Review| Muppet Guys Talking

I have been enamored with the Muppets as long as I can remember. The movies, the TV shows, the cartoons – I love all of it. Jim Henson is one of my heroes, and I try to instill his philosophy (his sense of dedication, whimsy, play, and of course, controlled mayhem) in all my creative work to this day. I never tire of hearing stories from the early Muppet performers about just how the whole thing came together.

Muppet Guys Talking is a great glimpse into those early days of the Muppets. Directed by the legendary Frank Oz (who performed Fozzie, Miss Piggy, Bert, Sam Eagle, as well as Yoda in the Star Wars films, among others), this documentary is a fascinating conversation between five of the original Muppet performers: Oz, Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, Fran Brill, and Bill Barretta. It’s a sincere bit of filmmaking – short on budget and flashy sets, but big on heart and fun. I loved every moment of it!

Muppet Guys Talking is very funny, but it’s is also surprisingly deep, with the performers really getting into the philosophical origins of their characters and Jim Henson modus operandi. This lead to an interesting discussion throughout the film about just how the Muppets relate to the truths of the human condition.

The Good: The Muppet Guys are Talking!

Muppet Guys Talking is really good because of the people involved. All five of these amazing performers have such a history and camaraderie with each other that shows in every minute of the film. Their enthusiasm for their work and respect for one another are infectious.

Once Frank Oz got things rolling, the conversation went in all sorts of interesting directions. There are lots of fun stories told that should capture the imagination of any fan of Jim Henson and the Muppets – and even a few casual fans. The group reminisces about meeting Henson for the first time, some of the more complicated performance setups they had to endure, and the touching origins of some of the most beloved characters.

The film was very casual, which is part of its charm. Frank Oz has said in interviews that he wanted the film to be very simple, as it reflects the Muppets’ hardscrabble attitude and work ethic. And it works. The film is very accessible to anyone. One feels like they’re just a fly on the wall in the midst of an amazing conversation. The most the film does as far as special effects go are superimposed drawings of puppet setups, which were outstanding visual aids.

The Bad: A Short Talk

The one major flaw of Muppet Guys Talking was that, at only 65 minutes, it’s way too short. I wanted it to go one for at least another half-hour, or even an hour! I felt like the conversation had just hit its stride when it ended and it seemed like the film was just capped for no reason. There is more footage (the shoot lasted about nine hours, apparently), so I don’t understand why the film was stopped at such an absurdly short length.

The Muppet Guys Talking website was offering an hour of additional footage, but it came with the cost of the “Below Stage Pass” VIP price of $97. When the film itself only cost $10, that was an awfully big jump. However, the offer also came with a DVD copy of Muppet Guys Talking, personally autographed by Frank Oz. For a longtime Muppet fan like me, that was hard to pass up. I haven’t been able to see the additional footage yet, so I can’t say whether or not it was worth the additional cost.

A minor quibble was the poor quality of the footage of the Muppet films and television shows that were inserted into the film. It looked like they yanked it off of YouTube (in fact, a few still had the watermarks of the YouTube channel of origin!). I know that this film didn’t have much of a budget, but they could have secured better quality footage. The filmmakers obviously had to get permission from The Jim Henson Company, Sesame Place, and Disney to make the movie. Why wasn’t better footage secured?

Celebrating Our Nature

When asked by the filmmakers what the nobility was behind his work with the Muppets, Dave Goelz (who performs Gonzo, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, and many others) responded with this insightful quip:

“It’s human folly. It’s celebrating the degree to which we’re all lost.”

Goelz was saying that the reason why we find the Muppets funny, interesting, and endearing is because they reflect the flaws found in the human condition. In fact, in creating his characters, Goelz would often find a flaw within himself and amplified it. He said that it helped him understand his own flaws and grow as a person.

The other four performers agreed with Goelz’s assessment – chiming in about how they also based their characters on either their own flaws or those of the people close to them. For example, Frank Oz said that Miss Piggy is endearing and relatable because she uses her bravado to cover up her pain and insecurity.

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans 3:23

There is not one person on this planet that doesn’t struggle with flaws, which is what we Christians call “sin.” We are not perfect. Sometimes we choose to do the wrong thing. We make mistakes. The Muppets exemplify our nature with their loveable mayhem. Even mild-mannered Kermit the Frog had episodes of uncontrollable frustration and anger. And we laugh at it because, like all good comedy, there is a degree of truth hidden within the gags and jokes.

Though we are flawed and sinful, we were created by a God who loves us to no end. He is a perfect being who wants to have a relationship with His children, even if we are sinful. But God also understands our sin struggles, having walked the earth as a man in the form of Jesus Christ. And it is through His death on the cross that our sins are washed away. He has forgiven us, looking past our flaws to the real people He created us to be.

Wrapping It Up

Muppet Guys Talking is a fun and funny look behind-the-scenes at the world of Jim Henson. All five of the featured performers bring something truly special to the conversation. While it’s far too short, what is included is still very entertaining. It’s good that Frank Oz saw fit to make this film when he did, as Jerry Nelson died not long after filming.

The film really unpacks the secret of the Muppets’ lasting appeal. These characters are a reflection of our own human folly, and we laugh and sympathize along with them because we know that we can be the same way (albeit with hopefully fewer explosions). But our Creator loves us despite our flaws and wishes to know us more. We only need to be willing to trust Him to cleanse us of our guilt and shame.

Muppet Guys Talking is only available on the film’s website. If you are a fan of the Muppets or puppetry generally, I would highly recommend the purchase. The $10 cost is well worth witnessing this great conversation.