I guess I must have been at one of my happiest moments in 1996, such is the hold this movie still holds over me. I still have a (worn) copy of it on VHS back in England and can easily say I've seen it more than 20 times. At least. Alongside the equally touching and well-made Muppet Christmas Carol it managed to ignite an interest in the young of the classics whilst simultaneously updating them with the unique brand of Muppet humour. Despite some stiff mocking by The Simpsons I don't think there's an adult alive today who doesn't have a soft spot for the crazy celluloid and TV antics of those felt creatures, and it was this I used to tempt my girlfriend to rent it for me.
I won't bother too much relating the plot, I think most people have at least a vague understanding of Robert Louis Stevenson's seminal tale of pirates and their buried treasure, but will say that to me it was these Jim Henson movies which first effectively bridged the gap between a child-targeted movie and one which could appeal sufficiently to adults as well. Some of the jokes I only just understood now, ten years later, and yet I still laughed at Gonzo's masochism, Sam the Eagle's intensity and, of course, Kermit's weak-spirited but righteous Captain Smollett.
Tim Curry plays Long John Silver with just the right degree of personable evil, and for a man who has made his name by appearing in anything and everything he thankfully does more than merely pick up a fat paycheck for this one. His cold-hearted manner is belied by his genuine concern for Jim the cabin boy, our hero, but not so much that he'll let Jim get in the way of his treasure. A young Kevin Bishop does a good (but not spectacular) job as Jim, though I am disturbed by the fact that his voice hasn't broken for his musical numbers. He must have been 14/15 at the time of filming for goodness' sake.
Speaking of music this can often ruin a film for me. My love of Audrey Hepburn did not make Funny Face enjoyable, and I would rather jam a screwdriver into my head than sit through The Sound of Music or Chicago. Yet Muppet musical numbers are always a riot, filled with amusing lyrics and sticky hooks. Where Muppet Christmas Carol was maudlin and downbeat (to fit the mood natch) this is silly and uproarious, and I could remember most of the words with no effort at all.
Given the time inbetween viewings and the fact that my love remains undimmed for this piece of Muppet theatre, I can easily state that I will still watch it from time to time in the future, and that my children will not go hungry for Muppet goodness. I just wish the awful Muppet's From Space hadn't destroyed the franchise as a legitimate concern. |
