The Muppets' Wizard of Oz
by Kirk R. Thatcher
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Ashanti (II), David Alan Grier, Jeffrey Tambor, Queen Latifah, Quentin TarantinoDirector: Kirk R. Thatcher
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 100 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-08-09
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Disney
Movie Reviews of The Muppets' Wizard of Oz
Movie Review: Tasteless, slapped-together, thoughtlessly made, shameful movie
Summary: 1 Stars
This is not the Muppets, and this is not the Wizard of Oz. This is exploitation trying to pass off as family entertainment.
This was made with only the present--not the past or the future--in mind. What exactly do I mean? Well, the past is neglected because the wit, charm, and spirit Jim Henson originally endowed the Muppets with is almost entirely gone; the future is neglected because the countless references to pop culture will date the movie severely, and within ten years no one will get half of them.
Indeed, the film focuses so much on the present--tries so hard to be "modern"--that it overloads itself with sex and pop culture references to the point of being disgusting. The events in the normally-innocent Wizard of Oz have almost invariably been changed to incorporate innuendo and other unsavory material (Example: The poppy field is now a trendy nightclub), and the humor has been taken in a similar direction, with constant jokes about nipples and being sexy. Do the creators really think that today's audiences will like any movie, even if it's badly made, as long as it's "hip" and "edgy"? Someone who didn't know any better might think the Muppets were doing some clever satire on what's happening with the film industry these days, but sadly, this is not the case.
If your kids are younger than 13, do not let them see this. Even if they're older, they probably shouldn't see it because it's painful to watch and a big waste of time and money.
~~LJB
Summary of The Muppets' Wizard of Oz
Join Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and all the Muppets as they turn everyone's favorite classic tale into a musical madcap adventure that shines brighter than Emerald City! The fun starts when the Muppets team up with an all-star cast that includes Grammy Award winner Ashanti, Oscar(R) nominee Queen Latifah (2002, Best Supporting Actress, CHICAGO), David Alan Grier, Academy Award(R) winner Quentin Tarantino (1994, Best Original Screenplay, PULP FICTION), and Jeffrey Tambor. Ashanti sparkles as Dorothy, an aspiring singer whose dreams of fame and fortune seem worlds away from coming true in the Kansas trailer park where she lives with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. But when a tornado transports her and Toto (Pepe the King Prawn) to the magical land of Oz, Dorothy meets the Wizard, who promises to make her a superstar -- if she and her wacky new friends, the Scarecrow (Kermit), the Tin Thing (Gonzo), and the Cowardly Lion(Fozzie), can defeat Oz's #1 diabolical diva, the Wicked Witch of the West (Miss Piggy)! Featuring original music, hilarious performances, and 20 minutes of never-before-seen footage, THE MUPPETS' WIZARD OF OZ will lift your spirits and blow you away!There were good intentions in this Muppets adaptation of L. Frank Baum's classic Emerald City story of Dorothy's journey to see the Wizard with hopes of fulfilling her dream of stardom: the film is a nostalgic nod to the original 1979 Muppet Movie, where Kermit leaves the swamps for Hollywood to become a star, picking up some friends along the way. Grammy winner Ashanti plays Dorothy Gale, an aspiring singer who serves meatloaf to truckers and lives in a Kansas trailer park with her Aunt Em (Queen Latifah). In the ensuing chaos of a giant tornado, she gets dumped in the Land of Oz-along with her pet shrimp, Toto (Pepe the Prawn). Dorothy soon meets the familiar Scarecrow, Tin man, and Lion (Kermit, Gonzo, and Fozzie, respectively) and together they journey to see the Wizard (voiced by Jeffrey Tambor) who promises to grant her celebrity wish if first she defeats the Wicked Witch of the West (Miss Piggy). While the Muppets have survived a few cinematic flops before, this film is bereft of all they represent--the endearing innocence, engaging silliness, and cagey humor of Jim Henson's legendary variety series. Instead, a mean-spirited cynicism with sexual subtext prevails that is not only unfunny, but also mildly offensive. In a desire to appear edgy and culturally relevant by the filmmakers (and executive producers Brian and Lisa Henson), the timeless spirit of the vintage Muppets is missing, as are the signature voiceovers by Frank Oz and Brian Henson. Onscreen chemistry between actors and Muppets feels contrived, not to mention Quentin Tarantino's bizarre cameo. When Kermit delivers a religious joke of questionable taste, viewers might yearn for the swamp years, when Kermit the frog and the Henson Company could do no wrong. (Ages 4 and older) --Lynn Gibson
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