Movie: The Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021) Caution Spoiler Alert

 Muppets Haunted Mansion

Came out; 2021

Time; 50 Minutes

Watched: Disney Plus

Rated: TV-PG

IMDB Rating; 6.3/10

Caution; Spoiler Alert

Staring;

Will Arnett as The Host

Taraji P. Henson as The Bride

Darren Criss as The Caretaker

Yvette Nicole Brown as The Driver

Dave Goelz as The Great Gonzo

Bill Barretta as Pepe

Eric Jacobson as Miss Piggy

Matt Vogel as Kermit the Frog

Story Line;

With most of the Muppets having fun at Kermit and Miss Piggy's annual Halloween party, Gonzo the Great and Pepe the King Prawn have decided to take on an epic fear challenge: spend an entire night in the impenetrable castle of the legendary magician, The Great MacGuffin. As the unsuspecting guests meander through the labyrinthine corridors of the gloomy tower, hoping to rub shoulders with glamorous celebrities, spine-chilling, blood-curdling events occur, forcing them to face their biggest fears. What have Gonzo and Pepe gotten themselves into this time? Will they stay alive in the most dangerous place on Earth, or will they spend eternity in the Muppets' Haunted Mansion?

Thoughts:

I thought why not, I actually really like The Muppet's and The Haunted Mansion. Figured putting them together would be a fun ride.

Of course this is a kids movie, and it was cute but not close to the story of The Haunted Mansion or really The Muppets. I was honestly a little disappointed.

Kermit and Miss Piggy only had smaller parts but the voice of Kermit was off. I loved seeing Gonzo in a starring role but it wasn't the same Muppets of my childhood.

This all sounds so stupid considering it's a kids movie!

CAUTION; Major Spoiler Alert

Instead of attending the Muppets' annual Halloween party, Gonzo and Pepe are on their way to a fear challenge event in the same haunted mansion where Gonzo's favorite magician, The Great MacGuffin, disappeared one-hundred years ago. Upon being dropped off by their hearse driver (Yvette Nicole Brown), Gonzo and Pepe meet the Caretaker (Darren Criss), along with several ghosts and singing busts.

Their "Ghost Host" (Will Arnett) tells Gonzo that he has been summoned to the mansion to see if he can survive one night. If he cannot, he and Pepe will be trapped there forever. While Gonzo claims that he fears nothing, Pepe is easily scared by everything he sees in the mansion. After meeting Madame Pigota (who resembles Miss Piggy), Gonzo and Pepe come across a room full of several ghosts resembling various Muppets. The Host soon appears and informs Gonzo that in order to survive the mansion he must face his fears in Room 999.

As Gonzo is led to the room, Pepe meets and becomes entranced by the ghost of Constance Hatchaway (Taraji P. Henson), who plans to marry and then kill him as he meets the ghosts of her past husbands. Gonzo is trapped in Room 999 (with the room's number sign turning upside down to read "666") and starts to turn old as his reflection taunts him. Recalling a conversation with Kermit he had earlier, Gonzo realizes he is indeed afraid of something: that no one will like him if he does not do dangerous stunts. He then remembers the Host's advice of facing his fears being the key to escaping the room after fearing he will be trapped in the mansion forever. Finally, Gonzo ultimately realizes he is afraid of never seeing his friends again and the room de-ages and releases him.

The Host congratulates Gonzo for facing his fears and tells him that he is free to go so long as he makes it out by sunrise. After realizing that Pepe is in trouble, Gonzo refuses to leave without him. With the help of the Host's candelabra, Gonzo is able to find Pepe and stop the wedding. The pair jump out the window and make it out of the mansion just as the sun rises.

The Host meets them at the gate, revealing himself to be the Great MacGuffin, who is impressed that Gonzo was willing to do what he could not; face his fears. The hearse driver picks them up and Kermit calls asking to meet the pair for breakfast. He then comments that Gonzo and Pepe should bring their friends along, leading the two to turn and see the Hitchhiking Ghosts behind them.