Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol

Mr. Magoo, who is set to star in a Broadway musical based on A Christmas Carol, arrives 30 minutes late because of his nearsightedness. In the scramble before the performance, he accidentally injures the show's director, creating a tense and awkward start to the night. This comic mishap frames the meta-story of Magoo's on-stage misadventures.

In Victorian London, Scrooge is a miser who counts money while Cratchit is underpaid and lacks coal for the fire. He rudely refuses two men asking for charity, underscoring his cold heart. Later he reluctantly allows Cratchit to take the holiday off, setting the stage for the night's supernatural visitations.

Cratchit is allowed to take the holiday off, leaving Scrooge alone with his wealth and worries. The quieter arrangement highlights the contrast between Cratchit's warmth and Scrooge's stinginess. This decision helps drive the night's events as Scrooge faces his fate.

That night, the ghost of Jacob Marley appears, bound in heavy chains for his misdeeds in life. He warns Scrooge that he risks the same fate unless he heeds the coming spirits. The ominous visitation begins Scrooge's journey through three apparitions.

The Ghost of Christmas Present transports Scrooge to Cratchit's humble home to witness their blessings despite poverty. He observes the family counting their blessings and learns the harsher truth: Tiny Tim's frail health could fail if conditions don't improve. The ghost's revelations heighten Scrooge's guilt and resolve.

The Ghost of Christmas Past returns Scrooge to his boyhood, revealing a lonely schoolboy and the warmth he once knew. The spirit also presents Belle, the woman he courted who leaves him because greed has taken precedence. These memories reveal how greed severed his connections to happiness.

The Ghost of Christmas Yet-to-Come shows a future where an unloved man dies and his belongings are sold by others who profit from his death. Scrooge sees that Tiny Tim dies if nothing changes, and he glimpses his own grave. These visions catalyze his resolve to change.

Overwhelmed by the visions, Scrooge begs for tenderness connected with death and pleads for mercy. He experiences a turning point as the realization of his wasted life sinks in. The reprieve signals his chance to become a better man.

On Christmas morning, Scrooge awakens a changed man and greets the new day with renewed purpose. His heart feels lighter as he resolves to spread generosity. The transformation is immediate and sweeping.

Still in the morning, Scrooge donates to the two men from the previous day, starting his acts of benevolence. He privately sends Cratchit a Christmas turkey to ensure their celebration. The gesture foreshadows the tangible improvement in Cratchit's prospects.

Later that day, Scrooge visits Cratchit to offer a raise and to help nurse Tiny Tim back to health. He joins the family for Christmas and participates in their modest celebration. The Cratchit household responds with gratitude and renewed hope.

The musical concludes with applause and Magoo bringing the director on stage, but the stage props and lights collapse onto him. He quips that he's brought down the house and wishes everyone a Merry Christmas. The chaotic finale adds a humorous, exuberant capstone to the story.