The Great Muppet Caper

If you don’t bring realism in this to think a frog and a bear could be identical twins, that a pig could be a fashion model, and that an assortment of unusual animals could bring themselves to be regular citizens of a big city, then this is the movie for you.

In this movie, Kermit the Frog, Fozzie the Bear and Gonzo the great (put together by Muppet performers Jim Henson, Frank Oz and Dave Goelz), play newspaper journalists trying to help their jobs after making a headline story. Specifically, they need to know who stole Lady Holiday’s, played by Diana Rigg, jewels while they were distracted by taking pictures of a chicken on the other side of the road.

To make sure they interview the successful fashion designer, the three need to go to their main office in London. Trying not to spend a whole lot, the Muppets travel in an airplane’s baggage compartment and book a room at the rundown Happiness Hotel. Donna Gustafson said it best in her review, “Best known as a place where they can “park their carcasses for free,” the money-strapped reporters fit right in with the establishment’s local residents (composed of the other Muppet characters we’ve all grown to know and love.”

However, the investigation starts really bad when Kermit mistakes Miss Piggy, voiced by Frank Oz, an aspiring model who is working as a receptionist, for her really famous employer. Gustafson said, “Smitten by his amphibian charm, the pretty pork-chop doesn’t correct the identity mix-up until the real Lady Holiday falls victim to another robbery.”

When everyone starts to blame Miss Piggy as the one to blame for the crime, Miss Piggy goes to Kermit and the Muppets to clear her name by solving “The Great Muppet Caper” and capturing the real thieves.

Gustafson noted, “Like all other Muppet movies, this one relies on the popularity of the zany personalities, crazy antics and running gags.” Parts where the Muppets ride bicycles and motorcycles, drive taxis and buses, along with swim and dance, also show the amazing skills of their creator Jim Henson and his team. Insert for hilarity are cameo appearances by Robert Morley, Peter Ustinov, Jack Warden, Peter Falk, John Cleese and Oscar the Grouch, voiced by Carroll Spinney.

Despite the story having portrayals of robbery, property damage, telling lies and gunplay, nothing are more believable than Kermit and Fozzie’s striking resemblance. Neither are the small moments of supermodels in small clothing, some water ballet performers, or a comment about betrayal any more interesting than Miss Piggy in a swimsuit.

Silly from the start, “The Great Muppet Caper,” released in 1981, is not really about heroes and villains. Instead, it’s about having fun and bad puns. The only mystery the movie ever shows is “The Muppets.”

As a Muppet movie, this one is just perfect. The fourth wall jokes in this movie really hit the right mark, and I think everyone who loved the original movie will really get into this one. Definitely do not miss the opportunity to see this movie because you will absolutely love it.

I’m really sorry for posting this late, as I had a long day. Check in next week for the next installment in “The Muppets Month.”