Muppets from Space MPAA Rating: G Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: +2

Produced by his son Brian Henson, Jim Hensons furry creatures are back for a new adventure inwell, aroundwell, sort of related tospace. Suffering from an identity crisis, Gonzo dreams he is denied admittance to Noahs Ark, because he is alone in the world and of an unknown species. But in the morning, a strange message in his alphabet cereal reminds him he is not alone and instructs him to watch the sky. Gazing into the night sky, he is transported into space and told by cosmic fish to mow a specific return message in the grass. Gonzo isnt alone, however, in getting mysterious messages from space. COVNET, a secret government agency which tracks extraterrestrial activity, has found this same message turning up all over the world. Learning of Gonzos communication with space, COVNET is hot on his trail as a possible connection with alien life. Will the identity Gonzo longs for come from space? MUPPETS FROM SPACE has some cute moments but goes to the bottom of the list of classic Muppet adventures. An abundance of obscure movie spoofs and pop culture references are likely to go over childrens heads.

As a G movie, this film has only a few questionable elements. Some mild slapstick violence and a couple of intense scenes may slightly alarm very young viewers. Gonzo is zapped with a cosmic ray and later mice are electrocuted and experimented on. And Miss Piggy characteristically karate chops and punches her way through the film, once hitting a man in his midsection. At one point Miss Piggy informs her friends that she has to urinate, using a slang term. The Lords name is used once in exclamation, and the word heck is heard once. The beloved original music of past Muppet films is sadly missing, with an all-pop collection featuring at least one song with moderately suggestive comical lyrics. And a woman passionately kisses the Muppet character named Animal, referencing their supposed romantic relationship. Learning an important lesson about identity, Gonzo ultimately finds his true home in the love and acceptance of his loyal friends. MUPPETS FROM SPACE never really gets off the ground in entertaining audiences, but we can recommend it as a moderately acceptable family film.

Preview Reviewer: Cliff McNeely
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, 10202 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, California 90232, (310) 244-4000