Muppets from Space
Directed by Tim Hill
Starring the voices of Dave
Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Bill Barretta, and Frank Oz
Running Time: 87 minutes
Worth seeing? B+
because I laughed and enjoyed
myself very much, and because there aren't many family films that are this
guilt-free, creative, and fun.
Well crafted? B-
because some characters
could have been much more interesting, and because the current Muppeteers
just aren't as picky about what is funny and what isn't. Jim Henson
made sure the movie material was better than just the standard Muppet fare.
Discussion topics for after the movie:
Having said that, the Muppets are still a pure delight to watch, and this is the best post-Henson movie they've produced, funnier than A Muppet Christmas Carol and closer to the frenetic pace and spirit of The Muppet Show than the recent Muppet Treasure Island. It's also significant in that it's the first Muppet movie to forego the traditional musical numbers, saving songs for the big finale. The 70's funk hits that provide the accompaniment strike just the right tone of silliness and over-the-top style. And perhaps most important of all, Muppets From Space actually introduces new Muppet characters that are as unique and interesting and unpredictably funny as any of the classic leads. Pepe the Prawn is quite simply the most hilarious and entertaining character since Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem first rocked the house.
Muppet movies have always been, in my opinion, perfect family films. They never take themselves too seriously. Spontaneity and no-holds-barred comedy are never tripped up by restrictive political correctness, propaganda, or any overbearing social agenda. They exist to make us laugh, whether we're five or fifty years old.
Yet, in the best Muppet works these odd and anxious creatures have had a surprising ability to evoke powerful feelings, thanks to the enthusiasm and heart of their puppeteers. In The Muppet Movie we wanted to believe that the little guy--namely Kermit--could make his mark on the world by following his passions. Kermit led us on a delightful journey from his days of banjo-strumming in the swamp to delighting the world on a Hollywood Stage. The Great Muppet Caper was all about re-creating movie scenes audiences love, about celebrating the magic of the "good stuff" from James Bond to Fred Astaire, from Monty Python to Ethel Merman. Jim Henson and Co. did this by grounding their erratic characters in a decent story with plenty of dialogue and humorous excursions for grown-ups as well as the "easy comedy" for kids. They never stooped to crass humor or poop jokes (like Phantom Menace did this year, sadly.)
Muppets from Space aspires to a similar kind of poignancy, focusing on one person's identity crisis and the angst of an individual who cannot find his place in this world. Gonzo, the daredevil creature that looks vaguely like a cross between a mosquito and a turkey, has never figured out who he is or where he belongs in the Muppet zoo. Thankfully, his journey doesn't dampen the fun but instead only opens up more possibilities for on-screen lunacy, while also providing plenty of opportunity for hilarious pop-culture sendups of sci-fi films like Close Encounters, E.T., The X Files, and other mainstream flicks like--can you believe it?--The Shawshank Redemption! Once again, the conclusion, while never being reduced to platitudes or preaching, instills in the audience something of the joy of community and diversity, of how each one of us, no matter how strange, is in some way delightful and valuable. It may also lead parents to discuss with their kids the importance of family, and that "family" is about those who love you and take care of you, not those who leave you behind.
The Muppets performers provide solid performances throughout (except for the unfortunately changing voices of background characters like the old geezers Statler and Waldorf.) It's good to see Steve Whitmire filling Kermit's role with an excellent Henson impression, but Kermit is losing his hold on this family of characters; he no longer provides the "sanity" center and the commanding sense of authority he used to. Unfortunately, more screen time goes to Rizzo the Rat, who in my opinion has never been one of the funnier Muppets. The brain-dead drummer-on-a-leash Animal gets one classic scene that's been a long time coming, and Miss Piggy is her usual arrogant glamorous self, so all is not lost in Muppetland. And Gonzo is in top form, although I was longing for him to do that classic Muppet Movie song again--"I'm Going to Go Back There Someday"--especially since the filmmakers said it was that song that inspired the plot).
The biggest problem with Muppets from Space is the sadly unnecessary list of real human cast members. Whenever people are in this movie, they almost ruin it. The script gives them nothing even amusing. And the celebrities that appear play like a who's who of actors that need career rejuvenation...Ray Liotta, Andie MacDowell, Rob Schneider, etc. Only Josh Charles (Dead Poets Society, TV's Sports Night) seems to strike the right tone in his sparring match with Miss Piggy.
But when the humans go away, things pick up. The first half of the movie is especially frantic and fun. If you're expecting an exciting finale, forget about it; the film's ending is appropriate if anticlimactic. It's an ending only longtime Gonzo fans will truly appreciate--Gonzo's wildest dream come true. Overall, I was surprised at how entertained I was just by the fact that Gonzo and Beaker and Honeydew were on-screen again. The Muppets are not dead yet... and with a better script next time around, they have the potential to be great again.
Jeffrey Overstreet 9/5/99
