THE MUPPETS TAKE MANHATTAN
US, 1984, 94 minutes, Colour.
Art Carney, James Coco, Linda Lavin, Dabney Coleman, Gregory Hines, Joan Rivers, Elliot Gould, Brooke Shields, Liza Minnelli, John Landis. Voices: Jim Henson, Frank Oz.
Directed by Frank Oz.
The Muppets Take Manhattan is the third of their full-length features. This time the film is directed by Frank Oz (responsible for Miss Piggy). He co wrote the script. All the expected ingredients are there, the whole range of characters popular from the series and the films as well as an attractive group of humans (plus some villains).
The screenplay is more or less a pastiche parody of all those Babes On Broadway musicals of past decades. 'The show must go on'. There is some satire on Broadway, on New York lifestyle, on Madison Avenue agents. Miss Piggy is enabled to spy but finally marry Kermit. Kermit is allowed to have a bout of amnesia with consequent humorous results. There are songs, lavish production numbers, smart and witty dialogue. As well as all the things that Muppet fans hope for.
1. An enjoyable Muppet movie? The popularity of the Muppets as characters: appearance, voices, mannerisms, expected ways of behaviour?
2. The technical qualities of the film ? the production of the Muppets, the puppetry, the gestures and voices? Their acting together and the quality of the voices? Audiences accepting them as real characters?
3. The title and the echo of all those stories about hopes for breaks on Broadway?
4. The outline of the plot and audience enjoyment of it ~ the Danhurst College Manhattan Melodies, Kermit and miss Piggy and the group performing, the acclaim. the impresario agreeing to produce the show, the fact that he was a swindler? Their having to seek shelter in the Grand Central Station luggage boxes? Pete's Diner and Jenny and the support? Kermit and his tricks to get publicity? Ronnie Crawford and his putting on the production? Kermit's amnesia, Madison Avenue agent? Miss Piggy knocking reality into Kermit ? and the successful production and happy marriage ending?
5. The songs and their insertion into the plot?
6. Kermit as hero – sympathetic, hardworking, his tricks, friendship with Jenny, jealousy of Miss Piggy, his other self coming out with amnesia? Miss Piggy - her usual brutal self?
7. The human characters - the villains like Merton Price? The attractive conventional characters like Pete and Jenny? Ronnie Crawford and his production of the show?
8. The happy atmosphere of these films? Entertainment value? Parody of human behaviour ? gentle but accurate?
