The First Snow of Fraggle Rock (2025)

The caves are decorated with lights, and the Fraggles of Fraggle Rock await the first blanket of winter, but when only a single snowflake materializes, Gobo doesn't have enough inspiration to write the annual holiday song. So he must travel to "Outer Space" (the human world) for further motivation. The Fraggles's best attribute has always been the music, and there are four new songs here, although only one of them is an earworm ("Can You Feel It?"). It's a pretty tame and tepid holiday special designed for the kiddies, and nothing I would ever be interested in revisiting. Worth it only for the nostalgic factor.

2 rock blocks out of 5

Jim Henson: Idea Man (2024)

A retrospective on the life of Jim Henson, chronicling his rise as a filmmaker and puppeteer to the creation of his Muppets and Sesame Street all the way to The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. A lot of focus is spent on his wife, Jane, who helped to support him throughout. I found it enjoyable, but as an overview, it merely scratches the surface and doesn't quite capture the full spectrum of Henson's life and career. It focuses a lot on the early years and glosses over the latter period. I would have liked to see it go even deeper, but it functions well as a primer to the man and his legendary career. In particular, all of the behind-the-scenes footage of Jim and Frank Oz ad-libbing is gold. (That was always one of my favorite special features on The Muppet Movie DVD.)

3 ping pong balls out of 5

Muppets from Space (1999)

Gonzo, the lonely, misunderstood, self-described "weirdo," contemplates his place in the world and where he belongs. Continuing off of a seed planted in The Muppet Movie ("I'm Going to Go Back There Someday"), we finally get our Gonzo-centric movie. While logic would dictate that this movie takes place in space, the majority of it is actually set at a top secret government facility, which captures Gonzo, prompting the rest of the Muppets to break him out.

While technically a well-made Muppet movie, the poor reception of this film led to the brand scaling back and being relegated to TV and direct-to-video productions for awhile, and it wasn't until 2011 that the Muppets were given another chance at their next big theatrical outing.

2½ whatevers out of 5

Note: If you get ahold of the DVD, it contains the most fun audio commentary I've ever heard with the Muppets themselves in a special MST3K silhouette style. It actually ends up being more entertaining than the movie itself.

Muppet Treasure Island (1996)

Riding high on the sails of Muppet Christmas Carol, Brian Henson sets out to adapt the next great literary classic. Full of swashbuckling adventure at sea, old treasure maps, chests full of pirate's gold and a legendary over-the-top performance by Tim Curry as Long John Silver, it's fun for all ages. Sadly, the material does not totally mesh well with the Muppets' sense of humor, and while it's full of colorful characters, skillful puppeteering and a memorable seafaring backdrop, it lacks both the humor and heart which made past Henson productions successful. My biggest issue is that it kid-ifies the source material too much. The Muppets shouldn't have their edges sanded off and it shows. 

3 black spots out of 5

The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)

The last of the Jim Henson Muppet movies before he passed (though he also directed Labyrinth and produced A Muppet Family Christmas for TV). This time, Frank Oz takes the reins in his solo directorial debut (having previously co-directed on The Dark Crystal). This one is full of so much heart and soul, you don't mind that it's of inferior quality to the first two. As always, the songs remain top notch. I think the key to the Muppets' longevity has always been the music. This film also provides our first look at the Muppet Babies, which became an animated hit on TV that same year. It's light-hearted fun for all.

3½ inter-species weddings out of 5

The Great Muppet Caper (1981)

While not quite as memorable as the original, Jim Henson's directorial debut is full of so many fun bits, one-liners and irreverent humor that you don't really mind. Taking the shape of an old fashioned movie musical with giant setpieces and film stars of old to complete the effect, the chemistry between this cast is like capturing lightning in a bottle. While the rest of the Muppet movies would vary in quality, these first two films remain the funniest and most quotable, and the songs are some of the best. Fun for kids and kid-shaped adults alike.

4 "we're making a movie!" out of 5

The Muppet Movie (1979)

Made at the height of their television domination, the Muppets' first foray onto the silver screen is all at once funny, heartwarming, weird and magical. This "origin story" of sorts is a musical road trip buddy comedy adventure where Kermit the Frog must make his way from the swamps of Florida to Hollywood, while he meets the rest of the Muppet crew along the way. Having recently experienced it in a movie theater, I can attest it still delights audiences five decades later. This movie persists because of the partnership and endless chemistry between Jim Henson and Frank Oz, who inhabit their felt characters with humanity and wit. Full of fun cameos from movie stars of old, this film still feels timeless 50 years later. While it may not be "perfect," it's still a joy to behold from beginning to end. For the lovers, dreamers, and like-minded.

5 rainbow connections out of 5

MUPPETS MOST WANTED [2014]

Da Ali G Show writer/director James Bobin returns for a second run with Jim Henson's lovable creations in Muppets Most Wanted.
Like the preceding film, this one is self-aware and not afraid to admit that the "sequel is never quite as good", so with that fuzzy, googly-eyed elephant out of the room we're allowed to sit back and never stop grinning from the silliness we're embarking on.  Oddly enough it does explore some darker areas of the Muppet world but never enough to steer right off track from the fun.  Ricky Gervais and Tina Fey's comic skills are sadly put to waste here but it's Ty Burrell who steals every single scene he's in and that makes up for more than enough.
It might not be as great as the previous film but it's pretty darned close.

3½ pink frogs & green pigs out of 5

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

“…there’s nothing in nature that freezes your heart like years of being alone…”

Joyously sentimental. If this movie doesn't make you all blurry-eyed, you're a monster. Michael Caine is delightful as old Ebenezer and the songs on the soundtrack are perfect. This was the first post-Jim Henson Muppet movie made; Brian Henson's Muppets are kinder and cuddly and lack the edge of their previous incarnation, but it suits the subject matter of this movie just fine. Ironically, this is also probably one of the most faithful adaptations of Dickens ever made. I think it's my fate to become an old miser like Scrooge if things don't change for me soon...

4.5 crippled frogs out of 5

Note: The song, "When Love is Gone," cut from the original theatrical version and restored on VHS format, is again missing from the latest edition of the DVD. Make sure you obtain the right version.

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas (1977)

Combining traditional puppetry and marionette work, this intimate production from Jim Henson Company crafts a beautifully lavish setting for the world of Emmett Otter. It's a sentimental, well-told story, however it lacks the brand of humor that gave the Muppets their edge. Still, it's full of fun, toe-tapping jigs and deserves to be considered a classic in its own right.

3.5 Riverbottom Nightmare Gangs out of 5

A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)

This is probably the best Muppet special ever made. It marks one of those rare occasions where the Muppet universe has crossed over with Sesame Street (lending to an awkward moment where the Swedish Chef tries to cook Big Bird), as well as cameos from Muppet Babies and Fraggle Rock. I forgot how truly funny these guys could be and the wonderful chemistry that Jim Henson and Frank Oz shared on camera. Features a delightful cameo near the end from Henson himself which just makes me feel even more warm and gooey inside.

5 icy patches out of 5

Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (1978)

I hadn't seen this movie in over 20 years.

Niagara Falls.

I'm still the same kid I've always been.

4 Feliz Navidades out of 5

The Muppets (2011)

Jason Segel co-writes and stars in this loving tribute to the Jim Henson-era of Muppets. At once self-aware and self-referential, it recognizes and acknowledges the fact that the Muppets' popularity has declined in recent years and attempts to restore it to its former glory (the photos of Henson abound are a nice touch). Basically follows the plot of the first movie in which Kermit has to round up the entire gang in order to throw one last show to save the old Muppet theatre. This is of course done very tongue-in-cheek, with plenty of cameos, sight gags and in-jokes. I enjoyed it for all it was worth; it actually lived up to the Muppet name, which is pretty much all you need to know.

Note: This movie was directed by James Bobin and features songs written by Bret McKenzie so it has a very Flight of the Conchords-esque feel to it.

4 Mahna Mahnas out of 5