The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)

The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)

Directed by: Frank Oz

Starring: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz

This was the last big Muppet movie before Jim Henson died, and it really makes it obvious why they didn’t get another theatrical release for almost a decade: it’s really, really bad. And super 80’s, though I guess when you’re already IN the 80’s that’s not such a bad thing. Though it really should have been.

The muppets are putting on a stage show that’s getting good reviews out in some rinky-dink town, so they figure they might as well try to take it to Broadway! Unfortunately, none of them have a clue how to do this, so Kermit ends up working in a diner while he tries to figure it out.

It’s a very simple muppet story, where they’re all actors who want to make it big and Kermit’s the one who has to make it happen since he’s the only one who has any competence at all. That’s one of the endearing elements about the Muppet Show, that there are all these terrible acts that turn out wrong at every opportunity, and yet somehow Kermit still manages to carry on with the show. Kinda wish they hadn’t been able to make this one work out though, it’s pretty bad.