I think it’s a pretty safe statement that no one knows what Gonzo is. We know he’s a weirdo, and that he’s blue, and that he’s a Muppet, and that he’s a chicken lover. No, he doesn’t like to eat them – he really loves them, Camilla most particularly. But what is he, exactly? What is his species?
This is the question posed by the movie “Muppets from Space.” Kermit is, as usual, trying hard to keep everyone together as they each pursue their dreams. They have purchased a big fixer-upper of a house with room for everyone, but the cash flow just doesn’t seem to be there. Miss Piggy has dreams of becoming an anchorwoman at a local television station, but she’s been relegated to the lofty position of errand girl. The other Muppets have their plans, but nothing is panning out, and Kermit’s stress levels aren’t good (also as usual.)
In the meantime, Gonzo is having meaningful conversations with his alphabet cereal. While pouring himself a bowl, a handful spills on the table and rearranges itself to read, “R U THERE?” Gonzo immediately assumes that this is the work of an alien life form and starts trying to contact the mother ship. This in turn catches the attention of a government agency who has also been trying to prove the existence of aliens.
Of course there’s plenty of Muppet silliness involved – what else were we expecting? But in the end, the message comes through that it doesn’t matter what you are, it’s who you are that matters, and Gonzo’s true family is the Muppets. He’ll always have a home with them, even as dilapidated as that home might be.
While not my favorite Muppet movie (“The Great Muppet Caper” is the best one ever made) this film was a lot of fun and was rated G.)
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