The Muppet Movie (1979)
Retro Review #53: Meet the Muppets in their film debut and origin story.
The Muppet Movie (1979)
+ Feature film, £/¶ 1h 35m
+ Based on TV series The Muppet Show (1976)❗by Jim Henson
+ 1️⃣/11 movies in Muppet universe ⭐
+ 1️⃣/8 films in Muppet film series ⭐
A+v
Grade: A+v (20.0) / HOF: 90
EQ 👍A | 📖A 👥A 📽️A 🎼A
DW 😎😎10.8 | 🌚10 🌝13
POPCAP 💯n/a 🍿n/a 🧢n/a
L-R 💻⬇️2️⃣ 👀⬆️🔼 🛐⬆️2️⃣
There’s not a word yet
For old friends who’ve just met.
— Dave Goelz as Gonzo
Most of us have grown up with the Muppets, perhaps getting to know them from Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, or their many other television and film appearances down through the years. They feel like old friends.
But it’s here in The Muppet Movie that creator Jim Henson treats us to their origin story. It feels like we’ve just met them again for the first time.
Kermit the Frog is discovered by a talent agent singing in a Florida swamp, decides to pursue a Hollywood career, and sets off on a road trip across America, picking up the other Muppets along the way.
Don’t write this movie off as just a film for kids. Although the comedy trickles off a little bit in the second half, the first half of the film is downright hilarious. It wouldn’t have crossed my mind had we not just watched Monty Python and the Holy Grail, but guess what? The Muppets deliver a family-friendly version of the same sort of absurdist, surreal, self-referential comedy at which Monty Python excelled.
And while some of the humor will be lost on your kids, there’s plenty of fun and action for them to enjoy in this film that maxes out on our Whimsy Scale. Talking animals! Puppets! Talking animal puppets! Now add in numerous live-action cameos from famous actors, directors and comedians, and you’ve got a solid film any movie-loving adult can embrace. My favorite cameo among several good ones is Steve Martin as an Insolent Waiter.
The music in The Muppet Movie is another strength of the film, with songs and score by Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher. The soundtrack album reached #32 on the Billboard 200 and won a Grammy for Best Children’s Album. Kermit’s swamp song “Rainbow Connection”, performed by Jim Henson himself, hit #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Personally, I like all of the tracks on the soundtrack except “Never Before, Never Again” sung by Miss Piggy. I get the satirical humor of an untalented unattractive diva who thinks she’s God’s gift to the world, but I still find her just a touch more annoying than funny. Maybe it’s just me, but I like Kermit so much that I’ve always wished better for him!
If you are a rare someone who has never met Kermit the Frog and the Muppets, The Muppet Movie is the best introduction. For the rest of us, whether you’ve seen this particular Muppet film before or not, it’s a must watch when you want to meet again with these old friends.
Onwards!
+ last viewed (~3) 2025-03-12, HDX7, 1.85v, 2M
+ first viewed 1979, ThX, 1.85, 2D
+ 👨👩👧👦🎶🚗🦄🧙🛡️🥸😛🤩🎬🐾🐾🐸🐷🐻🐦🐦🐔🐶
+ ✅2️⃣ OK for older kids. | G
+ 😡+2 😵💫+2 🤬+3 🤭+2 🫣+2
+ 👀⬆️🔼 ➖😍
+ ✝️ +1 ➕😇❤️❤️
+ ✡️ +0 ➕💎🤍
+ 🗽 -0 ➕🇺🇸 ➖💲
Last updated 2025-04-14
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