Muppets Haunted Mansion Early Review

Following Lego Star Wars Terrifying Tales, the next property to get the Halloween treatment is The Muppets in Muppets Haunted Mansion. No strangers to holiday-themed outings, this tale puts a Halloween spin on a story that saw the majority of the Muppets sidelined for the most part as their roles essentially amounted to cameos. That being said, it wasn’t without its spooky moments, not to mention plenty of entertaining celebrity cameos. Underneath all the spooky moments, celebrity cameos, and hilarious gags, was an important message about staying true to one’s self . In the end, that same wholesome Muppet charm is there which is sure to connect with viewers young and old. No matter the age of viewers, there is just something about these characters that still works after all this time, maybe it’s nostalgia but it’s easy to be reminded of what it was like to be young again. Running at a mere 50 minutes, the special still crams a lot within that running time, making for an entertaining watch that simply flies by.

Muppets Haunted Mansion saw Gonzo (Dave Goelz) and Pepe (Bill Barretta) forgo the gang’s Halloween party in favor for a party at a mansion belonging to one of Gonzo’s idols. Little did they know, what they were really going into was not what they expected as they were challenged to survive a night in the mansion which was unlike many others. Each would see their fair share of hijinks while other Muppet characters showed up in cameo form (while some were not shy in voicing their disappointments) along with some celebrities to add to the fun, including a fair share of funny gags and catchy musical numbers. While Gonzo and Pepe’s night appeared to be a daunting one, all they had to do was face their fears, a challenge that had already trapped countless souls within the walls of the mansion.

While the end was an inevitable one, there was still an emotional impact there. Meanwhile, the special effects were dated at best but it was essentially in line with everything else and admittedly added to the overall charm. The voice acting was great across the board with everyone bringing the right energy with Goelz and Barretta carrying the tale as Gonzo and Pepe nicely. The commitment to the silliness by all the celebrity cameos was also admirable.

At the end of the day, Muppets Haunted Mansion is a successful first forgo into Halloween for The Muppets, offering viewers an entertaining dose of nostalgia that won’t wear out its welcome.

still courtesy of Disney

If you liked this, please read our other reviews here and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter or Instagram or like us on Facebook.

Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.