas is not even worth picking up.)