‘Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas’ Blu-Ray Review – A Poignant, Musical Muppet Holiday Special

When a Christmas Eve talent contest is announced, Emmet Otter joins a jug band and his Ma decides to sing a song. But Emmet will have to put a hole in Ma’s washtub to make a bass! And Ma will have to hawk Emmet’s tool chest to buy herself a costume! Should Emmet and Ma risk all they have to make each other’s dreams come true? Narrated by Kermit TM and based on the book by Russell and Lillian Hoban, EMMET OTTER’S JUG-BAND CHRISTMAS will put a song in your heart! Includes both the original 1.33 and new 1.78 presentations of the film.

For thoughts on Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas, please check out our discussions on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/S1McjAZp5Gs?si=2LY5pEuITr6WaD2h&t=2519]

Video Quality

Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas is presented on Blu-Ray with its original 1.33:1 pillarbox presentation along with a reformatted option in 1.78:1 intended to fill up the screen while compromising the picture. We always advocate for authenticity, but the original version is presented so audience members can make their own decisions. That being said, filling the screen may be the least of the problems for those who long for a crisp, full image. This film was shot using standard definition video, and this HD presentation is an upgrade intended to present the source as accurately as possible with enhanced definition. Anyone who has seen any 1080i programming will be familiar with the deficits that occur when trying to present in high definition. Content shot on video has a ceiling for how much detail you are going to be able to squeeze out, and there are plenty of minor digital errors that you cannot avoid. 

While there may be a certain expectation for how something should look in HD, having this special presented on Blu-Ray does allow it to exist in its most satisfying state. This is a modest transfer that eliminates most of the unintended deficits while maintaining the original look. The track shows off a wisp of detail in the texture of the puppets and the world created in the swamp. The real benefit of this release comes from the vibrant color saturation that looks quite nuanced and deep. There do not appear to be any issues with compression artifacts, but some of the shadowy segments and fast panning moments reveal some macroblocking and pixelation. This presentation is not a showstopper by any means, but it succeeds in honoring the source. This material is incapable of looking super crisp and pristine, but the upgrade is welcome nonetheless. 

Audio Quality

The new Blu-Ray is presented with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track which holds stronger than the video side of the equation yet is still not a home run. There are a couple of sound issues due to the source material, most notably some weaknesses in the songs such as shrill vocals and some murky instrumentation. Exchanges of dialogue come through well in relation to the competing elements, although things can sound less robust on occasion. The material holds up with less distortion when there are fewer facets to juggle. The surround sound channels do not offer much in the way of sonic stretch, and the low end rarely provides any texture. This Blu-Ray sounds passable but never impresses. Optional English SDH and French subtitles are provided for those who desire them.

Special Features

• Memories of the Jug-Band: A new 11-minute retrospective on the film featuring interviews with members of the Jim Henson Company, some of the puppeteers, and even famous fans like Amy Poehler. There are some great insights into the translation from page to screen, the themes of the story, the music, the production details, and more. 

• Behind The Scenes In Frogtown Hollow: An hour-long archival documentary that covers some of the same topics as the previous piece but in more detail with insights from an even greater array of subjects discussing the place of this special within the career of Jim Henson. 

• Deleted/Alternate Scenes: An eight-minute look at some material that was not used in the final version of the special. 

• Lost Song “Born In A Trunk”: A two-minute snippet of a song is presented by songwriter Paul Williams. 

• Outtakes: An eight-minute collection of unused takes is provided here. 

Final Thoughts

Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas takes a familiar tale and turns it into a poignant muppet story that delivers heart and laughter. This is not a feature-length film, but the way in which it instills in you the true meaning of the season is worth every bit as much as your typical film. The fact that this was captured on standard definition video instead of film is one of the great tragedies, but the story remains engaging no matter what. The songs cooked up here are very pleasant and lend even more incentive to keep this in your Christmas rotation. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray that sports a passable A/V presentation given the source and a nice assortment of special features. Fans of the Jim Henson Company will appreciate this release. Recommended 

Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.