Review: Muppets Haunted Mansion

 

 

Overview:

The Muppets local stunt devil, Gonzo, has been extended his greatest challenge yet by his idol, the Great MacGuffin. Tagging along with him is his best friend and the king prawn that never misses a party, Pepe. 

Their mission is simple, survive a night in the world’s most haunted mansion. However, if they fail, they will have to remain with the other ghosts of the estate for all eternity.

 

Our Take:

The Muppets are one of pop culture’s most timeless collections of characters. Throughout the decades, the lovable felt creatures have entertained with all sorts of unique themes and parodies. However, since their inclusion into the Disney vault, Jim Henson’s creations have struggled to find their spot. Thankfully, The House of Mouse may have finally figured out what to do with this band of sensational puppets.

It is a return to form for The Muppets to star in their own satire of a holiday special. Disney’s own streaming service has granted their massive collection of franchises room to explore and create. For The Muppets, it would mean the chance to bring back their particular brand of thematic musicals.  Considering the multiple Jim Henson Christmas features, taking on a different holiday is a solid choice. 

This also opened the doors for The Muppets to blend themselves further into the Disney universe by exploring one of the brand’s most famous venues.  The Haunted Mansion is not only one of Disneyland’s trademark attractions, but it has also been adapted into its own blockbuster starring Eddie Murphy in 2003.

The premise is straightforward enough and a timeless Halloween story. A deceased proprietor has left their mansion behind, and those mysteriously summoned there must have their bravery tested. All one must do is survive a single evening within the mansion’s walls, and they will be gifted a fantastic prize. In this case, the award for Gonzo is facing the ultimate thrill.

The simple plot is the perfect vessel for The Muppet brand of theatrics. The doors are wide-open for spooky puns, original music, and familiar faces. In fact, the film is littered with call-backs to classic Muppet skits, including Fozzie the Bear facing his grumpy critics Statler and Waldorf; and Swedish Chef making one of his creations.

It would not be a Muppet movie without lots of silly puns and breaking out into song and dance. As far as original music goes, The Muppets have released a plethora of songs that remain stuck in your head for a lifetime. Unfortunately, the four original scores in this film are worth hitting the 30-second jump button.

Another notable trademark that defines The Muppet repertoire is the utilization of celebrity guest stars. Haunted Mansion does not disappoint, bringing in some big names and recognizable faces. There are small cameos from stars such as Danny Trejo, Yvette Nicole Brown, and John Stamos. Most substantially is the starring role of the ‘ghost host’ played by Bojack Horseman himself, Will Arnett.

Truthfully, there is a wide range when it comes to the quality of a Muppet feature. The felt family have a few successful blockbusters under their belt, notably the 1979 and 2011 self-titled adventures. Then there is a middle tier that includes the bulk of the collection, including a Christmas Carol and Treasure Island parodies.

Unfortunately, Muppets Haunted Mansion won’t be remembered as one of the most sensational editions of the franchise. While all the humour and faces are there, the feature lacks depth and originality. The story is far too simple to the point that the plot could be dwindled down to 15-minutes. And the time spent paying it back to classic Muppet jokes saturates the space for some updated themes.

For the die-hard fans of The Muppets, this will be a must-watch. The timeless energy of Jim Henson’s creations is alive and well, creating something for the whole family. On the same note, this is a frustrating adventure for the long-running fanbase. The magic these characters had through the 80s and 90s continues to struggle in finding relevance for a modern audience. Although, the potential to hit those grand heights again is there if Disney is open to creating some more fresh content such as this.