Kermit's Swamp Years (2002)

Very disappointing...

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Instant Favorite.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

I had seen all the Muppet movies that went to cinemas and made for television, and this was the only one left that I hadn't, before the release of Muppets Most Wanted of course, I knew it was most likely going to be average, but I was still willing to try it. Basically Kermit the Frog (Steve Whitmire) is reliving memories whilst revisiting his swamp home, where he came from before becoming famous (not exactly the same one as in The Muppet Movie, but never mind), and the film flashes back to when Kermit was twelve years old and one of his earliest adventures. Young Kermit enjoyed life in the swamp, with his best friends Croaker the frog (Bill Barretta) and Goggles the toad (Joey Mazzarino), but he wonders what else is out in the world beyond the swamp. But then Goggles and bullfrog bully Blotch (John Kennedy) are kidnapped by pet shop owner Wilson (William Bookston), and sold to scientist Dr. Hugo Krassman (John Hostetter) and his assistant Mary (Kelly Collins Lintz), Kermit and Croaker are forced to venture out of the swamp to rescue them, but they also get the opportunity to see the world for what it is, good and bad. Kermit and Croaker are accompanied by stray dog named Pilgrim (Cree Summer) who is seeking a new owner, and after all kinds of small events along the way they reach where their friends are, and they realise Krassman's nasty plans for all toads and frogs he has kidnapped, they are all to be used in school for biology classes for dissection. In the end Krassman realises the error of his ways and lets all toads and frogs free, Pilgrim is adopted by Wilson who also turns out to be nice, and all four frogs head home to the swamp, where Kermit continues to live happily, with more freedom to get out and about when he feels like it. Also starring Steve Whitmire as Jack Rabbit , Bill Barretta as Horace D' Fly and Roy the Frog, Dave Goelz as Waldorf, John Kennedy as Arnie the Alligator and Jerry Nelson as Statler. This is about as good as you're going to get from a straight to DVD release, it's a pit they weren't able to get at least one celebrity cameo like other Muppet films, children watching this certainly won't have many complaints, and it is reasonably good fun, not a bad fantasy comedy. Worth watching, at least once!

Kermit's Swamp Years was something my 5 year old nephew enjoyed, but really didn't pay much attention to it. Having bought a series of Muppets movies the same day as this one (Muppets Take Manhattan and Muppets in Space) and having seen those before this one in that week, I was a bit disappointed at the quality drop. The human actors in this movie are terrible, terrible. Overacting and completely 2 dimensional, more so than the Muppets themselves.I enjoyed the behind the scenes with the Armadillo more than the actual movie, as well as the blooper reels and the end credits with more bloopers. But there is something gone in the post-Henson Muppet productions. There is a kind of innocence lost and some of the jokes mentioning poop are not what I would expect in a Muppet movie. There are also some tongue in cheek moments which do not add to the experience.There is a moment when scalpels are used in a kind of sword fight, and it doesn't seem very appropriate. especially for a kid's movie.Overall, a fun experience for the young children, but I have seen a lot deeper and much better stories from previous Muppet movies. This one feels watered down.

I bought this movie for my 2 and 3 year old because they've recently become interested in The Muppets and it barely held their attention... that is until there was a scene toward the end when there is apparently a scalpel fight between the Dr. Krassman and Kermit. They couldn't take their eyes off of it, and I couldn't believe mine! Jim Henson would be so disappointed. Why would a children's movie show a fight with scalpel? Yes, I know that no one was killed, but seriously... couldn't they have just let Kermit release the little guy from a cage or something? Does he have to wield a scalpel? My kids won't be watching this movie again, but now I'm waiting for them to start a sword fight with butter knives in the kitchen. Why was this movie given the rating of G instead of PG? Like I said, Jim Henson would be so disappointed at this. This was not his vision of a children's production.

Not that great. Perhaps very young children might enjoy this. I would be surprised if many folks over 9 or 10 find Kermit's Swamp Year's entertaining. It's lacking in charm, wit and humor. The best part of the DVD is the Behind-the-scenes featurette with the armadillo and the on the set interview with Kermit. If the movie were as funny as the special features, it would be worth having.