THE MUPPET MOVIE
A movie review by Joe Barlow
(c) Copyright 1999
STARRING: Charles Durning, Austin Pendleton, Scott Walker, and the
voices of Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard
Hunt and Dave Goelz
DIRECTOR: James Frawley
WRITERS: Jack Burns, Jerry Juhl
RATED: G
YEAR: 1979
SEEN AT: Northgate Theater in Durham NC (1979)... and
countless times on video since then
RATING: **** (out of a possible ****)
"A bear in his natural habitat... a Studebaker."
---Fozzie Bear, "The Muppet Movie"
What do you get if you cross a bug-eyed, banjo-strummin' frog, a wisecracking bear, a love-struck pig with delusions of grandeur, Steve Martin (in disturbingly short pants), Orson Welles, a brilliant script, astonishingly catchy music, and cinematography that occasionally borders on magic? Well, in this state you'd probably get arrested... but that's okay, because you'd also get one of the most charming and endearing films to claw its way out of the dreck of the '70s.
The continuing appeal of "The Muppet Movie" is difficult to describe, but not hard to understand after you've seen it. In a nutshell: it's a fun film, skillfully crafted, featuring some of cinema's loveliest melodies (both the musical score and its lovely signature tune, "Rainbow Connection," were nominated for Oscars. Neither won, but the soundtrack is still in print.) But simply being "fun" doesn't necessarily equate with "greatness," and it's not the only reason for the film's continued popularity. It touches a nerve with viewers. Its simple message ('Believe in yourself, and nothing is beyond your reach') is one we all want to believe... and in the hectic '90s, with weekly political scandals and perpetual conflict in the Middle East, we could all use some quality time with the Muppets.
Kermit the Frog (voiced by the late Jim Henson) is a simple fellow. He lives in a swamp, and passes the time by singing songs on his trusty banjo, yet somehow he feels unfulfilled. A passing fisherman (Dom DeLuise), who moonlights as a Hollywood agent, encourages the talented frog to consider a career in show business. Kermit is still hesitant... until the agent mentions that Kermit's talent could entertain millions of people. Wanting nothing more than to share his gifts with the world, Kermit sets off for Hollywood (by bicycle, no less! The sight is a visual marvel!) to seek his fortune. Along the way, he meets a number of other friends, all of whom have the same dream. The most significant of these are the amiable Fozzie Bear (voiced by Frank Oz), whose dream of being a stand-up comic is not at all hindered by the fact that his act isn't the least bit funny; the lovely Miss Piggy (also voiced by Oz), who falls hard for the dapper Kermit; and the strange turkey-like Gonzo (voiced by Dave Goelz) a plumber who dreams of being... well, a plumber. But having nothing better to do, he tags along for the ride.
And what a ride it is! "The Muppet Movie" is not just another 90-minute kiddie flick, like so many of today's so-called "family" films. No, this one is the real thing: a warm comedy, with a message that actually says something significant to its audience; as such, it can be enjoyed by parents and kids alike. As with their spiritual ancestors, Rocky and Bullwinkle, the Muppets' humor is sophisticated enough to offer smiles and laughs to all ages. Kids will laugh at Gonzo's physical stunts, while Mom and Dad will smile at the clever verbal jokes and visual gags that sail right over Junior's head (the piano player who looks just like Elton John, the recurring "hare krishna" gag, etc).
In many ways, "The Muppet Movie" resembles the 1939 Judy Garland classic, "The Wizard of Oz": a lowly hero is on a quest to reach a far away place, and joins up with new friends along the way who share the same goal. Both films are full of bright colors, music, and a message that one can never hear too often. (Wizard's "You've always had the power to go home" moral is perfectly in-tune with "The Muppet Movie's" own sermon.)
One of the reasons that it all works so well is the fact that director Frawley and screenwriters Burns and Juhl treated the material with respect. The fact that our main characters are colorful, fabric-covered puppets is incidental. With only minor modifications, the same script could've worked just as well with real people playing all the parts. That's the secret of the movie's success: it's not just a good children's movie... it's a good MOVIE, period. The pacing is as tight as any "adult" feature: each scene takes place in a new town, with a new adventure on the horizon for our heroes. (Who knew it was so difficult to get from Florida to California?) Granted, Kermit has more obstacles to face than the distance which separates him from his goal: the evil Doc Hopper (a fun performance by Charles Durning) and his assistant Max (Austin Pendleton) are pursuing Kermit every step of the way, trying to force him into being the spokesfrog for Hopper's chain of French Fried Frog Leg restaurants. When Kermit resists, a professional frog killer (Scott Walker) is brought in to dispose of our little green friend. But again, director Frawley has used these characters as incentive to keep the pace flowing smoothly: Kermit and his friends have to keep moving; otherwise, they'll be captured.
Cameos by nearly every celebrity you can think of are in this movie, though children of the '90s are unlikely to recognize Bob Hope, Edgar Bergen, Madeline Kahn and others. But that's okay: adults will get the joke, and the guest appearances never feel gratuitous or intrusive. My favorites: Richard Pryor's friendly balloon salesman, and, at the opposite end of the spectrum, Steve Martin's wonderfully rude, abusive waiter:
Kermit: "You may serve us now."
Martin: "Oh, *may* I?"
I first saw this film in 1979, at age six. Watching it now, twenty years later, I'm astonished by how little of the fairy dust has faded from that initial viewing experience. The music is still haunting ("Moving Right Along" will stay in your head for days), the characters are still utterly charming, and time hasn't dulled the sparkle of the dialogue one iota:
Fozzie: "If I'm not funny, I won't be able to live with
myself."
Dr. Honeydew: "Well, you'll have to get another apartment,
won't you?"
Whether you're five or 50, everyone should see "The Muppet Movie" at least once. For 97 minutes, you'll be five years old again, caught up in the magic of what movies can do. Four stars, Mr. Henson. Thank you very much.
E-Mail: jbarlow@earthling.net Joe Barlow on Film: http://www.ipass.net/~jbarlow/film.htm
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