dragonfire88's Full Review: Muppets Take Manhattan
When I was growing up, I watched The Muppet Show all the time. I saw The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper, the first two movies featuring the Muppets. In 1984, I went to see the third Muppet movie, The Muppets Take Manhattan. Since then I have seen the movie several times and now own the DVD.
Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzy, Gonzo and the rest of the Muppets were graduating college and put on a senior show, Manhattan Melodies. Since the show was so successful, they all decided to go to New York City to get the show on Broadway. They had expected to sell the show immediately and weren’t sure what to do when they were still living in bus lockers months later. Kermit was stressed since everyone kept looking to him to make decisions. The others decided that they should leave town so Kermit wouldn’t be feeling as much pressure. Kermit stayed in the city, working at a small restaurant and becoming friends with Jenny, a young woman that hoped to become a fashion designer. She helped Kermit with some of his plans to sell the show. Just when it looked like Kermit’s plans had worked, he was in an accident and got amnesia.
For The Muppets Take Manhattan, the Muppets returned to playing themselves after having played other characters in The Great Muppet Caper. Nothing was said about how they all met or about any of the events in The Muppet Movie. There was a dream sequence that showed how it would have been if all the characters had known each other as babies. That scene lead to The Muppet Babies cartoon, which I also watched. This movie was mainly focused on Kermit’s attempts to sell the show so he could bring all his friends back to New York. After Kermit had his accident that did add a little mystery to the movie since all his friends had no idea what happened and he was missing for a while. When I first saw the movie as a child, I was really upset about Kermit being in the accident. The plot really isn’t that complicated, but enough was going on to keep things interesting. I still enjoy the movie when I watch it again.
The Muppets have always made me laugh and this movie was no exception. Once they were in New York, they were living in bus lockers. Seeing them all scrunched up in those lockers always makes me laugh. Kermit came up with a plan that involved him wearing different outfits at different stages of the plan, one complete with a bushy wig. Seeing Kermit like that cracks me up. Kermit was involved in some other scenes after his accident that I also thought were funny. One of the funniest scenes happened when Miss Piggy was working at a make-up counter. She was feeling down and the woman she was working with decided to do a make over on her. She smeared makeup all over Miss Piggy and the two of them had a ball. I do wonder if that particular Miss Piggy puppet was able to be cleaned after that scene. Another very funny scene happened when a man made the mistake of taking Miss Piggy’s purse and she chased him down on roller skates. She proved that she is not a pig you want to make mad. She did have a few of the fits she has been known for, including a karate chop or two.
The Muppets Take Manhattan featured several original songs like the first two movies did. Music was also important on The Muppet Show. The songs that were used in this movie all went well with what was going on and helped to move the story forward. The song that was done when the characters were leaving the city was a bit sad and touching. Another song from late in the movie was also sweet and touching without being sappy. Other songs were more fun. Some of the songs were part of Manhattan Melodies and were shown as part of the show. Only a small amount of the show was actually shared. All of the Muppet characters sang throughout the movie. Several of the songs involved all of the characters while others featured only one or two of the characters. The sequence showing the Muppets as babies also included a song, mostly sung by the baby Miss Piggy.
****Possible Spoiler****
I want to discuss something about The Muppets Take Manhattan that could be a spoiler for people who haven’t seen the movie yet. Those people may want to skip the next paragraph.
Throughout the history of the Muppets, Kermit and Miss Piggy have had a unique relationship. It was made clear during The Muppet Show that Miss Piggy adored her Kermie and was always trying to pursue a romantic relationship. During The Muppets Take Manhattan, Miss Piggy talked about them getting married more than once and Kermit would usually evade answering. Manhattan Melodies dealt with two characters, played by Kermit and Miss Piggy, getting married. The sequence of the movie that shared some of Manhattan Melodies culminated with a wedding. That was supposed to be part of the show, but Kermit was surprised that Gonzo wasn’t playing the minister. The movie ended without saying for sure if it was just part of the movie or if Miss Piggy had taken matters into her own hands to get her frog. Seeing this movie as a child, I chose to believe that Kermit and Miss Piggy got married. Yes I realized they were characters, and puppets at that, but I still choose to believe. I was thrilled that a wedding was included and it was my favorite part of the movie.
****End of Possible Spoiler****
The same core group of Muppet characters was in all three of the first Muppet movies. Rizzo had been introduced in The Great Muppet Caper and he returned with several of his rat friends. Not all of the characters that were in the first two movies were main characters in this one. There was a scene late in the movie that included many Muppet characters, including characters from Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock. Kermit was in most of the movie since he was trying to see the show. Jim Henson once again performed as Kermit. This was the last Muppet movie that Henson performed in before his death. Miss Piggy was still a very important character even though she wasn’t in as much of the movie. Frank Oz has always done a good job with the character. She did have a perm that wasn’t the best look for her. Fozzy, Gonzo, Rolf, and the members of The Electric Mayhem all had smaller parts. Statler and Waldorf only showed up in a few scenes, but they did their usual heckling.
CAST and Muppet Performers
Dabney Coleman - Martin Price Juliana Donald - Jenny Dave Goelz - Gonzo/Zoot/Chester rat/Bill the Frog/Penguin/Dr. Bunsen Honeydew/Beauregard/Fozzie Bear (Assistant) Elliot Gould - Cop in Pete’s Jim Henson - Kermit/Rowlf/Dr. Teeth/Waldorf/Ernie/Swedish Chef/Newsman/Horse Carriage Driver Gregory Hines - Roller Skater Richard Hunt - Scooter/Janice/Statler/Beaker/Dog Edward I. Koch - Himself John Landis - Leonard Winesop Linda Lavin - Kermit’s Doctor Liza Minnelli - Herself Jerry Nelson - Camilla/Lew Zealand/Floyd/Crazy Harry/Pops/Dog Frank Oz - Miss Piggy/Fozzy Bear/Animal/Sam/Swedish Chef(Hands)/Bert/Cookie Monster Lonny Price - Ronnie Crawford Joan Rivers - Perfume saleswoman Vincent Sardi - Himself Brooke Shields - Customer in Pete’s Steve Whitmire - Rizzo the Rat/Gill the Frog/Baby Kermit/Dog/College student in audience Louis Zorich - Pete
Frank Oz - Director
DVD Information
I tracked down the DVD of The Muppets Take Manhattan a few years ago. In 2005, new DVD editions of all the Muppet movies were released for Kermit’s 50th anniversary. I don’t know what might have been added for that DVD edition. The copy I own includes the widescreen and full screen versions. There are interactive menus, some trailers, and a few little short segments called Muppetisms featuring four of the characters. The best extra on the DVD was an interview with Jim Henson. The interview was cut up into little segments of Henson talking about different aspects of the Muppets and working on this movie. I would have loved for the interview to have lasted longer.
The Muppets Take Manhattan was a wonderful movie that I still enjoy watching today. Fans of the Muppets should enjoy it. I do think that children who aren’t as familiar with the characters could enjoy this movie, and the other Muppet movies, as well.
Catchy musical numbers famous cameos and a surprise wedding keep this third Muppet movie lively and fun for kids and parents alike. Miss Piggy whether...More at Family Video
Broadway-bound, The Muppets Take Manhattan by storm in this magical musical about breaking into show business! Fresh out of drama school, Kermit, Fozz...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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