I don't think there's a 'children's' franchise that has more appeal to adults than Jim Henson's Muppets. I liked them as a kid but as an adult I love them. Their humor has so much nuance and clever wit that the jokes and characters get better with age. 'Muppet Treasure Island' might just be my favorite Muppet film and that is a hard thing to truly say because the Muppets have so much re-watch ability. I think what I like here is how sincere the story is while exploiting bizarre Muppet humor. It takes an audacity to adapt Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel with Kermit and the gang. The movie is a hoot and I laughed a lot here but at the same time there's a great deal of heart and emotion involved. That's what has always been so wonderful about the Muppets and this swashbuckling adventure is no exception.
What's so impressive here is how much integrity the original Stevenson story keeps while adapted in Muppet form. There are no cheap laughs at the expense of Long John Silver or Jim Hawkins. They blend seamlessly into the narrative. While Kermit, Fozzie, Piggy and the gang fill the outer cast and provide us with the classic humor, they never take away from the plot. Kermit is especially good as Captain Smollet. He gets some really heavy character motivation no doubt taken from the Stevenson novel and Kermit relays it very well. As do all the other characters. It doesn't feel out of place or thematically schizophrenic when we go from scenes showcasing the menace of Long John Silver to a rip roaring musical number affectionately called 'Cabin Fever'.
Tim Curry is brilliant in this film. His interaction with the Muppets is seamless. In some of the lesser Muppet entries the human actors seem to be making fun of the Muppets (Charles Grodin in 'The Great Muppet Caper' is particularly bad'.) Curry treats them like they are real actors. This seems like it should be a no brainer but it is critical for this story here. Curry's band of buccaneer Muppets are actually quite menacing and some of the scarier creatures in a traditional Muppet film because the interaction is so good.
The film isn't just an adaptation of 'Treasure Island' all the great Muppet humor and heart is intact and in some instances as funny as ever. Frank Oz's Fozzie Bear steals every scene he is in as Squire Trelawney(well in actuality the half witted son of Squire Trelawney). I particularly love how they use Gonzo and Rizzo in this film. They become Jim's companions on this voyage. Jim Henson always liked to portray the Muppets as dreamers and the excitement these characters relay over this pirate adventure is so in tune with the Muppets.
'Muppet Treasure Island' is not to be missed. It is funny and smart. I'd love to see the Muppets tackle another piece of literature because they really make it come alive in a new way. Highly recommended
What's so impressive here is how much integrity the original Stevenson story keeps while adapted in Muppet form. There are no cheap laughs at the expense of Long John Silver or Jim Hawkins. They blend seamlessly into the narrative. While Kermit, Fozzie, Piggy and the gang fill the outer cast and provide us with the classic humor, they never take away from the plot. Kermit is especially good as Captain Smollet. He gets some really heavy character motivation no doubt taken from the Stevenson novel and Kermit relays it very well. As do all the other characters. It doesn't feel out of place or thematically schizophrenic when we go from scenes showcasing the menace of Long John Silver to a rip roaring musical number affectionately called 'Cabin Fever'.
Tim Curry is brilliant in this film. His interaction with the Muppets is seamless. In some of the lesser Muppet entries the human actors seem to be making fun of the Muppets (Charles Grodin in 'The Great Muppet Caper' is particularly bad'.) Curry treats them like they are real actors. This seems like it should be a no brainer but it is critical for this story here. Curry's band of buccaneer Muppets are actually quite menacing and some of the scarier creatures in a traditional Muppet film because the interaction is so good.
The film isn't just an adaptation of 'Treasure Island' all the great Muppet humor and heart is intact and in some instances as funny as ever. Frank Oz's Fozzie Bear steals every scene he is in as Squire Trelawney(well in actuality the half witted son of Squire Trelawney). I particularly love how they use Gonzo and Rizzo in this film. They become Jim's companions on this voyage. Jim Henson always liked to portray the Muppets as dreamers and the excitement these characters relay over this pirate adventure is so in tune with the Muppets.
'Muppet Treasure Island' is not to be missed. It is funny and smart. I'd love to see the Muppets tackle another piece of literature because they really make it come alive in a new way. Highly recommended