Starring The Muppets, Louis Zorich, Julianna Donald, and Lonny Price
Directed by Frank Oz
Music and Lyrics by Jeff Moss
This would be the third and final Muppet feature-length film released during Jim Henson's lifetime. He worked on this one and The Dark Crystal at the same time, turning the directing reigns to this one over to his dear friend Oz. How does this love letter to the gritty Big Apple of the 1980's and "put on a show" backstage films look now? Let's begin at Danhurst College with their well-received senior show and find out...
The Story: That show is such a hit, the Muppets take it to Broadway. It doesn't go terribly well at first. Every producer in town looks at them like they're crazier than usual, and they almost get taken by a con-artist trying to swindle them out of their money. They all finally give up and leave town...except Kermit, who recruits a group of enterprising rats he meets at a diner and Jenny (Donald), the sweet daughter of the diner's owner (Zorich), to help him get the word out on their show.
Piggy's not happy about sharing her Kermit, leading to a noisy chase with a mugger in Central Park. Even after they reconcile, Kermit still wants to sell the show. The day he does finally get young producer Ronnie Crawford (Price) interested, he suddenly disappears after a car accident. Now the Muppets have to search every nook and cranny in New York for their green buddy, before the show goes on without him.
The Song and Dance: This has been my favorite Muppet movie since it came out. Kermit and Piggy get some great gags, from Kermit's attempt to start a whispering campaign with the rats under the tables at Sardi's Restaurant to Piggy's "make-over" from Joan Rivers that somehow degenerates into the two smearing makeup on each other and screaming at the top of their lungs. Location shooting in the real New York, including Central Park and the actual Sardi's, adds to the authenticity. There's even a cameo from the mayor of New York at the time, Ed Kotch, during the "find Kermit" montage.
Favorite Number: "Together Again" opens and closes the movie. The opening number has all of the Muppets in pastel suits, with a basic city backdrop as they perform. This is swapped for a number in front of the curtain in spangled tuxedoes when they finally make it to Broadway. Dr. Teeth insists that "You Can't Take No For an Answer" as every producer in New York slams their doors in the Muppets' faces. Don't be surprised if you shed a few tears during "Saying Goodbye" as the Muppets each go their separate ways. It's a truly emotional and heart-wrenching sequence. Rizzo and the Muppet rats do their own version of diner cooking, complete with swimming in the coffee and skating on the griddles, in the non-vocal "Rat Scat (Somethin' Cookin')."
The big one here is "I'm Gonna Always Love You," Piggy's dream sequence in the park. This is the number that introduced the Muppet Babies (in their only big-screen appearances) to audiences. The number proved to be so popular (including in a music video), it lead to the creation of the Muppet Babies cartoon later that year...and yeah, I can see why. The Muppet Babies, especially Piggy, are adorable and huggable, and it's so funny watching Baby Rolf pound away on his toy piano and Baby Fozzie play with his rubber chicken.
Trivia: One of three Muppet films currently owned by Sony/Columbia rather than Disney. (The other two are Muppets In Space and the direct-to-home-media Kermit's Swamp Years.)
What I Don't Like: Even more than the other two original Muppet films, the story is a mass of cliches from every backstage movie you ever saw. Kermit's disappearance in the second half adds a touch of spoof melodrama that doesn't really jive with the first half. And as with the first Muppet film, you may need to know something about the pop culture (and New York culture) of the mid-80's to understand many of the jokes and celebrity cameos.
The Big Finale: Fast-paced and fun for Muppet fans or the whole family. (Just have tissues on hand for "Saying Goodbye.")
Home Media: Easy to find on DVD and streaming. The DVD usually shows up for under five dollars; the movie can often be seen streaming for free. It's currently free on Tubi and Amazon Prime.
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