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Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure gets Muppetized in this 1996 delight, complete with savvy cameos, rollicking musical numbers ("Cabin Fever" is a showstopper), self-referential humor, and Miss Piggy as the Island's treasure-bedecked "queen of the warthogs." Purists offended by any of this are free to walk the plank. But if you're anything like the tour group that passes through one of the climactic scenes ("This is where they filmed Muppet Treasure Island," explains the guide) you'll be very impressed indeed. Kevin Bishop heads the human cast as plucky young Jim Hawkins, who comes into possession of a treasure map. Tim Curry is in his element as the scheming "professional pirate" Long John Silver. The Muppet cast includes Kermit as Captain Smollett, with Rizzo the Rat and the Great Gonzo shouldering most of the comedy. It wouldn't be a Muppet movie without a Kermit-and-Piggy love scene, and here the duo wind up tied together upside down, dangling over a cliff, where they share the tender ballad "Love Led Us Here." Funny and faithful (in its way) to Stevenson's story, this is a film families will long treasure. Donald Liebenson

All Movie Guide

Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale of a young orphan who becomes involved with pirate Long John Silver is given the Muppet treatment in this vibrant children's musical. As in The Muppet Christmas Carol, the film stays loyal to the original storyline but casts the well-known puppets in many of the supporting roles. Young Jim Hawkins remains human, as does Long John Silver, played by an amusingly exaggerated Tim Curry. However, Captain Smollet is played by the evergreen Kermit the Frog; Miss Piggy, Gonzo, and Rizzo the Rat serve as roving narrators; and numerous other Muppets assume smaller roles. The familiar adventure plot is enlivened by the Muppets' good-natured, winking sense of humor, and a number of anarchic musical numbers are reminiscent of the original Muppet Show. Long-time followers of the Muppets may find the film less fresh than Jim Henson's original creations, but the combination of old-fashioned storytelling, intriguing design, and clever humor will undoubtedly amuse younger audiences. Judd Blaise

Product Details

• UPC: 786936178579
• Source: WALT DISNEY VIDEO
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Pre-1954 Standard (1.33.1)
• Presentation: Pan & Scan
• Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Time: 1:39:00
• Sales Rank: 1,415

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