The Task: Watch and write about every movie on my shelf, in order (Blu-rays are sorted after DVDs), by June 10, 2015. Remaining movies: 189 Days to go: 190
Movie #188: The Muppets Take Manhattan
Confession: I don’t really care about the Muppets. If pressed, I would have to say I don’t like them at all.
Listen, I’m not a monster. I liked the Muppets when I was a kid, and there are certain things — like the opening number of The Muppet Show, for example — that I still have a nostalgic attachment to. But I don’t care about any of the individual characters that way. I have no emotional investment in Kermit. I don’t find Miss Piggy glamorous or awesome in any way. I’m not particularly fond of Gonzo or Fonzie or Beeker or anyone. I don’t even like Statler and Waldorf all that much. So maybe I am a monster, but it does beg the question: Why do I own a Muppet movie?
I honestly don’t know.
I think I used to think I liked the Muppets, mainly because the Muppets are a thing people are supposed to like — even love — unconditionally. And something in my head was drawn to the Manhattan movie more than any of the other ones, maybe for no other reason than I like New York City. I also think I probably held onto this one for my kids, though I don’t recall the older ones ever watching it and even my toddler was only mildly distracted by it today (despite being entranced by the newer movie The Muppets while at her Nana’s house almost two years ago).
I don’t deny the immense talent or cultural contributions of Jim Henson or Frank Oz — both of which extend far beyond the mere reach of the Muppets — but the only real draws for me in this film (or Muppet productions in general) are the guest stars.
The Muppets have a reputation for numerous and high-profile guest stars and usually they are marvelous. Watching The Muppets Take Manhattan again after so much time, however, I find myself mildly interested in Gregory Hines and wildly pleased with Joan Rivers, and sort of lackluster about the rest. There aren’t even enough musical numbers to make the movie worthwhile, and I always kind of found Rizzo the Rat annoying and creepy.
Sigh. I might be thoroughly immune to the allure of Muppets.
But wait! There is one redeeming vignette. There’s a scene in which Piggy imagines knowing Kermit when they were babies and loving him even then, and, hence, The Muppet Babies were born. I loved The Muppet Babies when I was a kid. I thought they were adorable and funny and super entertaining, and they still are here. It’s “live action” muppets instead of animation, but it was an introduction into a long-running and beloved cartoon that I still have a lot of fondness for. So maybe I’m not a lost Muppet cause after all. Maybe.
Viable Option 