Disney announces two Christmas movies on Blu-ray
Nothing says Christmas like talking puppets and talking dogs, and you can get "The Muppet Christmas Carol" 20th Anniversary Edition on Blu-ray on November 6 and "Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups" on Blu-ray, DVD and HD Digital on November 20.
There have been many versions of the Charles Dickens classic, but I always thought "The Muppet Christmas Carol" was one of the most fun adaptations. With Michael Caine as the human of note, the Muppets run roughshod over Dickens' Christmas story but also manage to give it new life.
Meanwhile, Disney apparently decided they were in a rut with the "Buddies" movies and switched breeds for the new installment. In "Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups" the studio opted to go with Great Pyrenees puppies.
Here are the details:
On November 6, 2012, the Charles Dickens-inspired classic holiday story “The Muppet Christmas Carol” will ring in its 20th anniversary with the Blu-ray debut of this family favorite. And now, a word from Gonzo: Greetings, holiday movie fans and lovers of culture, I am Gonzo … or perhaps better known to fans of this classic motion picture as literary legend Charles Dickens. Are you ready to laugh, cry, sing, frolic, cavort and enjoy yourself beyond belief!? Well, you’re in luck, because this 20th Anniversary Edition of Disney’s “The Muppet Christmas Carol” is guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit that will stay with you forever—or at least until your Aunt Edna starts complaining that nobody is eating the fruitcake she brought … again!
Available for the first time ever on Blu-ray with high definition sound and picture, so you can enjoy even more of my blue-ness, not to mention the incredible spectacle of Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit, Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit, Academy Award winner Michael Caine (Best Supporting Actor, 1999, “The Cider House Rules”) as Scrooge, wonderful songs by Oscar winner Paul Williams (Best Original Song, 1976, “Evergreen” from “A Star Is Born”) and, of course, my pal Rizzo the Rat as … well, Rizzo the Rat.
This is a heartwarming and hilarious holiday classic, told as never before by yours truly! Yule love it!
Talent/Cast: Michael Caine (“Cars 2”)
The Muppets Steve Whitmire (“The Muppets”); Frank Oz (“Monsters, Inc.”); Dave Goelz
Performers: (“Muppets from Space”); Jerry Nelson (“Muppet Treasure Island”)
Director: Brian Henson (“Farscape”)
Executive Producer: Jerry Juhl (“Fraggle Rock”)
Writer: Jerry Juhl (“The Great Muppet Caper”)
Suggested Retail Price & 2-Disc Combo Pack (Blu-ray and Digital Copy) = $26.50 U.S. and Canada
1-Disc DVD = $19.99 U.S. and $24.99 Canada
Burbank, Calif., July 13, 2012 — From the creators of the #1 live-action, direct-to-video Disney Buddies franchise, comes “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups,” an all-new heartwarming and hilarious adventure starring a brand new litter of the most adorable talking Great Pyrenees pups! Premiering on Disney Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital on November 20, 2012, “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups” is the perfect film for the entire family to enjoy this coming Holiday Season!
The film will be available for purchase at retail stores nationwide as a 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) for the suggested retail price of $39.99 U.S., a 1-Disc DVD for the suggested retail price of $29.99 U.S., and via High Definition Digital for the suggested retail price of $39.99 U.S..
About the Film:
The North Pole has a new litter of playful pups! However, when the frisky foursome—Hope, Jingle, Charity and Noble—practically destroy Santa’s Workshop with their mischievous gamboling, they realize the best way to prove that they’re responsible enough to become Santa’s Helpers is to show how well they can spread the Christmas spirit all by themselves. With help from a magic crystal, they start granting everyone’s wishes. But their good intentions backfire when one unhappy boy asks that Christmas go away forever! With his wish impetuously fulfilled, and the joyous spirit quickly disappearing from the planet, Mrs. Claus and the pups have to find a way to reverse the spell—or risk losing Christmas forever!
About The Pups:
This cute litter consists of three female pups and one male pup. HOPE is the daring tomboy who wears a backwards red cap and rarely looks before she leaps. JINGLE is the diva with a bell on her collar who loves to sing, but can’t carry a tune. CHARITY is the girliest and most self-centered of the pups, with a mistletoe barrette, who has yet to learn the meaning of her name. And NOBLE is the mischievous only brother and self-appointed leader who is distinguished by a cheeky black spot around his eye.
About the Cast & Filmmakers:
“Santa Pups” stars Cheryl Ladd ("Charlie’s Angels"), Danny Woodburn ("Mirror, Mirror;" "The Search for Santa Paws"), Pat Finn ("Spooky Buddies"), Kaitlyn Maher ("Treasure Buddies," "The Search for Santa Paws"), Josh Feldman ("The Closer"), George Newbern ("The Father of the Bride"), Obba Babatunde (Broadway version of "Dream Girls") as human characters.
The pups are voiced by Marlowe Peyton ("Applebaum") as Jingle, Tatiana Gudegast ("Spooky Buddies") as Hope, Aidan Gemme ("Treasure Buddies") as Noble, and G. Hannelius ("Treasure Buddies," "The Search for Santa Paws") as Charity. And additional canines are voiced by Tom Everett Scott ("Air Bud") as the voice of Santa Paws, Bonnie Somerville ("The Ugly Truth") as Mrs. Paws, Richard Kind ("Santa Buddies") as Eddy, the head elf dog, Trevor Wright ("Air Buddies") as Baxter the scruffy mutt and Josh Flitter ("Santa Buddies," "The Search for Santa Paws") as Brutis, an unlikely friend for the Pups.
The film is directed by Robert Vince, written and produced by Robert Vince and Anna McRoberts, original music is by Brahm Wenger ("The Search for Santa Paws," "Treasure Buddies"), Animal Coordinator is Mark Forbes ("We Bought a Zoo," "Treasure Buddies") and the choreographer is Mark Swanhart (Cirque du Soleil, "Celine Dion in Las Vegas").
About The Popular Disney Buddies Franchise:
Since the 1997 big-screen debut of the sports-minded Golden Retriever star “Buddy,” audiences loved the high-stakes antics in the “AIR BUD” movie series with its fantastic sports-themed adventures including basketball, football, soccer, volleyball and even America’s national pastime – baseball!
A quintet of adorable talking puppies followed the “Bud” movies in 2006, with the highly-anticipated launch of the BUDDIES series with “AIR BUDDIES” – and so the puppy craze began! “SNOW BUDDIES” released in 2008, “Space Buddies” in 2009, “Santa Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws” in 2009, “The Search for Santa Paws” in 2010, “Spooky Buddies” in 2011 and “Treasure Buddies” in 2012. For the past four years in a row, these films have remained as the #1 best-selling, live-action direct-to-video movies in the family category.
