Gonzo's Finally the Chicken-Loving Fool I Know and Love
Written: Oct 09 '03 (Updated Oct 29 '03)
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Pros: Perfect sculpt, likeness, articulation--and his little chicky.
Cons: Some paint errors on some figures--check them before you buy.
The Bottom Line: You like your underwear with ham on rye? So does Gonzo.
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| JediKermit's Full Review: Jim Henson's Muppets Gonzo and Camilla Action Figu... |
When people ask me who my favorite Muppet is, I have to stop and think about the kind of mood I’m in. If I’m in a contemplative mood, it’s probably Kermit. He’s my hero. What I aspire to be. If I’m in an amorous mood (can I say “horny” on Epinions?)(probably shouldn’t go that far)(okay), then it would have to be the sweetest of the sweet bacon, Miss Piggy. The eyes, the gloves, the snout…I’d better stop. And if I’m in a mood like I am when I get my head caught in escalators, get nipples scraped off on red rock, and run into mirrors, then Gonzo’s my favorite.
Whether you know him as Gonzo the Great, the Great Gonzo, or “that freaky looking dude with the bruised phallic nose,” you certainly know Gonzo. He’s “distinctive.” And he’s my brother. I’ve got a piece of his fur stolen from the set of “Muppets From Space” on my fridge. Really. And along with Kermit, Piggy and Fozzie Bear, he’s A-List Muppet.
Palisades Toys is on their fifth series of Muppet action figures, and one of the things that’s marking this line is how the quality of the toys has grown with each series. We’ve already had one Gonzo figure as part of Series 2 (see my review here: http://www.epinions.com/content_98463813252 ). And at the time, that one was pretty good. A little cartoony, but he came with an enormous cannon to launch him out of and a red cape…and he was Gonzo. Or so we thought. Now the real Gonzo rears his regal head, and he’s brought along some company.
THIS is the Gonzo I’ve been waiting for. THIS is the Gonzo we met on “The Muppet Show” the one who wrestles bricks and tap-dances in oatmeal and flirts with livestock. This Gonzo truly is Great. The Series 5 Gonzo is dressed in the purple tuxedo that he wore so often on “The Muppet Show,” and wearing the tux instead of his leotard let Palisades put more articulation into the figure. The “old Gonzo” was bowlegged and stiff-armed…this Gonzo has everything but kung-fu grip. He moves at neck, waist, hips, knees, shoulders, biceps, elbows and wrists, meaning he can get into just about any position that his freaky little heart desires. More on that in a minute.
The real highlight of this figure isn’t his tux or how he moves, but the likeness of the figure. Most “Gonzo” merchandise just paints his nose and face sky blue, even though the puppet has a gradation of colors from pink to purple and yellow and blue. Sort of a bruised look…which it could be, considering all this guy has been through. Palisades got some help on this one to get the likeness JUST right…to the point that the voices in my head finally have a voodooesque outlet through this little purple suited thing on my desk. Finally, a Gonzo toy that LOOKS like Gonzo—as if they just threw the puppet in the dryer and shrunk him down to a 5” size for Quinn to play with. From his eyelids to his nose to the soft plastic wisps of hair, this Gonzo is perfect.
Palisades has also finally given us something that Muppet fans have been clamoring for (we really have)(don’t laugh)(we’re surprisingly violent) since the line was announced: a Muppet chicken. And not just ANY chicken, but Gonzo’s main squeeze, Camilla. Gonzo has been in love with various chickens at various times, and even a cow once—but he always seems to come back to Camilla. So now she’s a figure in her own right, accompanying Gonzo on his whacked-out adventures. Camilla stands almost to his shoulder, and her feet and neck are jointed so she can turn and look lovingly at her beau. Or peck his eyes out, depending on how their relationship is faring. Her wattle (red hanging-down thingy that chickens have) is a soft plastic, and even though she’s relatively simple, her feathers are all individually sculpted and beautifully detailed.
Gonzo also comes with a heart-shaped box of chocolates which actually opens—and if you look close enough, you’ll notice that not only is there a variety of milk and dark chocolates, but they sculpted that little tiny pleated wrapper around each chocolate! That’s detail, my friends. Gonzo also comes with the shiny brass trumpet he used to open each Muppet Show, and he looks kinda funny playing it, but not as funny as I did when I was trying to explain it to a co-worker six hours ago. Gonzo’s other accessory is a simple black action figure stand; he doesn’t seem to need it, since he stands just fine on his own.
If there’s an example of Palisades’ dedication to their Muppets line of action figures, this is it. Most companies would have been (and have been) fine with the first version of Gonzo, but Palisades really went to bat for the fans and the character to make sure he got done right. It shows. This is an excellent action figure of one of my favorite Muppet characters, and he and his chicken girlfriend should find their way into your heart too.
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You can find the Muppets action figures at Target, Media Play, Sam Goody, Suncoast, ToysRUs.com, Electronics Boutique and many smaller online stores; I recommend BoxingCow.com or Bean’s Toys. Nice guys, excellent customer service.
MORE MUPPETS!
Series One
Kermit the Frog http://www.epinions.com/content_81549233796
Miss Piggy http://www.epinions.com/content_81637707396
Dr. Teeth http://www.epinions.com/content_81569549956
Dr. Bunsen Honeydew http://www.epinions.com/content_81822191236
Series Two
Fozzie Bear http://www.epinions.com/content_85935820420
Crazy Harry http://www.epinions.com/content_98525613700
Floyd Pepper http://www.epinions.com/content_98514865796
Gonzo the Great http://www.epinions.com/content_98463813252
Series Three
Scooter http://www.epinions.com/content_91825081988
Lew Zealand http://www.epinions.com/content_91457293956
Zoot http://www.epinions.com/content_91549830788
Rowlf http://www.epinions.com/content_90764316292
Series Four
Link Hogthrob http://www.epinions.com/content_105889107588
Dr. Strangepork http://www.epinions.com/content_105892187780
Sam Eagle as Samuel Arrow http://www.epinions.com/content_105895988868
Rizzo the Rat http://www.epinions.com/content_105903591044
Series Five
Gonzo and Camilla http://www.epinions.com/content_115081186948
Janice http://www.epinions.com/content_117029899908
Pepe http://www.epinions.com/content_117043138180
Muppet Newsman http://www.epinions.com/content_117058145924
Playsets
Muppet Labs with Beaker http://www.epinions.com/content_81755606660
Electric Mayhem Stage with Animal http://www.epinions.com/content_98538262148
Swedish Kitchen with Swedish Chef http://www.epinions.com/content_98725432964
Coming Soon!
Series Six
Clifford
Patrol Bear Fozzie
Statler
Waldorf
Pigs in Space Swinetrek Playset with First Mate Piggy
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 7.99
Type of Toy: Action Figure
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Epinions.com ID:
JediKermit
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 in Movies, Kids & Family, Books |
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Member: Quinn
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Reviews written: 2122
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About Me:
Books, Movies, and Toys. Is there more to life?
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