Quentin Tarantino does a ghastly self-parody in an irrelevant cutaway sequence in which he tries to sell a movie to a business suit-clad Kermit. Alas, these folks are so sluggish that it appears they barely had time to yawn and stretch out of a nap before reciting their lines for the camera. Realizing there is barely enough humor to warrant a 100-minute movie, the producers bring in some guest stars. ![]() Miss Piggy plays all of the witches (good, wicked and house-flattened). Gonzo is the Tin Thing (he’s not the Tin Man), and Fozzie Bear is the Cowardly Lion. He makes a reference to “The Passion of the Christ,” which will probably horrify any humor-challenged fundamentalist who watches this flick. Kermit is the Scarecrow, and he first appears crucified to a cornfield pole. The Muppets turn up in Oz-type characters. Since Ashanti’s Dorothy cannot tell a joke properly, Toto is given the wisecracks (at one point he turns to the camera and mentions that people should turn on “Dark Side of the Moon”). Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are played Queen Latifah and David Alan Grier, who literally act circles around poor Ashanti and spend their relatively brief screen time trying to out-ham each other.ĭorothy and her pet shrimp Toto (yes, a shrimp – with a Mexican accent!) get the twister treatment and land in a Munchkinland populated by rats wearing Laplander folk costumes. Dorothy is played by Ashanti, who looks great and sings okay but who cannot act for beans. This time around, Dorothy is a waitress and aspiring singer working at Aunt Em’s diner. in a trunk and ship them off to the Smithsonian for storage in a basement. If this is the best that the post-Henson Muppet caretakers can offer, then it is time to stick Kermit and Co. "The Best of the Muppets" part of the disc more or less delivers what it promises: a concise collection of Muppets' moments, including "Mahna Mahna," the Electric Mayhem Band's bashed-out cover of "Tenderly," and Kermit's classics "(It's Not Easy) Bein' Green" and "Rainbow Connection." A bigger and better collection of Muppets songs, along the lines of The Muppet Show: Music, Mayhem and More! The 25th Anniversary Collection, might be better for already converted fans, but The Muppets: Wizard of Oz is a decent introduction for kids who are just discovering the magic of the Muppets through this movie.“The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz” is such an inert misfire of a movie that one can make a strong argument of permanently retiring Jim Henson’s characters from future presentation. ![]() Teeth and the Electric Mayhem Band, she brings some much-needed bite and wit to the proceedings. It's only fitting, though, that Miss Piggy (as the Wicked Witch of the West, natch) gets the standout song, the gleefully evil "The Witch Is in the House." Backed by Dr. This song and "Good Life" aren't quite as sharp as the Muppet productions' best songs, but they're pleasant enough and serve the story well. "When I'm With You" is the equivalent of "If I Only Had a Brain," with Ashanti's Dorothy (who now lives in a Kansas trailer park and yearns to be a singing star) commiserates with the brilliantly cast Kermit (Scarecrow), Gonzo (Tin Man) and Fozzie Bear (Cowardly Lion). The songs from The Muppets: Wizard of Oz don't hold a candle to the classic Muppet songs - to say nothing of The Wizard of Oz or The Wiz - but they're not terrible either. The Muppets: Wizard of Oz is something of a motley release, featuring six songs from the Ashanti-starring ABC TV movie, as well as "The Best of the Muppets," nine favorites from The Muppet Show and the classic Muppet movies.
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