The Muppet Movie

Starring: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Mel Brooks, Dom DeLuise, Bob Hope
Written by: Jack Burns, Jerry Juhl

Director: James Frawley
Year: 1979

Rating: * * * *   Stars       +       (Fan Bonus -  )  Total: * * * *

A frog, a pig, and a bear head to Hollywood to find success. Along the way they meet a strange assortment of characters, while eluding the proprietor of a restaurant specializing in frog legs.

The Muppet Show cast make their big screen debut, which is a cross country journey to Hollywood.

All the muppets are here, from Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Animal, Gonzo, Dr. Teeth, Ralph, Waldorph and Statler, Scooter, Beaker and a hundred more. Furthermore, the cast is peppered with famous actors like Orson Wells, Dom DeLuise, and Bob Hope who help, or hinder, our heroes. 

An absolutely delightful film from forever child-at-heart Jim Henson and crew. Forget children, this is among the finest story-films of all time. Unlike future Muppet films that were more light-hearted and funny, the humor in this film is tempered by poignant and touching scenes regarding relationships, doubt, and the downside of business, art and entertainment. Gonzo's song "I'm Going To Go Back There Someday" is haunting, telling us of the loneliness of show business. A more positive spin on tales like The Incredible Journey, where the struggles along the way are just as important, if not more so, than the destination. Along the way, the characters learn about friendship, camaraderie, and that as different as they are, they have similar goals. Towards the end, this is summarized in the song where the lyrics tell us "life's like a movie, write your own ending, keep believing, keep pretending." Effectively, the Muppets write their own reality, and encourage us to do the same. The novelty is it's a movie about the making of the movie, with Henson's unique storytelling propelling it forward. His blend of abstract reasoning and sentimentality are the driving force behind his hopeful philosophy on life, love, and humanity.

While the muppets have endured, clearly the magic has left us with the passing of Jim Henson. The bible tells us that a child shall lead them, and Jim Henson was a child at heart, who lead us down his wholesome path of childhood enlightenment.

SEE THE TRAILER: The Muppet Movie