Muppet Treasure Island (1996)

Muppet Treasure Island - 1996

Our next film is 1996's family adventure film "Muppet Treasure Island", a unique take on a classic tale of pirates, treasure, and adventure on the high seas.

The film's live action and voice cast includes Tim Curry, Kevin Bishop, Billy Connolly, Jennifer Saunders, Steve Whitmire, Frank Oz, and Dave Goelz.

Jim Hawkins and his friends Gonzo and Rizzo are tired of the life they live in a tavern.  They always feel like "There's Got To Be Something Better For You and Me".  Jim longs to be on the sea like his father was.

When they discover a pirate treasure map among dead tavern patron Billy Bones's belongings, they get the chance they are seeking to branch out in life.

With the aid of Squire Trelawney, Jim and his friends secure positions on board as ship as cabin boys.  They are excited to begin their adventure.

On board, they meet the ship's cook Long John Silver.  Jim takes an instant liking to him, and he looks up to him as a father figure.  However, they had been earlier cautioned by Billy Bones to beware of the one-legged man.  As Gonzo notes, Long John has only one leg.

Just before they sail, Jim and his friends meet the captain of the ship, who has been described as a "raging volcano".  They are surprised when Captain Abraham Smollett appears with a cheerful "high-ho everyone".  Gonzo jokes, "Maybe he gets hopping mad."

At Smollett's command, the crew weighs the anchor and goes "Sailing For Adventure On The Big Blue Wet Thing."

Once they get underway, the first mate holds a roll call.  The crew is a less than desirable bunch.  They include members with names like "Mad Monty", "Short Stack Stevens", "One-Eyed Jack", "Walleyed Pike", and "Headless Bill".

Old Tom, Real Old Tom, and Dead Tom are also on board to the shock and disbelief of Captain Smollett.  While the Captain grimaces at the mention of Dead Tom, Gonzo turns to Rizzo and says, "Cool".

And they are genuinely shocked when the first mate calls out the name of "Big Fat Ugly Bug-Faced Baby Eating O'Brien", who looks attractive but has a very deep bass voice.

The Captain demands to know who hired the crew.  Squire Trelawney points to his finger and said that the man who lives in his finger is responsible.  "He's been to the moon," he tells everyone.  "Twice".

It soon becomes apparent that pirates are after the treasure map and the Captain has Jim give it to him for safekeeping.  Jim reluctantly hands it over.

Boredom soon sets in.  The entire crew becomes afflicted with something called "Cabin Fever".

Long John Silver is revealed to be the organizer behind the attempts to get the treasure map.  Once they reach their destination, he kidnaps Jim and has him follow the clues on the map to lead them to the treasure.

The Captain, Gonzo, and Rizzo attempt to rescue Jim, but they get captured by a group of native pigs and their leader, "Spa'am", High Priest of the Boars.  Rizzo is not at all thrilled: "Terrific.  Captured by crazed wild pigs and sacrificed hideously before a pagan altar."  Gonzo, however, thinks it's great. "Are we lucky or what?" he says.

It turns out that the leader of the boars is an old flame of the captain's, Benjamina Gunn, who comes riding in on a flower bedecked elephant.

Jim, Gonzo, and Rizzo are able to escape and make it back to the ship to get backup to help Captain Smollett.

Captain Smollett and Benjamina have been captured by Long John Silver and hung over the edge of a cliff.  Things get pretty scary for the two of them, and the Captain even has to hang on to Benjamina after her rope snaps.  Jim comes to their rescue in the nick of time.

Captain Smollett then has to face off against Long John Silver.  With a few impressive sword maneuvers, the Captain says, "Not bad for an amphibian".

Long John is ultimately defeated after the rest of the crew comes and holds him at the point of their swords.

He tries to escape the ship with some of the treasure, but he doesn't get very far when it starts to sink.  He's forced to abandon ship and make his way to the now deserted island they just came from and let the treasure sink into the water.

With Benjamina Gunn and her boars now on board as part of the crew, the Captain and Jim set sail for "wherever the wind may take us."

Cast rundown:

   Tim Curry...............................Long John Silver

   Kevin Bishop...........................Jim Hawkins

   Billy Connolly..........................Billy Bones

   Jennifer Saunders...................Mrs. Bluberidge

 

   Steve Whitmire......................Captain Abraham Smollett/Rizzo The Rat

   Frank Oz...............................Benjamina Gunn/Mr. Samuel Erroll/
                                                Squire Trelawney

   Dave Goelz............................Gonzo

And that's it for Muppet Treasure Island.  Tim Curry has said that Long John Silver was one of his favorite roles that he's ever played, and that this film is one of his favorite movies that he's ever been in.  Billy Connolly said that he was proud to be the first person to die in a Muppet film.

One of my favorite things about this film is the sub-story that involves Rizzo using the voyage as an opportunity to make money by selling tickets for a "cruise".  He has his guests playing shuffleboard, dancing under the stars, watching exotic "floor shows", touring the jungle set of the movie "Muppet Treasure Island", cheering during the sword fight, and ultimately doing some water sports as they bring up the treasure that Long John lost.

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