Great Gonzo!
Comedy and Fun Mark Muppets Return

There are certain questions that have forever plagued humanity. Who built Stonehenge? What secrets exist beneath the Sphinx? And what the heck is Gonzo, anyway? Finally, one of those questions is answered. Since this is Muppets From Space, it's easy to guess which one.

The Great Gonzo, that weird little blue creature with the turkey-esque profile, is tired of being alone in the universe. (How many of us can relate to that?) Just when our little friend is at his lowest, however, he receives a cryptic message from his breakfast cereal, "Watch the Skies." Soon he is searching the heavens for a sign, and he gets one! The cosmic fish (you'd have to see it to believe it) tell Gonzo that his space brothers are coming for him.

From the very beginning, Muppets From Space is a wonderful return to the classic Muppet form. Music, slapstick comedy, and pithy one-liners make this a real treat for Muppet lovers. Most important, it's an original story with lots of jabs at pop culture (in this case science fiction movies). It has the brains and clever humor that made television's "The Muppet Show" such a success with adults as well as kids.

When the Muppets lampoon a movie genre, nothing is sacred. Bad jokes abound, referencing almost every space movie in the past three decades. There are nods to Star Wars, Close Encounters, Star Trek, Men In Black, and Independence Day. Some of the jokes are subtle, others are dead-on imitations. Some are so silly you'll start laughing out loud and miss the next joke.

Of course, what would a Muppet movie be without some human guest stars? Muppets From Space is full of them, including the likes of Ray Liota, David Arquette, Andie MacDowell, Rob Schneider and Kathy Griffin. Everywhere you turn, there's a familiar face.

Thankfully, this movie assembles all the traditional cast: Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzy, Animal and the rest. In addition, there are some new members, including Pepe the Prawn and Dr. Phil Van Neuter. There are cameos by most of the Muppet regulars, like Scooter and Dr. Teeth's Band, but for the most part they are left out of the picture. I wish there could have been at least one musical number by the band, but I guess you can't have everything.

Muppets From Space is a wonderful, good-humored movie that should delight children. I can say for certain that adults who grew up on the Muppets will love this colorful extravaganza.

MY RATING: 7 out of 10.

RATED: G
RUN TIME: 88 min.