 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Muppets' Wizard of Oz
- Review Date: March 22, 2006
- G
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2005
Common Sense Media says
Raucous Muppet spoof of a classic. Tweens and up.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this Muppet caper operates on two levels, with numerous gags that mainly adults will understand. The movie includes mischevious references to R-rated movies (Kill Bill, Passion of the Christ) and pretty far-out rock and roll, like the legend that Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" album has been used as an "alternative soundtrack" to the 1939 Wizard of Oz with trippy results.
What's the story?
In THE MUPPETS' WIZARD OF OZ, pop/R&B diva Ashanti plays Dorothy, a sassy wannabe music star who's bored to death living the slow life in Kansas, working at her Auntie Em's (Queen Latifah) diner. Dorothy misses her chance to audition for a travelling "Star Search" type show run by the Muppets, then she's swept up by a tornado and deposited in Oz. To get back to Kansas, she must appease the mysterious Wizard by going on a quest to get the magic eye of the Wicked Witch of the West. In clever casting, Kermit the Frog is the Scarecrow, Fozzie Bear is the Cowardly Lion, and Gonzo is the Tin Man. Miss Piggy plays three different witches, good, bad, and narcissistic. Honeydew and Beaker show up as high-tech henchman who pull off the illusions of the Wizard (Jeffrey Tambor), and -- in a very clever touch -- the Wizard of Oz takes a completely different form depending on whoever gazes upon him.
Is it any good?
The Muppets' Wizard of Oz premiered on prime-time TV in America, and the video box bears the curiosity of two sets of ratings: a TV "PG" and a theatrical equivalent of a "G." This does seem to be edgier in its humor than previous, G-rated Muppet-brand-name fare. But it never stops reminding you that it's only a movie, making mention that one of the top Muppet talents is actually named Frank Oz. At the climax, action-director Quentin Tarentino appears as himself, excitedly describing to a quivering studio-exec Kermit how violent he can make the next scene.
Ashanti is pretty good when it comes to reacting to Muppets, but the ending moral is a little questionable -- Dorothy, returned to Kansas, gets Auntie Em's blessing to go seek music celebritydom after all. Translation: There's no place like stretch limos and lots of bling, either. We wish this were made into another Muppet joke, but it seems more like the filmmakers wanting their hip-hop heroine to have it both ways.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the fact that a human actor -- Ashanti -- is in the main role, rather than Kermit or some other Muppet. Was it as entertaining as other Muppet movies, where the puppets are center stage? How well did this version work, compared to other versions of the L. Frank Baum classic?
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- Teens & kids
Parent of 6 and 9 year old
April 9, 2008
AGE
Why change the original story?
My daughter (7) and my son (4) sat down with some popcorn along with my husband and I to watch this movie. We were looking forward to a "feel good" movie because we are really fond of the Judy Garland version of OZ. Instead we got a very different version and we were really appalled when Miss Piggy shows up in tight leather biker pants as the Wicked Witch of the West and orders that they shred Kermit. Her goons popped off Kermit's head and trounced his body so violently that both of my children became quite upset. Camilla the chicken, Gonzo's love, was so sexy near the end of the movie along with the Barry White sexy clip that I was embarrassed for my children to be watching it with me. I almost turned it off completely. I am very disappointed. It was not an innocent 'G' movie!
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Kid, 12 years old
March 5, 2010
AGE
The most mature muppet movie ever
This movie is stupid. no, very stupid. this is a crappy movie. this movie is too mature!!!
Skip it
What other families should know:
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Kid, 11 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
Good for 9 and up
I was shocked to find some bad stuff in a Muppet film! Lots of the word sexy and in one scene one of the characters says "I didn't know how hard it would be to find an all American girl and Rizzo replies "Yeah, how do the producers of Girls Gone Wild do it?" Other slight innuendos.One curse word.Rizzo says, somebody's going to get b**ch slapped.
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Parent of 7 and 9 year old
April 21, 2011
AGE
Not worthy of Muppet's legacy
Can't stress what a terrible movie this is. Couldn't even make it through.
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Kid, 12 years old
November 8, 2009
AGE
this movie is bad
This movie is bad
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Teen, 13 years old
April 16, 2011
AGE
:)
Surprisingly, the spoof is more accurate compared to the book than the first movie! No, Seriously! and i love it for that! You guys should read the books!
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Teen, 13 years old
March 30, 2011
AGE
Finally, a parody without the un-kid-friendly junk writers throw in.
I thought it was good. The ending is kinda slow. The main charecter representing Dorothy is kinda one of those "sarcastic yet sexy" teen who talks back to her aunt in the beggining of the movie.
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Kid, 11 years old
May 30, 2010
AGE
Alright for kids 10 and up.
This movie kinda good but, they a curse word in it and what is with that nasty word se...... I can't even say it. That was gross of them to put that stuff on their, I thought all the Shrek movies were more appropriate than this movie and they put this on Disney Channel! Unbelievable! But still it was kinda good.
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Kid, 9 years old
November 23, 2011
AGE
muppets wiserd of oz
i don"t rembor much but i was like 4 and it did not make sence but why chang it
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Parent
February 8, 2012
AGE
Disappointing
I loved Pepe the King Prawn being Toto but didn't like the certain references made to Passions, or girls gone wild videos being the standard of the " all American girl " and when i heard Rizzo the Rat drop the "B" bomb i about lost it. I know with the times we live in some of the comedy is going to change a bit but certain things just don't belong in a Muppet's movie . You sit down to watch and think you're going to see a funny, feel good Muppet Movie and then you get hit with this .....I hope this isn't a sign of how the Muppet's will be from now on. This was not one of my happier purchases . The humor in this would have been more at home in a Family Guy Cartoon not a Muppet movie. If i wanted to see Family Guy i would pop in the DVD . It just isn't what i expected from a Muppet movie
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy, music and sing-along, puppets |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Director: | Kirk Thatcher |
| Cast: | Dave Goelz, David Alan Grier, Jeffrey Tambor |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 100 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | May 20, 2005 |
| DVD release date: | August 9, 2005 |
| MPAA rating: | G |
| MPAA explanation: | general audiences |
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