Film Review: The Muppets Take Manhattan

As you may have read in my reviews of the first two Muppet movies (The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper), one of my big fears for the forthcoming (unless you live in the States, where it's actually soon to be released on Blu-Ray!) Muppet movie was that it wasn't going to include a key feature for me, namely, the characters knowing it's a film (apparently, this isn't the case.)

But way before now, this had already happened, and my fears were for naught. While it doesn't reach the spectacular heights of The Muppet Movie, The Muppets Take Manhattan is a hugely enjoyable film in which the fourth wall is never broken.

Directed this time round by voice of Piggy, Fozzie, Animal etc. Frank Oz, the story involves The Muppets newly graduated from college, and deciding to take their successful college play to Broadway. But things are tougher than they seem when they hit New York, and before long they have to go their separate ways.

All the key elements are there, the songs (which are superb this time round, after being a bit forgettable in the previous film, especially 'Together Again' and the rather emotional 'Saying Goodbye' and 'He'll Make Me Happy'), the cameos (although these are definitely more aimed towards an American audience, Joan Rivers, Elliott Gould and John Landis were the only ones I actually recognized) and the great dialogue.

There's a few things that didn't work well for me however, the Muppet Babies cutaway was a rather blatant advert for the TV show which was soon to begin, cute as it was. And the amnesia story line that effects Kermit was both an easy way to pad the film out a bit and slightly disturbing, the sight of him being hit by a car was a bit much for what is essentially a kids film.

But the emotional connection with the characters was what made it for me. After being unable to connect on any level with War Horse, I was shocked at how sad I was when the gang failed to make it in New York and went their separate ways (the aforementioned song didn't help in the slightest) and the wedding scene at the end (complete with pretty much the entire Henson universe singing along), well I think I might have had something in my eye. That says a lot about both the failings of War Horse, and the likability of The Muppets.

After watching these first three Muppet films, I am still a bit worried about how a new one can be pulled off in this day and age. In the late 70s and early 80s thing seemed a lot simpler, and the world has grown into a more selfish and cynical place. I just hope that cynicism doesn't spill over into the Muppets, because the innocence, silliness and heart of films like The Muppets Take Manhattan towers over everything else about it.

***1/2
Not quite as good as The Muppet Movie, better than The Great Muppet Caper. Save for a useless storyline element (amnesia...ergh) and essentially a short advert for a TV show, The Muppets Take Manhattan is great fun on all levels. The ball is in your court Bobin, Segel et al...