After "The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland," Muppets has sure gone downhill, and this new movie just strengthens that conviction. I am a big fan of the Muppets, but this movie just is not premium Muppet material. Instead, it feels as if Disney has sold out the Muppets in order to cater to the ever-changing trend in the entertainment industry.
The plot is not well done at all. Any parallels between this movie and the Wizard of Oz are either too obvious or too subtle to comfortably enjoy. The portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West as a biker chick may be original, but it was not very entertaining. In fact, the best parts of the movie are the ones that have nothing to do with the actual plot. As I watch it, I feel none of the interest and pathos that I feel when I watch the original musical.
Ashanti's performance of Dorothy lacked any sort of character, and I found Dorothy to be very one-dimensional. The Muppets themselves did not perform badly, I protest only about some character roles like Ms. Piggy's Wiked Biker Chick. The presentation of the Wizard was utterly strange and vexes me. Quentin Tarantino's short appearance is a humorous respite from what otherwise is not an entertaining movie.
I found that for some reason, this does not feel like a family movie. Muppets wholesomeness seems to have gone out of the window as Gonzo makes comments about his nipples, Ashanti mentions that her shoes make her feel sexy, and the sheer level of violence has increased. The latter is not particularly concerning, as the Muppets have always had a certain level of slapstick about them, but in combination with the other two examples and more, I feel that the entire movie was not appropriate for family-viewing at all.
You've ruined the Muppets, Disney. I hope you are happy.
The plot is not well done at all. Any parallels between this movie and the Wizard of Oz are either too obvious or too subtle to comfortably enjoy. The portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West as a biker chick may be original, but it was not very entertaining. In fact, the best parts of the movie are the ones that have nothing to do with the actual plot. As I watch it, I feel none of the interest and pathos that I feel when I watch the original musical.
Ashanti's performance of Dorothy lacked any sort of character, and I found Dorothy to be very one-dimensional. The Muppets themselves did not perform badly, I protest only about some character roles like Ms. Piggy's Wiked Biker Chick. The presentation of the Wizard was utterly strange and vexes me. Quentin Tarantino's short appearance is a humorous respite from what otherwise is not an entertaining movie.
I found that for some reason, this does not feel like a family movie. Muppets wholesomeness seems to have gone out of the window as Gonzo makes comments about his nipples, Ashanti mentions that her shoes make her feel sexy, and the sheer level of violence has increased. The latter is not particularly concerning, as the Muppets have always had a certain level of slapstick about them, but in combination with the other two examples and more, I feel that the entire movie was not appropriate for family-viewing at all.
You've ruined the Muppets, Disney. I hope you are happy.