The Great Muppet Caper Parent Guide

If you can suspend reality long enough to believe a frog and a bear could be identical twins, that a pig could be accepted as a fashion model, and that an eclectic mix of unusual creatures could integrate themselves into the regular citizenship of a big city, then this is the movie for you!

In this big screen adventure, Kermit the Frog, Fozzie the Bear and Gonzo the whatever (brought to life by Muppet performers Jim Henson, Frank Oz and Dave Goelz), play newspaper journalists trying to redeem their jobs after bungling a headline story. Specifically, they need to know who stole Lady Holiday’s (Diana Rigg) jewels while they were distractedly taking pictures of a chicken on the other side of the road.

In order to interview the successful fashion designer, the trio needs to go to her head office in London. Keeping expenses as low as possible, the chums travel in an airplane’s baggage compartment and seek accommodations at the rundown Happiness Hotel. Best known as a place where they can “park their carcasses for free,” the money-strapped reporters fit right in with the establishment’s local residents (composed of the other Muppet characters we’ve all grown to know and love).

But the investigation gets off on the wrong foot when Kermit mistakes Miss Piggy (voice of Frank Oz), a model-wannabe who is working as a receptionist, for her fabulously famous employer. Smitten by his amphibian charm, the pretty pork-chop doesn’t correct the identity mix-up until the real Lady Holiday falls victim to another robbery.

Then, as all fingers point at the ambitious swine as the perpetrator of the crime, Miss Piggy turns to Kermit and his friends to clear her name by solving The Great Muppet Caper and nabbing the real culprits.

Like all other Muppet movies, this one relies on the popularity of the zany personalities, crazy antics and running gags. Scenes where the puppets ride bicycles and motorcycles, operate taxis and buses, as well as swim and dance, also showcase the incredible skills of their creator Jim Henson and his crew. Tossed in for good measure are cameo appearances by the likes of Robert Morley, Peter Ustinov, Jack Warden, Peter Falk, John Cleese and Oscar the Grouch (voice of Carroll Spinney).

Although the plot does include depictions of theft, property damage, telling falsehoods, and gunplay, none of them are ever anymore believable than Kermit and Fozzie’s striking resemblance. Nor are the brief moments of supermodels in skimpy costumes, some water ballet performers, or a comment about infidelity any more alluring than Miss Piggy in a swimsuit.

Silly from the get go, The Great Muppet Caper is not really about good guys and bad guys. Instead, it’s just good fun and bad puns. And the only mystery the movie ever reveals is the magic called The Muppets.

About author

Donna Gustafson

Donna Gustafson has been involved with her husband Rod's work since the beginning. Handling many of the behind-the-scenes tasks, she also creates preview pages for up-coming movies, acts as managing editor and occasionally writes reviews.