The Muppets are a piece of the world that brings joy wherever it goes. I have always been entertained by the energy they bring to the screen. The beauty of them is that they were made for kids yet can be enjoyed by adults. Muppets from Space leans heavier in the children’s department, but I still will always have fun watching them.
**This review contains spoilers for Muppets from Space
Credit: Columbia Pictures (1999)
Noah’s ark?
I was caught so off guard when the opening sequence is Gonzo trying to board Noah’s ark. This kind of humor is hilarious to me in context of the Muppets because it’s so ridiculous. The Muppets can literally be anywhere and be doing anything and its ok because they are the Muppets. I do wish this movie leant a little more into this bonkers idea to cater to the adults more. Like the Ray Liotta cameo. He was put there for parents to go “oh look its Ray Liotta” but he could have done something that made parents go “wait they got Ray Liotta to do what?” That is me being overly critical, I love that they can get big name actors to come and do stuff like this, because it’s clear the Muppets don’t have the money to throw at them.
Credit: Columbia Pictures (1999)
Was the budget 2 dollars?
This movie felt cheap. I know it’s a Muppet movie, and they all kind of have that feeling, but this one felt even more so. All of the money went into the space visuals, and those actually don’t look that bad especially given its a Muppet movie. The house looked cheap, the props looked cheap, and the extra actors felt like they were being paid next to nothing. There is an element of campiness that comes with a Muppet movie that was lacking in the extra details of the movie. Maybe they knew this all along and that’s why they made the trippy space visuals extra good.
Credit: Columbia Pictures (1999)
Recommendation
Yes, if you’re a Muppet fan. If you’ve never seen a Muppet movie before in your life (and shame on you for that) don’t start with this one. There are better ones out there to get introduced to the world. Come back to Muppets from Space once you have your feet underneath you and enjoy it for what it is.
Rating: 75/100
Classification: Movie