Review : Muppet Treasure Island

MUPPET TREASURE ISLAND

The Muppets' twist on the classic tale. The Muppets are back into action in another movie based on a novel written by Robert Louis Stevenson. Kermit the Frog and his colleagues go on a warfare against ruthless pirates. They also share their problem-solving journey on sea to rescue a treasure.

I think anyone who watches this knows that this  film is a jam packed comedy filled with cartoon action throughout and works well with children, in terms of keeping them entertained throughout and allowing them to know the difference between real and make-believe violence. It's a pirate swashbuckler of an adventure with swords, knives, gunshots, captures,  characters in distress and exaggerated villains.

Many of the beloved Muppet characters are in comic danger over the course of the film. Establishing the mood, one puppet early in the film asks in disbelief: "He died? And this is supposed to be a kids' movie!" That's brilliant, because it doesn't take itself too seriously and knows the target audience that it's addressing and it can make a joke about it, to establish itself outside the boundaries of the time zone it's set in.  But no one actually dies in the film, although one character is an orphan who is still grieving for his father. In an early scene some characters are seen drinking in a tavern and one is intoxicated, but that's the full extent that the film dares to go. There is nothing over the top or considered to be inappropriate for children at all.

So, what's the story? Well The Muppets take to the high seas in this lively fun filled version of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel. The adventure begins in a tavern when pirate Billy Bones (Billy Connelly) gives a treasure map to young orphan Jim Hawkins (Kevin Bishop) and his friends Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat. 

After a close and narrow escape from an attack from some bloody thirsty map-seeking pirates, the three emegos take the map to London and with a little diliberation they manage to get on board the ship of Captain Smollet (Kermit the Frog) To seek out the treasure. 

However the film wouldn't be much of a fun filled adventure without conflict in it and trouble is a foot when nasty pirate king Long John Silver (Tim Curry) and his monster Muppet minions who he has smuggled onboard the ship, are dead set on getting their hands on the map and treasure. They kidnap Jim and hed to the Island themselves.

Captain Smollet, Gonzo and Rizzo then have to go and rescue Jim and stop the pirates, It's on the island that this wild comedic adventure ensues, including a narrow escape from a gang of wild boars and their very beautiful queen (Miss Piggy), who's livid at the frog captain for abandoning her at the altar. 

In short, the pirates are defeated and Kevin Bishop can't sing.

Here's a trailer.

I think the film has more of an effect on it's audience than one can first anticipate when they watch it. I certainlly got great delight out of watching it recently. All the songs are memorable and interacte with the audience you can sing along with them which in tern adds to the overall enjoyment. 

The production values are very good, you never for once don't think that you are not on a ship, the costumes are splendid, the cast was very well chosen and the puppet interaction is magnificent and very exciting to watch on screen.

This loose adaptation of the classic tale is full of the kind of humor the Muppets are famous for, from jokes about Disney to a pirate with a talking lobster instead of a talking parrot. Tim Curry is splendid as Long John Silver, and a young Kevin Bishop is believable and earnest as young Jim Hawkins, even though he can't sing.

There are funny songs, zany characters, and an entrance by Miss Piggy that's right up there with Elizabeth Taylor's in Cleopatra. Through all the joking, though, the message of loyalty, friendship, and finding your destiny comes through as clear as day. This is a very funny and memorable movie that is suitable for children and adult audeinces a like and I think anyone can enjoy this film. 9/10!

NEXT : Disney's Aladdin.