How I think they could have improved some of the (post-Jim Henson) Muppet movies and specials:
MCC has a beautiful spirit to it. The set design was gorgeous and the background Muppet cameos were fun to see. I'm sure Jim would have added his magic touch to make the thing absolutely spectacular. Instead, the film inherits a somber tone after the loss of two powerhouse performers and that seems like the right direction for the time period. I've had ideas of changing things about the film in past threads. In retrospect, I wouldn't change a thing. The film is a solid classic and it's what it needed to be.
MTI also has stunning production design. The most problematic issue I have is that they put too much responsibility on the human character of Jim Hawkins. The actor contributes an admirable performance, but I would have gone with an older name-actor or just cast Robin the Frog in that part. There are a lot of great scenes, but no clear vision. They also should have used the opportunity to begin integrating Scooter, Rowlf, Dr. Teeth and Janice back into the fold. Each of them could have said one or two lines before receding back into the chorus. It would have brought that "something missing" to the Muppets. I do love this film, even more than MCC, but it could have been improved.
MT shoved Kermit out of the top spot and that turned poor old Clifford into an interloper. His character develops over time, but audiences want to regularly see Kermit, Piggy, Fozzie and the gang and it really doesn't deliver much of that until the 11th hour. The recasts of Frank's characters really should have come at this point. And what was the deal with creating an all-new house band that doesn't speak or interact with anybody? I too often felt at arms-length with the program and the characters. That’s not to say there weren’t a lot of great moments and some wonderful new characters like Johnny, Sal, Seymour, Bobo and Pepe. Ultimately, what the show needed was time to develop and find its voice. ABC never really allowed it that. It tossed it in the deep end and expected it to be a champion swimmer.
MFS has a spotty development history. I'm not privy to what happened behind the scenes, so I can only judge it as a fan. I like the Noah opening, the banter between Gonzo, Rizzo and Pepe and seeing all the characters living in the house together. Beyond that, there is little substance for viewers over the age of 8. The Elmo movie suffers from the same problem, but it was targeted at younger viewers. This really signified the Muppets official identity crisis. Who makes a Muppet movie without Muppet music? I left the theater knowing that they'd have a tough road back. There was so much potential for fun in this premise no matter what script they used. They took the blandest option. I can't really say more than that.
KSY represents the full-on Muppet identity crisis. The “Life as a Pet” musical number aside, there's not much meat here. Just rubber faced human performers, stale puns and Muppeteers striving to bring a spark to the lobotomized material. One thing I have to say about all of these projects is that in each and every one of them - the Muppeteers come to play and give it their all. I just wish they hadn't gone this preschool route with the Muppet brand. However, the special features are quite funny. I wish the film had contained more of that!
VMX is mostly wonderful. It was a touch too somber and some of the moments were a little too sharp and cynical for the Muppets, but much of that was in the alternate reality. More original music would have made it better. Seeing the characters all together again made me happy and I like it.
MWoO has so much potential and rich material to draw from. I think they probably should have cast a different lead and revised the entire script before shooting. Ashanti did most of the singing, until the Muppets chimed in and were promptly cut-off after a few notes. The Muppets in an Oz special that’s not carpeted with Muppety music? Someone was spending too much time in those poppy fields. Some of the CG is clunky and doesn’t seem to be finished baking, but the production design as a whole is attractive. I just wished the world had more of a density to it. I was expecting something more like Labyrinth. Something with creatures and strangeness filling up every corner. I love Piggy’s witch and her biker gang. The elements are there. It just plays out like a checklist of events rather than a compelling story.
LTS has a lot of heart that is thrown together in a confusing, abbreviated story. I didn't quite get what they were going for, yet I enjoyed the ride.
TM is mostly a rebranding piece for projects to come so I cut it some slack. For the most part, I loved the heck out of it and Walter too! Unfortunately Gary & Mary didn't really contribute much to the film. The script just neglects to make the most of their time on screen. They’re just kind of in the way. And who's idea was it to give Amy Adams a duet with Miss Piggy, but do it all in separate cutaways? It was a lost opportunity to get the Muppets into the human's dance numbers. Just weird. The Muppet Show and Muppet Theatre sequences at the end set everything right. It’s only fitting the next film will pick up where they left off - on a great Muppety moment!
Just my two cents. I cant wait for the next movie!
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