Kermit and his newfound friends trek across America to find success in Hollywood, but a frog legs merchant is after Kermit.Kermit and his newfound friends trek across America to find success in Hollywood, but a frog legs merchant is after Kermit.Kermit and his newfound friends trek across America to find success in Hollywood, but a frog legs merchant is after Kermit.
- Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 4 wins & 11 nominations total
Jim Henson
- Kermit the Frog
- (voice)
- …
Frank Oz
- Miss Piggy
- (voice)
- …
Jerry Nelson
- Floyd Pepper
- (voice)
- …
Richard Hunt
- Scooter
- (voice)
- …
Dave Goelz
- The Great Gonzo
- (voice)
- …
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaJim Henson was determined to use the larger budget of a feature film to push the technological limits and capabilities of puppetry. One of the most difficult feats (and one that appears deceptively easy on-screen) was making Kermit ride a bicycle.
- GoofsWhen Fozzie gets Kermit's "Dragonfly Ripple" cone from the ice cream man, it's a shade of bright lime green. When he gives it to Kermit, it's gray. After the group spots Gonzo floating with the balloons the cone is green again, but a different shade.
- Crazy creditsAfter the last credit, Animal is shouting,"GO HOME! GO HOME!", then he gets sleepy, "Bye-bye..." then falls asleep.
- Alternate versionsThe longer 97 minute version, as originally released in theaters (in the UK at least) and released on video in the UK in the 80s, contains the following extended scenes:
- Extended shots of Kermit entering the El Sleezo Cafe where Fozzie is performing, after the James Coburn cameo.
- More of Fozzie being heckled in the bar. He honks a horn which falls apart, then says, "This is not my night."
- Extra shots as Doc Hopper and Max watch Fozzie and Kermit dance at the El Sleezo. A little bit more dancing and more of the crowd manhandling Kermit and Fozzie.
- An extended commercial for Doc Hopper's Frog Legs. More of Doc Hopper asking Kermit to be his spokesman.
- Extra Fozzie in "Moving Right Along." "A bear in his natural habitat - a Studebaker."
- Even more Doc Hopper trying to convince Kermit. "Shut up, Max!"
- In the church, an extended recap of the entire movie by Dr. Teeth - we see shots from previous scenes. It's not clear if this was actually in the version which screened in theaters, or if it was added for the video version, as the laserdisc version seems to have been edited on video.
- Doc Hopper and Max chase Kermit and Fozzie. Max asks what his cut of a million is. A whole extra car chase scene of Max trying to catch up to Fozzie and Kermit, and failing.
- An alternate musical arrangement of "Never Before, Never Again".
- Greatly extended version of Rowlf and Kermit dueting on "I Hope That Something Better Comes Along," with about two or three more verses. "A laddie needs a lassie." "Come Father's Day, the litterbug's gonna get ya."
- Extra shot of Giant Animal laughing at the bad guys (possibly deleted because Animal's fingers were thought to look unconvincing - just a guess from me).
- Extra reaction shots in Orson Welles scene.
- A lot more explosion and set destruction footage when Crazy Harry blows up the set at the end, before "Life's Like a Movie." Seems like padding really. It's set to circus-y music.
- Extended and alternate ending in the movie theater - Sweetums says "I just knew I'd catch up with you guys." All Muppets talk and say funny things over ending credits. Robin says Kermit is a great actor. Fozzie repeatedly asks if he was funny in the movie, but no one will tell him that except Kermit. Muppets are in character for the entire credits. Music is also different in this section.
- ConnectionsEdited into The Muppets Go to the Movies (1981)
Featured review
Write your own ending: Existential awareness in hand puppets
In many ways, the perfect movie. The "Incredible Journey" and Horatio Alger tale come together for a positive spin on the usually depressing subject of existentialism. In essence, the travails of the muppets boil down to the finale song of the movie: "Life's like a movie, write your own ending, keep believing, keep pretending." They create their own reality, which has all the trappings of every epic tale: a lofty goal at the end of what is necessarily a obstacle-laden journey; an ever-increasing group of like-minded individuals for camaraderie; a nasty set of villians who are not beyond all redemption; and a big-budget Hollywood ending because, darn it all, they CAN.
Only Jim Henson could pull this off. He walks the line between sentimentality and philosophy without swerving too long or too hard into either. Of course it seems odd that invest such weight into a film starring puppets, but in the end perhaps they are the perfect, uh, puppet to make these points. The movie's atmosphere allows for the pure enjoyment of the Hollywood dream, the "happy" ending, unnecessary cameos, and bursting into song at the drop of a hat. Usually these aspects are anathema to quality in film, but the self-deprecating manner under which the story is delivered makes for guilt-free viewing. One of the few films that can truly be called "suitable for all ages."
The other muppet-related films (including "The Empire Strikes Back"), while palatable, do not touch the simple grace of this film. Take, for instance, the musical number "Hope that Something Better Comes Along," the duet of Kermit and Rowlf. Amusing in its vaudevillian goofiness, yet makes a bitingly crucial point about the motivations behind life choices. Brilliant.
Only Jim Henson could pull this off. He walks the line between sentimentality and philosophy without swerving too long or too hard into either. Of course it seems odd that invest such weight into a film starring puppets, but in the end perhaps they are the perfect, uh, puppet to make these points. The movie's atmosphere allows for the pure enjoyment of the Hollywood dream, the "happy" ending, unnecessary cameos, and bursting into song at the drop of a hat. Usually these aspects are anathema to quality in film, but the self-deprecating manner under which the story is delivered makes for guilt-free viewing. One of the few films that can truly be called "suitable for all ages."
The other muppet-related films (including "The Empire Strikes Back"), while palatable, do not touch the simple grace of this film. Take, for instance, the musical number "Hope that Something Better Comes Along," the duet of Kermit and Rowlf. Amusing in its vaudevillian goofiness, yet makes a bitingly crucial point about the motivations behind life choices. Brilliant.
helpful•715
- Mr Pants
- Jan 28, 1999
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Los muppets: La película
- Filming locations
- Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA(desert scenes)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $65,810,475
- Gross worldwide
- $65,810,945
- Runtime1 hour 35 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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