It's hard to reconcile why this unholy alliance of Lady Gaga and the Muppets works. I stumbled across it when it originally aired and found myself incredulously watching it over and over, first on Netflix and now, on YouTube. I thought maybe it was like a car wreck it was hard to look away from. But it's more than that.
The previous reviewer is right, this holiday spectacular would sell if it were available streaming on on Blu Ray. It has become more cultishly compelling with time. Maybe because it's unintentionally hysterical to see the Muppets dancing and singing to racy Gaga songs like "Venus". Maybe it's because Kristen Bell's performance in "Frozen" was released just the day before, and she was less famous then. And the now-retired Elton John's duet with Lady Gaga is a particular highlight that has aged well.
Pepe the creepy prawn and arguably the name of the song "Gypsy" have aged less well, despite Lady Gaga's catchy duet with Kermit. Throughout, Miss Gaga's loneliness is palpable, and makes turning the tables in "Baby, It's Cold Outside" with Joseph Gordon-Levitt almost poignant. And the "Fashion" duet with RuPaul would still be controversial in some parts of the US today.
For all these reasons, this delightfully mixed-up, commercial-free hour of pure entertainment has become a holiday staple at our house. It may not be everyone's taste, but certainly deserves a fresh -- or first -- look.
The previous reviewer is right, this holiday spectacular would sell if it were available streaming on on Blu Ray. It has become more cultishly compelling with time. Maybe because it's unintentionally hysterical to see the Muppets dancing and singing to racy Gaga songs like "Venus". Maybe it's because Kristen Bell's performance in "Frozen" was released just the day before, and she was less famous then. And the now-retired Elton John's duet with Lady Gaga is a particular highlight that has aged well.
Pepe the creepy prawn and arguably the name of the song "Gypsy" have aged less well, despite Lady Gaga's catchy duet with Kermit. Throughout, Miss Gaga's loneliness is palpable, and makes turning the tables in "Baby, It's Cold Outside" with Joseph Gordon-Levitt almost poignant. And the "Fashion" duet with RuPaul would still be controversial in some parts of the US today.
For all these reasons, this delightfully mixed-up, commercial-free hour of pure entertainment has become a holiday staple at our house. It may not be everyone's taste, but certainly deserves a fresh -- or first -- look.
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