Anderson you're a pompous fool.
Every boomer alive knows this is the best animated Christmas classic ever made. Of course the repeats of "razzleberry" make us cringe, but it sticks in our brains like all genius product marketing jingles. If you don't see the joy here, you grew up too fast.
So sad for you.
Time to go back to school, relive your childhood like Magoo did,
and btw, learn to draw.

Optimal, you're missing my point. It's like doing the Grinch with Smurfs instead of the Whos, but never including the word 'Smurf'! Why not use what made the character popular in the first place?!

Mr. Anderson,
I can not make you like something you don't like. Also, I can explain it to you, but I can not make you understand it.
You seem to have two major complaints: 1) it is not funny, and 2)the words "razzleberry", "wooflejelly" and "pencible" grate on your nerves.
"Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" is a charming musical version of the original. "A Christmas Carol" does not work as a comedy on any level. Scrooge is Scrooge. However, Magoo as an irascible, nearsighted, old Scrooge does work, especially while counting coins and singing the praises of money.
The music is the product of Jules Styne and Bob Merrill, a talented Broadway musical team. You may dislike "razzleberry" and "pencible", but the music always fits in with the flow of the story. I love hearing Bob Cratchett sing about their Christmas that will be "more glorious than grand". I look forward to it every year. What a wonderful sentiment! The song "Christmas was Warm" is sentimental without being maudlin. It makes me want to propose to Belle myself. The "razzleberry" is the children expressing their hopes and desires for Christmas. Would you have preferred that they had asked for a "Mighty Morphin Power Ranger" (another nonsense phrase)? "A Hand in each Hand" is a bit maudlin, but appropriate, because Ebenezer was feeling mighty sorry for himself. As an aside, I feel that Jim Backus can not carry a tune, but I forgave him long ago.
By the way, I saw a razzleberry cobbler in the grocery store. It was a combination of raspberry and blackberry and was delicious.
The visual characterizations of the three ghosts are great. The movie is true to the original story. The device of setting it as a play doesn't detract. It was used to bracket the show around the commercial breaks.
To sum up, it is apparent you had certain expectations of the show when you saw that Magoo was involved. You failed to remember what "A Christmas Carol" is about. Since the show did not meet your preconceived notions, you were unable to appreciate its charm and joy. No explanation will suffice for you and no amount of "Bah, humbug" from you will tarnish my memories and enjoyment of this wonderful musical "that I will cherish all my days."

I think a lot of the problem here is this is an older special that people remember fondly from years earlier. There's history here and people love their nostalgia. I however don't have the benefit of having seen this, or for that matter having even known about this, before a few weeks ago. And looking at this with fresh eyes sans sentiment I stand by my review. I guess I'll never understand the attraction here, which is fine because I don't plan on watching it again.

Don't pay attention to this review. Bah humbug.

This is a great cartoon/holiday special. There is an obvious dislike of it on the point of the reviewer to the point that he disparages any positive comments or critiques anyone who disagrees with him as shown in his most recent comment --

"I think a lot of the problem here is this is an older special that people remember fondly from years earlier. There's history here and people love their nostalgia...I guess I'll never understand the attraction here, which is fine because I don't plan on watching it again."

Bias much? Don't watch it, but don't critique those who like this just based on your own perceptions about nostalgia, "an older special" and the memory of the viewer. It's just a veiled attempt to rank on those of us who like it due to our age. Say what?

I've watched this numerous times, even recently and am touched by it. When I hear "I'm All Alone in the World" it brings me to tears. The music does a great job of furthering the plot and opening up how Scrooge became such a miser.

And as your rank on Magoo -- the cartoons that aired during this time period -- which were interpretation of other classics won the prestigious Peabody award.

If you don't like it that's fine; don't like it. But don't continue to criticize anyone who disagrees with you based on your bias. Be willing to have an open mind. And BTW as a librarian and a former video clerk I have recommended this for years and have never gotten a complaint. Maybe it's just you...

See that's the great thing about a blog reviews vs. your standard newspaper/tv/whatever review - dialogue!

After the Allistar Sim live action version, this rendition is probably the best filmed adaptation of Dicken's beloved tale. Everything works here. Jim Backus provides heart and warmth when needed, and is the crabbiest S.O.B. you could ever meet when the role calls for it. I'm not a big musical fan, but nearly every song works here.

As for a couple of complaints in previous posts -- Do we fault Dr Seuss for making up nonsensical words? Do we consider Star Wars or Lord of the Rings to be low quality because every word uttered cannot be found in an approved Websters' dictionary? Of course not. These are classics because of the story, settings, actors, and quality work. Same can be said for Magoo's carol.

As for the complaint that Magoo does not use his nearsightedness in every scene, I think that the reviewer has missed the point. Magoo's nearsightedness IS used in the cartoon -- it is just not OVERUSED. The sections before and after the play are pure Magoo, but working this into the classic story is a bit tricky. However the writers have done an excellent job here. Magoo as Scrooge looks at a portrait of his ancestor and believes he is looking into a mirror. After donning a hat, he approaches a bust of himself and again thinks he is looking in a mirror. When he meets the butcher he shakes the wing of the turkey and punches the poulter in the stomach thinking that he in fact is the turkey. Even Scrooge's encounters with the door knocker and Marley's ghost give classic glimpses of the Magoo character. However we should not expect the nearsightedness to be the only charactistic of Magoo, anymore than we should discredit Gerald Mc Boing Boing for actually speaking and not making noises only. No, in order to tell the story of A Christmas Carol, you have to be as faithful as you can to the original story first, and then let the inherited characters' personalities shine from there.

Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol is a 5 star holiday treat. I cannot recommend it any more strongly. If you have never watched, you are missing a classic.

Ugh-never send a jaded adult to review a Christmas cartoon, much less one that doesn't adhere to the reviewer's preconceived notions about what it should be. I'm sure it would have been "hilarious" to have a near-sighted Scrooge that kept knocking into things.
Yeah, that wouldn't get old after an hour...

And lest you think it's just for aging boomers reliving their childhood, my friend's three-year-old just saw this for the first time and LOVED it. And the other Magoo adaptations are great-impossible to find, but Paramount did put them out on VHS years ago....

Oh, and Mark-"RAZZLEBERRY DRESSING"! Go ahead and scream.

PS-on your website the type you overlay on your cartoons to prevent people from stealing them (I guess) makes them impossible to read....FYI

Yeesh! OK people, I give! Forgive me oh great Magoo!!!

Mark, The 88 reviews on Amazon of the Magoo's Christmas DVD display the wonderful feelings that razzleberry dressing songs have brought to people for decades. You seem to see this outside of the technological context of 1962 TV animation. In any case, anything that stays in my head for more than 40 years must be memorable. I just went to Amazon and bought the new 60 minute SONY Magoo's Christmas DVD. I realize of course that it's "different strokes for different folks." You are entitled to your opinion. Just be aware that it seems to diverge from that of most people.

Charles - thanks for at least being civil, which is more than I can say for some posts. I think you're right - I hadn't even heard of this until this year and I'm coming at it with a very different viewpoint than longtime fans. It's just not my cup of tea, and maybe wanting to beat Tiny Tim with his cane was a little over the top.

I just happened to find this site while I was searching for a place to buy the DVD version of this classic (at least to me) holiday treat. I wore out my VHS copy last year! Along with others, I must disagree with Mr. Anderson's review, although not in quite as strongly. I guess you have to be of a certain age to understand and enjoy this film. My young neices and nephews don't seem to appreciate it nearly as much as I do, which is perhaps because of the rather primitive animation which seems ancient to a "Toy Story" generation. When I first watched this, cartoons were still in their infancy quality-wise, so I guess it doesn't bother me as much. I was also struggling with that awkward stage in life where my family had just moved to a new city and I had to try to make new friends despite a not-too-advanced set of social skills. Every time I hear "I'm All Alone In The World", I am transported back to when I was the "new kid", and am flooded with memories - some painful, some wonderful. Anyway, I guess I would recommend that you rent before buying, since it is obviously not some people's cup of tea!

Wow! Just got a chance to read your comment to my response. I admire your sparkling comeback -- what a gem. The proficiency of your verbal skills is only exceeded by your extraordinary drawing skills. Simply brilliant!

Yeesh! You still complaining about this?!

Mr. MGoo's Christmas Carol is possibly my favorite Christmas special. The music is wonderful. It is short and comedic but takes the story seriously. No, it is not a Duck Soup comedy but what is? And why would one want to ruin the depth that was in the original short story?

I do love the Alistair Simms' 1951 version but I love this in a differing manner. I am sorry that someone who has the same last name as myself does not like this work of art but do not assume his personal tastes are yours. This is a wonderful interpretation of The Christmas Carol.

I bought the DVD last year and cannot wait to watch it again this year. I would also believe that this would make a wonderful introduction to the story for young children. Yet I am an adult of almost 56 and I still love it. I cannot wait to have grandchildren and introduce them to it.

Chris Anderson

My wife and I just watched it again. It is true that the art work is simple but so it Charlie Christmas. But beyond that it is wonderful. The music was written by the team that wrote "Funny Girl." I particularly like the humorous ones such as the Razzleberry Dressing one, the one that the undertaker , the maid etc sing. But the song that is first sung by the young Ebineezer is very touching. The weakest song is the one that Belle sings. It is too smaltzy. But I still love this very much. I also like that it appears that Gerald McBoingBoing made his first serious appearance in the part as Tiny Tim. That is nastalgia but I loved Gerald!

Chris Anderson

Sugh...

Oops, that was supposed to be "sigh..."

I guess my only comment would be: why review this program in the first place? It's been around since the early 1960's, has had hundreds of TV airings, sold thousands upon thousands of DVD's (it's actually in it's THIRD pressing!). The show is beloved by millions and has a cast of legendary voices not to mention boasting a score by TWO broadway legends. But in 2004, a cartoonist decides to write a smarmy review hurling brickbats at a classic. The show has proven itself and you should find somthing better to do with your time.

So why read a review of this?

Stick with drawing... you do that MUCH better than reviewing and responding.

So I didn't like it, what's with you people?!

Until I read your slam I had no idea Tiny Tim was Gerald McBoing-Boing. I was far too young for Gerald. If ever I noticed a resemblance in later years I just figured it was UPA stylization.

I'm with Mark Anderson on this. I've seen the program a few times, both as an adult and a child, and it didn't excite me much. According to my wife, they made many of these programs, with Magoo acting on stage, playing various famous characters. I haven't seen them, so I don't know if Magoo played the parts with a Magooish slant. I hope he did. As Anderson says, what's the point of using a very specific cartoon character, if you plan to toss the qualities that defined the character? Would we be applauding the Charlie Brown Christmas special if Charlie Brown wasn't depressed, if Lucy wasn't in it for the money and gifts?

For a christmas carol with songs, I prefer the 1970's Scrooge with Albert Finney.

How dare you!...HOW DARE YOUUU!!! How dare you sit there and criticize Mr Magoos Xmas Carol!!! Its an all time Grrreaat!

I especially liked the gypsies.

Gotta look at this in context...Mr Magoo was known to most kids of that era only through the cheap made-for-TV cartoons. But using that hook to get kids to sit through a fairly straight version of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" is a pretty good trick. I was 5 when this first aired in 1962, and framing it as a PLAY muted some of the scary stuff, and also cleared up in my mind what ACTING was. Now at age 50, I sent a DVD to my 6 year old granddaughter and heard back that she responded similarly, even though she had never seen a Magoo cartoon.