Muppets from Space

Nine years after Jim Henson's death and two ill-conceived period capers later, the franchise is finally back on its spindly green legs. Mercifully avoiding the stabs at relevant hipness that marred the past decade's Muppet endeavors, Space succeeds by boldly manipulating the tender spot in our affections that longs for googly-eyed clumps of felt to play pranks and yank tears.

First-time director Tom Hill abandons soggy song-and-dance in favor of a wholesome plot: charismatic oddball Gonzo's search for his family. Belonging to no genus or species, the hirsute chicken fetishist wonders the big Hows and Whys while on the hunt for his blue-nosed brethren. "I've always had alien tendencies," he sighs, verging closer to genuine pathos than you've any right to expect. Under Hill's eye, however, the gang has rarely held more appeal. Sage Kermit reaches profound new levels of best-friendness, Miss Piggy is resplendent in various shades of violet, and creepy madman Animal easily aces creepy madman David Arquette, who's seen here in a cameo. The lasting impression, however, is Gonzo's embrace of the superstar critter within.

-- Joseph Manera