The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)

Who payed the critics

Better Late Then Never

A bit overrated, but still an amazing film

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

The Muppets Take Manhattan is about the Muppets trying to get their show into Broadway. First of all the Muppet characters are great. I loved Kermit, Piggy and Rizzo in the movie. Everyone else should have stayed home for this one. Look, I love the Muppets, but one of the things that just does not work in this movie is that there is an overabundance of characters and most of them are not really used at all. Take Gonzo and Fozzie for example. Great characters, but in this movie they really had nothing to do and most of the other like ten muppets were kind of shoehorned in. Muppets movie or not, rule number one of screen writing is everything that happens in the movie should advance the plot in some way and there were so many characters that did not belong in this movie because they had nothing to do. The story should have focused entirely on Kermit, Rizzo and Piggy, which is what they kind of did but they also let the other characters interfere every now and then and it took me out of the movie.The movie really starts off strong but after the first 30 minutes or so it's really hit or miss. The humor isn't as clever as in the first part of the movie and things just conveniently happen like Kermit getting hit by the car to get the amnesia subplot going on or the son of the producer picking up the script to the Muppets' play. Also, there was a part where I laughed out loud but it's unintentionally funny. The part where Piggy gets her purse stolen and she chases the guy with the roller blades, they show these shots from far away of Piggy chasing the guy and it's just so clear that it's someone in a Piggy costume chasing after the guy. I laughed really hard at that.The movie has some great sequences like when they split up and they sing. That's pretty good and the best part about this film is the Baby Muppets sequence. I love that part. Some great songs and the design of the Muppets is great of course. Very lighthearted movie and really not offensive, but I would say most of it is forgettable, mostly due to the script. But I still had an enjoyable enough time with The Muppets Take Manhattan, although the script isn't too solid and there are way too many characters for me to care. It's an OK movie with one or two great moments.6.5/10

The Muppets gang graduate from college, and try to make it on Broadway. Only they can't find any takers. The gang decide to go on their own, and not depend on Kermit so much. Meanwhile Kermit works in a diner, and try to get his play off the ground.This starts off great with a lot of comedy from the whole gang. Dabney Coleman is great for some gut busting laughs. It's too bad that the gang is scattered after the start. Miss Piggy has some hilarious fun, but I prefer to have the whole gang together. They're funnier together.The main live action lead is Juliana Donald who's trying to help Kermit get the play off the ground. She doesn't have any sparks, and looks awkward like she's acting with a bunch of puppets. There are a lot of famous cameos. I'd prefer to have Brooke Shields as the lead. Beside that, there is a lot to love, and a lot of laughs in this Muppets movie.

Jim Henson's wily characters make their third movie outing. "The Muppets Take Manhattan" isn't quite as good as the previous two movies, but it's still very enjoyable. The plot has Kermit and friends graduating from college and deciding to put on a Broadway show, only to arrive in New York and find out that it's harder than they thought. Gotta work to survive in the Big Apple! As with the previous movies, there's no shortage of musical numbers, and there's plenty of famous people in bit parts (including a few as themselves). Since this was the final Muppet movie before Jim Henson died, it makes sense to do what they do at the end of the movie: it's as though they've finally achieved their destiny.Yes, this one isn't quite the same as the first two, but I still liked it. Frank Oz, after years of providing the voices of some of the Muppets, proved himself to be a very competent director, and went on to direct fine movies like "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels", "What About Bob?", "In & Out" and the original "Death at a Funeral". The point is that you're sure to enjoy "The Muppets Take Manhattan".

Director Frank Oz gives us the third of Muppet movies with The Muppets Take Manhattan. The movie follows Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, Rowlf, Scooter, and Dr. Teeth And The Electric Mayhem trying to sell their play Manhattan Melodies to Broadway but are having a really hard time to do it. The musical numbers are fantastic, the humor is downright funny. Like The Great Muppet Caper it has its share of slow spots but I still eagerly recommend The Muppets Take Manhattan.Rated G.1hr 34min/94min.***1/2/****