THE MUPPET MOVIE (1979)

Country: U.S.A.

Genre(s): Comedy / Musical

Director: James Frawley

Cast: Jim Henson / Frank Oz / Dave Goelz

Plot

Kermit the Frog and his merry band of misfits (Miss Piggy, Fozzy Bear, Gonzo, Animal, etc.) make their way across the country, bound for Hollywood and stardom.

What I Liked

Jim Henson’s charming oddball puppets are up to their usual television tricks (stirring up havoc, that is) throughout their debut feature film.  The difference here is that they’ve been removed from the confines of a television studio and are set loose upon the entire United States of America, allowing room for zaniness of a much larger scale.

Bustling with jokes so bad they’re cute and characters so strange they’re even cuter, “The Muppet Movie” will endear itself to anyone who has enjoyed the old TV show.  In fact, chances are, if you were a fan of the show when it still aired, or if you took the time to enjoy the show after its cancellation, you’ve probably already seen and thoroughly delighted at this movie.  I count myself mostly among the second group and I do remember watching this movie as a child.  The only memories I still retained of it over two decades later was the “Rainbow Connection” song and the cameo by Big Bird, who I would have thrilled at seeing because I grew up watching “Sesame Street.”

As an adult I most enjoyed the earnest, beleaguered Kermit the Frog’s refusal to reject or resent any of the trouble-making characters he comes across.  His simple dedication to friendship is absolutely corny, but that’s exactly what makes Kermit such an endearing character.

What I Didn’t Like

Earlier I mentioned that if you enjoyed the off-beat, cornball brand of humor of the original Muppets television show, you’ll enjoy the movie.  Well, conversely, if the Muppets were too off-beat or too cornball for you, you can expect more of the same from a movie bearing their name.  As for me, I found it a good time.

It is of course the now iconic characters that make “The Muppet Movie” so enjoyable.  The plot itself is a simpleton’s take on any Hollywood-or-bust movie plot ever made.  It’s a basic road movie constructed around gratuitous scenes that exist for no other reason than to conveniently throw in all of the show’s most popular characters by the time we reach the movie’s conclusion.  Not that anyone watching the movie will care.  Just as Kermit’s simple honesty is what we love about him, the plot’s simplicity allows us to enjoy the characters and humor all the more.

Most Memorable Scene

Just as was the case on TV, various celebrities have chuckle-inducing walk-on appearances (Dom DeLuise, James Coburn, Mel Brooks, Bob Hope, and Elliott Gould, for example).  I was pleasantly surprised to see my favorite comedic actor, Steve Martin, make a cameo as a sarcastic waiter for the romantic dinner between Kermit and Miss Piggy.  He only has a few minutes, but he’s terrific.

My Rating: 4 out of 5