Muppets From Space

So the Muppets have a new one out, and finally it’s written for them instead of being a rewrite of a classic. It’s been since 1984′s The Muppets Take Manhattan. Not that I didn’t like Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island, but I’m just glad that they’re doing their own thing again. Mainly because there’s no room for the Electric Meyhem in the classics. Not that they found a way to put them in this one. Just one more problem.

This time out Kermit and the gang find out that Gonzo is from another planet. (I wonder if Jim Henson had this in mind. Watch the first one and I think he might have. Gonzo constantly wanting to fly. Looking in the night sky and singing “I’m Going To Go Back There Someday.”–a song that is strangely not in this flick. You would think…) Of course, Gonzo gets caught up with pseudo-government agencies and keeps trying to find his people.

So, that’s the story. Pretty simple, really. Just like all of their movies. The problem is that, in bringing them into the 90s, they’ve taken some of the joy out of the Muppets. Not only did they take out all of the original music (the soundtrack is full of funk hits either taken directly from the original artists or remade by the Muppets), but they’ve kept the score going pretty much throughout the film. I don’t know about you, but I need a little bit of time without music in my movies. It’s also a little too frantic for the Muppets. One reviewer on the IMDb said that it was just as laid back as the old days. Er…nope. Those first three movies were perfect examples of laid back family comedies. This one almost feels like Muppets On Speed in comparison.

Then there’s the fact that everyone’s voices are changing. Not only did creator Jim Henson (Kermit, Waldorf, Rowlf, Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth) die, but so did Richard Hunt (Scooter, Beaker, Janice, Statler, Sweetums). And even John Denver, their favorite guest host is gone. That just kind of puts a whole new spin on the characters. They’re the same, but not the same. It’s kind of sad to watch the new movies with that in mind.

Then there’s the cameos. Remember when they were fun in the old movies? Bob Hop popping up with the ice cream cones. Joan Rivers working with Piggy. Now they kind of seem forced. Ray Liotta seems to be having the most fun. Then there’s Katie Holmes and Josh Jackson. What the hell are they doing here? That’s got to be the most forced of the forced cameos. It is kind of funny that they’re playing Joey and Pacey, though. And worst cameo ever goes to Hollywood Hogan. If Katie and Josh were forced, Hollywood was annoying and WAYYYYY over done. The world would have been better off without the coming together of the world of wrestling and the Muppets.

Jeffery Tambor, on the other hand, is a pretty good bad guy for the Muppets. Not as good as Charleses Durning or Grodin, but he’s not bad.

On the good side, there’s a great new character introduced. Pepe the King Prawn is awesome! (Well, he’s new to me. I never got to watch Muppets Tonight unfortunately.) Who would have thought that the Muppets would have had a character say “I will spank you like a bad, bad donkey!”

Speaking of which, there’s a lot of adult humor in this one, too. I was kind of surprised considering the fact that the extent of it in Treasure Island was a Star Trek joke and something about Gonzo having starfish in his pants. (“You and your hobbies.”) This one has some pretty sexual stuff going on. What exactly is Rizzo doing under the covers with Gonzo? Why is Pepe dancing around in a tutu?

As much as I love the Muppets and, actually, liked this movie, I can see where it’s the weakest one they’ve done so far. By the time we get to see Gonzo’s people it’s just kind of an anti-climax. I liked it better when we didn’t really know what Gonzo was. He was kind of like Chewbacca. There was a reason why Lucas didn’t show us Chewie’s world. If he had we wouldn’t have thought of him as being one of a kind.

It’s still a fun movie, but it’s not up to the old days. But, then again, what is? I still love Rizzo, though. (But what’s up with that tagline. “Space. It’s not as deep as you think.” How trite can you get?)