avi-greene2
Whether you are a Muppet fan or not, this movie really isn't worth watching. I am not a huge Muppet fan nowadays, but I like to look back to my childhood years when I was one. I was 12 years old when I got this movie on DVD, and I only watched it one time when I was in 5th grade, and that was it. Now I don't have the movie anymore and I hated it so much for many reasons. First off, I really like Ashanti's song "Happy," but do I like it when she played Dorothy Gale? NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was totally wrong to have African- Americans playing Dorothy and her family! Secondly, instead of a dog playing Toto, they have Pepe play that part, and he is a SHRIMP, not a dog! Third, it was an absolutely STUPID idea to have Dorothy become a singer, and not to mention the soundtrack of this version of Wizard of Oz is awful! I would highly recommend to everyone who is a Muppet fan, and everyone who is not, to pass on this stupid Muppets' Wizard of Oz movie, because everything about this film really ruins the Judy Garland Wizard of Oz legend from 1939. The Judy Garland movie is way better than this.
Benjamin Black
I hate this movie. It sucks. Let's go.Dorothy works at her diner in Kansas and dreams of being a star. She gives the Muppets her demo CD after missing the opportunity of auditioning for them, but still worries about leaving Kansas. She wants to become a sensation and sing. However, she and her neighborhood find themselves in danger when a tornado hits, and it blows her, her pet shrimp, and her trailer home away. They find themselves in the magical land of Oz where they find rats in hats, magical wizards, a scarecrow, a T.I.N. thing, and a lion.Let's start with the good things. First of all, Queen Latifah's here. To be fair, that's not saying much because she really doesn't bring much. But have you ever had that actor/actress that's so awesome, their presence makes the production a bit more awesome? That's Queen Latifah. Secondly, the scene with Kermit and Quentin Tarantino...Yeah, that scene is hilarious! Third, there's a joke Statler and Waldorf make about Fozzie in this film. It's not at all the funniest thing they've said, but this movie is so bad that it stands out as a highlight! Also, OK, David Alan Grier can be entertaining half the time he's here, but I'm mostly rooting when I see the closing credits. So I guess there's four and a half good things about this movie.So what sucks about this movie? EVERYTHING ELSE! I'll try to be brief: Let's start with the 2 bozos who ruin this movie: Ashanti & Pepe! First of all, Ashanti: WHO GAVE HER PERMISSION TO ACT?!? I guess it works in a film like "Coach Carter" because she played an urban teenager, and she has an urban style already. Here in a what's supposed to be family movie (it's not at all a family movie), it doesn't work! Half the time she's on screen, I just hear her saying "I'm trying to act, please excuse me." My younger brother and I laugh and overdub her lines by making references to her poor acting in this film (try it, it's hilarious). Secondly, Pepe. You've read in my last review of "Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie" that I hate Pepe. For as annoying as he was in that movie, I can tolerate him so much more in that film than in this film! This is the film that really makes me hate him! He's not charming, he's not cute, he's not lovable, he's not anything you'd love in another Muppet! When he's not making inappropriate adult jokes, he's making awkward moments by delivering what the writers and producers wanted to be a funny line, but is actually just stupid and annoying! AND WHY IS HE TOTO?!? You really had to put him in the movie, so you gave Dorothy a pet shrimp instead of a dog?!? (I know he's a king prawn; I'm choosing to disrespect him by calling him a shrimp!)The choice to make Dorothy a superficial, star gazed teenager is stupid! It takes away from the original story; why change her motivation? The original Dorothy was a lot more innocent, likable, and relatable. The choice to make Toto a shrimp...whatever, I talked about that already. The ending is stupid! Aunt Em says to her (and I'm paraphrasing), "After our house blew away, I realized that it doesn't matter where you sing because you're always home in our hearts."...So, after your niece flies away in a tornado, an instance in which most people would die, you say it's alright if she sings because she's in your heart? YOU JUST LOST YOUR CHILD AND YOUR HOME; WHY IS HER SINGING CAREER ON YOUR MIND?!?!And, just like Pepe and his connection to the last Muppet production, there are even more uncomfortable adult jokes here. They reference a pornographic company, Pepe plays with Gonzo's nipples, and Gonzo gets aroused by a poorly animated chicken. Not only is this film full of bad acting by Ashanti, annoying lines from Pepe, pointless adaptations of the original "Wizard of Oz" story, and painful adult jokes, but a lot of these scenes are distasteful! The scene where Kermit and Gonzo are literally destroyed is scary!! And they try to make up for it by forcing a "likable" scene right after that - and it doesn't work!! That seems to be the pattern of this movie: distasteful scene/moment, followed by a forced tasteful scene/moment that really isn't all that tasteful!This is my second least favorite movie EVER (my first being "The Cat in the Hat" - THAT'S RIGHT! This is up there with Mike Myers as The Cat in the Hat!)! The music is annoying, the animation and graphics are terrible, and it's not charming or entertaining or likable! It's a slap in the face to the original "Wizard of Oz" story, and it's a slap in the face to Jim Henson's Muppets. This was the first production the Muppets released after they were bought by the Walt Disney Company; the fact that they're owned by Disney still burns my hind, but the knowing that they produced this is just punishment and sickening! This movie sucks, and if you have any sense whatsoever, you'd avoid it at all costs! BOOYIKA!
erica_higuera
This movie is inappropriate for kids. Approximately five times characters refer to wanting to feel "sexy." There's also a cgi sequence that is overtly sexual and completely inappropriate. Recently Katy Perry received a lashing for her duet with Elmo, but that was mild compared to the cleavage that's shown here. Ashanti's acting and singing is horrible, and her quest to become a star is shallow. The usual lovable characters (muppets/WOZ) are forgettable. This Disney movie does not do the muppets justice. This movie seemed slow and we simply couldn't finish it. My son actually did like the shrimp instead of a dog as Toto because it was an original muppet character, and actually had a few funny scenes.I want to make clear that this crap is a complete disgrace to Jim Henson. Shame on his kids, Brian and Lisa (?), and shame on Disney. Jim always took great pride in his work, ensuring that it was educational, fun, inspirational, and original. This movie is none of the above.
ste_fas
First let me say, it is no "Muppet Movie." But you did not have to pay 7 dollars for ticket for this either. Jim Henson was a genius and his input on the muppets is notable, but being a father that has tried to show my kids the early muppet shows, I appreciate people still making muppet shows for a new generation. 70s humor is lost on my children. I do not fault anyone for trying to make the muppets up to date. They must of done a good job too because my son LOVES this movie. He knows the songs, knows the story and thinks Quentin Tarantino is hilarious (even though he does not have a clue who he is). Let me give them credit by saying they actually followed the book a lot better then the famous Judy Garland movie. Putting adult references like Pink Floyd and Empire strikes back into in is fine by me too. If you hate them doing that then you hate almost every animated movie that has come out in the last 10 years (with the exception of Pixar). Queen Latifa and David Allen Grier were fun and Ashanti was fun although she was not as strong as her supporting cast. This is a fun movie for kids that introduces old stories with old characters to a new generations. The songs are catchy and they do a good job and recreating the muppets voice and movements without Jim Henson. I am glad I did not pay 7 dollars for it, but for a good time with a small child feel free to rent it or watch it if they rebroadcast it.
