MovieChat Forums > The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005) Discussion > Did the Muppets 'jump the shark' here?

Did the Muppets 'jump the shark' here?

posted 17 years ago by DeceptiveFox
3 replies | jump to latest

As you probably know, the term "jumping the shark" refers to an installment in a TV series or movie line, where the franchise begins to go downhill. I believe the actual term "jumping the shark" specifically refers to Happy Days, and the episode where Fonzie jumps over a shark on his motorcycle.

Anyways, I was wondering if anybody thought the same about the Muppets franchise after watching this movie. I know I did. I've been a long time Muppet fan and I've collected all but one of the movies/tv specials they've made over the years.

I know alot of fans believe the series jumped the shark after The Muppet Christmas Carol, but to be completely honest I liked Muppet Treasure Island and Muppets From Space (both of which I think are GOLD compared to this.) This was the first Muppets movie I've ever watched and thought "when is this going to end?"

I realize Frank's getting on in years, and the voices of Piggy and Fozzie may be challenging, but this Jacobson guy just didn't cut it for me. Fozzie sounded like Piggy alot of the time.

I think the sad part is that alot of the Muppet performers/voices are what made each Muppet unique, and gave each one that distinct personality and spirit. As the performers age and pass on, I believe the Muppets (as all fans know and love them) will die out.

[–] sldenoble 17 years ago

I totally agree with you. This movie could have been stellar, but a combination of lackluster acting and sub-par singing from Ashanti as well as some incredibly over-the-top and inappropriate dialogue just ran it into the ground.

Oh, and when the Fonz "jumped the shark" in Happy Days, he was actually on water skis. That doesn't make it any better, though.

[–] lickdogfb 17 years ago

it was nice to see the muppets do the wizard of o, but they attiude and R&B thing was awful

[–] mmka1 16 years ago

I am a die hard muppet fan, but this thing was so awful I had totally forgotten that it existed until accidentally running across this imdb page. I don't think that this was a "jump the shark" situation, just very poor writing and directing and extraordinarily bad judgment.