User reviews

An oddly refreshing, offbeat take on the Christmas holiday special. After watching the two dozen or so traditional, sentimental (or even outright sappy and maudlin) classics that glorify the holiday and attempt to infuse even the most secular elements of Christmas with deep meanings, this animated parody is a bit of a refreshing blast of satire for the adults.

While hardly a "classic," it's full of gags, inside jokes, and pop culture references that serve up a few guffaws. All in all, a fun little diversion. Never as vulgar as Family Guy, but probably not worth showing to the kids.

'How Murray Saved Christmas' is a lighthearted holiday cartoon aimed at adults, period. (And on Christmas Day itself? Oy! Such a concept!) Fast paced and filled with so many inside literary, historic and pop culture jokes, puns and sight gags that only adults will get. Yes, this is not like your standard "Children, Santa Claus loves you and Christmas because . . . " cartoon that will sit well with those who grew up only on Frosty, Rudolph and Snoopy. But those who live west of the Hudson and south of Yonkers, or are familiar with all of the multicultural references in "How Murray Saved Christmas" will find this cartoon to be a hoot. And, yes, it is forty-two minutes of silly rhymes, plus over-the-top Broadway-style show tunes, to boot.

I've never posted a review here and I admit I am not a fan of the Simpsons, and as I understand, this was written "a-la-the Simpsons..."

It is offensive, vulgar, prejudicial, and just pure garbage! But we watched it in the same way you can't look away from a train wreck. I wouldn't let my child or grandchild near this mess, and I believe I will have nightmares myself tonight!

I am not sure in which genre to classify this drivel, offensive show, but it certainly does not qualify as entertainment. Too many sexual references, racial profiling remarks, and bathroom humor bits. Made me want to puke.

Delete this, if you recorded it, and don't bother to recorded it, if you didn't!

Merry Christmas!

We just rented this show today and found it delightful from beginning to end! It is so clever, funny, creative, and thoroughly entertaining! All the songs are catchy and totally hum-able! The dialogue and rhymes require quick wit and superb timing! The entire voice cast is amazing and great! We usually stick with our fave Christmas shows (like "Rudolph" and "Charlie Brown" and "Grinch") but this Christmas special is worth watching again and again! Jerry Stiller is excellent as Murray - and the entire voice casting is perfect! Highly recommend this fresh, creative, funny show to any adult with a good sense of humor and an open mind for new Christmas shows!

Just watched this travesty of a Christmas Special.

A pointless but clever string of rhyming, singing, and punning.

The constant striving to be clever with the rhyming left me crying(and not with laughter).

The writers were, I guess, trying to make a sort of a Dr. Seuss story, but alas they have neither the wit nor the wisdom to pull this story off. The town name "Stinky Cigars" lets the viewer know from the start that this is going to be a bad trip. This is the town where all the mythical and real characters of all the holidays live and none of them are to a one a character that you would like to run into, even on their holidays. Worst of all Santa is portrayed as a mean, greedy and ignorant boss. The elves, that make the toys, are worked day and night, no breaks and no pay, that they gleefully sing about.

One of the worst things about this travesty was that during the half hour break a commercial ran to tell one and all that in ten days you can own your own copy of this trash and "Make How Murray Saved Christmas a holiday tradition" The show was not even finished being shown and they already expect you to go out and buy a copy.

As far as I can remember there was only one well executed pun in this travesty, when Santa was looking to get some toys, after waking up from his concussion, one of the closed stores is called "Salvador's Dollies" complete with a melting clock on the marque and lamp post.

Unless you revel in the vile, skip this.

BEWARE OF FALSE REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW TO THEIR NAME. NOW WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE MOVIE. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THE FILM . NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 200 HOLIDAY FILMS. I HAVE NO AGENDA.

A quaint little town called Stinky Cigars – a secret location hidden only by a name that was chosen to repel tourists – is populated by iconic holiday characters from every culture around the world. It is home to Santa Claus and his workshop full of hard-working elves, and to other holiday figures from the best-known (Cupid, the Easter Bunny, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln) to the most minor and obscure (Arbor Day Aardvark, Labor Day Amos).

The story, which is narrated in verse and "cheekily punctuated" by original songs,[1] centers on Edison Elf (Sean Hayes), an optimistic inventor with an unexpectedly hazardous new toy, and Murray Weiner (Jerry Stiller), the cranky owner of the town's diner. Murray's talent for delivering orders makes the unwilling curmudgeon the only person in town who can fill in for an injured Santa (Kevin Michael Richardson) on Christmas Eve.

Fun special. There is plenty of holiday material that this cleverly spoofs. What is nice is that the makers of this film do not "Dumb it Down" when I am sure they were tempted.

I was stunned that this aired at 7:30 on Christmas Eve. (!?!?!?!)

I was too disgusted to watch the whole thing, so this won't be a complete review---but I saw enough to know that children shouldn't be exposed to this crude piece of trash.

I don't know how I missed this in 2014! The cast is great and the songs are clever. Don't waste you time reading the reviews of the perpetually easily offended unless you want to make fun of them. There is nothing inappropriate for children as some claim and adults will enjoy the puns and clever rhyming dialog. Be sure to pay attention to the names of the stores and signs in the background for added chuckles.

Stinky Cigars is a town north of the North Pole where all the mythical beings and historical figures live. Edison Elf gives Santa a Jack in a Box. It goes horribly wrong and everyone has to pitch in to save Christmas. Only grumpy deli diner owner Murray Weiner refuses to join. It wasn't always that way. Murray had once been quite friendly especially with his girlfriend Libby, the Statue of Liberty.

This is an irreverent take on the holidays done in rhythms. It's oddly appealing for awhile. It is a bit too long as an one hour special. It would probably work better at about half as long. It's a Christmas special with a Jewish flavor.

My husband & I saw this on a listing of Christmas shows & thought we'd give it a shot. It was a good time with lots of laughs! I despise shows like Family Guy & while the animation may have looked "Family Guy-ish", it was not. It most definitely wasn't vulgar like some reviews suggest. I wouldn't let a little kiddo watch it, but 10+ should be just fine.

Recently came across the DVD of this special at a Big Lots store, and being into Christmas and obscure films, so I bought it. I watched this thinking it was going to be another run of the mill bland Christmas special, but it wasn't, it was great. It rhymed throughout, much like a Dr. Seuss book, and had some hilarious rhymes.

This special was shown on NBC originally, and it is family friendly. No profanity is used, but there is slapstick violence. The voice cast is great, including Jerry Stiller as Murray and Jason Alexander as the doctor; both of which had starred on Seinfeld. Dennis Haysbert (or the State Farm guy) narrates the tale.

Loved this Christmas special!!! All of the actor voices are AMAZING

Make sure you watch this, especially if you're easily offended 😁👍. Our family enjoys this yearly along with Christmas Vacation, Arthur Christmas and A Christmas Story.

Too political for me - when elves sing about healthcare I am out. Come on suspend reality will ya