Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021)

Muppets Haunted Mansion is a 2021 American comedy Halloween special based on the Disney properties The Muppets and The Haunted Mansion. It was released on Disney+ on October 8, 2021. The plot stars Gonzo and Pepe as they face the challenge of staying in a haunted mansion for one night. It is the Muppets' first Halloween special and received generally positive reviews from critics.

Plot

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, Gonzo and Pepe meet the Caretaker, along with several ghosts and singing busts.

Their "Ghost Host" 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, 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. 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 video calls asking the pair to meet him and the other Muppets 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.

Cast

Will Arnett as the Host/The Great MacGuffin

Yvette Nicole Brown as the Hearse Driver

Darren Criss as the Caretaker

Taraji P. Henson as the Bride

Kim Irvine as Haunted Mansion Maid

Quinn McPherson as Hallway Knight

John Stamos as Famous Person

Ghosts

Ed Asner as Claude

Jeannie Mai as Maude

Chrissy Metz as Harriet

Alfonso Ribeiro as Fred

Danny Trejo as Huet

Sasheer Zamata as Mary

Singing Busts

Skai Jackson

Geoff Keighley

Justina Machado

Craig Robinson

Pat Sajak

Muppet performers

Dave Goelz as:

The Great Gonzo

Dr. Bunsen Honeydew as a Staring Bust

Waldorf as a Happy Haunt

Beauregard as George Hightower

Randy Pig as a Happy Haunt

Chip as himself and Pickwick the Chandelier Ghost

Zoot as a member of Madame Pigota's ghost band

Bill Barretta as:

Pepe the King Prawn

Rowlf the Dog as the Organist

Dr. Teeth as a member of Madame Pigota's ghost band

Johnny Fiama as Frank Banks

Howard Tubman as a Happy Haunt

Bobo the Bear as a Happy Haunt

Big Mean Carl as a Happy Haunt

Swedish Chef as a Happy Haunt

Andy Pig as a Happy Haunt

Bubba the Rat as a Happy Haunt

Beautiful Day Monster as himself and as a Happy Haunt

Clean Gene the Behemoth as himself and as a Happy Haunt

Party Tomato

Eric Jacobson as:

Miss Piggy as herself and Madame Pigota

Fozzie Bear as himself and Gauzey the Hatbox Bear

Sam Eagle as a Duelist

Animal as a member of Madame Pigota's ghost band

Matt Vogel as:

Kermit the Frog as himself and the Mansion Show host

Floyd Pepper as a member of Madame Pigota's ghost band

Pops as a Duelist

Crazy Harry as a Happy Haunt

Lew Zealand as Reginald Caine

Uncle Deadly as the Justice of the Peace

Sweetums as a Ghost Servant

Peter Linz as:

Walter as Ambrose Harper

Robin the Frog as the Birthday Ghost

Statler as a Happy Haunt

Joe the Legal Weasel as a Happy Haunt

Lips as a member of Madame Pigota's band

The ghosts

David Rudman as:

Scooter as himself and as a Happy Haunt

Janice as a member of Madame Pigota's band

Beaker as a Staring Bust

Wayne as a Happy Haunt

Squid Ghost

Brian Henson as:

Sal Minella as Frank Banks's sidekick

Julianne Buescher as:

Yolanda Rat as a Happy Haunt

Beverly Plume as a Happy Haunt

Wanda as a Happy Haunt

Screaming Goat

Alice Dinnean as:

Miss Cartier as a Happy Haunt

Mummy

Caretaker's Dog

Pee Wee

Bruce Lanoil as:

Duddy

Ballroom Rat

Mo Frackle as a Happy Haunt (uncredited)

Nicolette Santino as:

Party Tomato

Alex Villa as:

Pumpkin

Production

Early attempts to produce a Halloween special centered on The Muppets date back to the early 1990s. Following Jim Henson's death, his son Brian planned to continue the franchise's presence on television by releasing a series of holiday specials, with the first one tentatively centered around Halloween. The project was ultimately cancelled, and eventually the television series Muppets Tonight (1996–1998) and the 2000 video game Muppet Monster Adventure were released instead.

In March 2009, it was announced during a special event at Disney's Hollywood Studios, that the Walt Disney Company, who acquired The Muppets in 2004, was developing a Halloween special based on the franchise. A 2010 release date was later announced. However, the special was postponed in order for the Muppets Studio to focus entirely on the 2011 film, and eventually cancelled.

In May 2021, a Muppets Halloween special based on the Disney theme park attraction The Haunted Mansion, titled Muppets Haunted Mansion, was announced to be in development. Filming took place in April 2021 during eighteen days. In August 2021, longtime Muppet director Kirk Thatcher revealed that he wrote and directed the special, and shared a teaser image from it.

Later that month, Geoff Keighley and Darren Criss were revealed to be part of the cast as Uncle Theodore and The Caretaker, respectively, while Kelly Younger was revealed as co-writer. The rest of the cast was announced the following September.

Ed Mitchell and Steve Morrell wrote the music for the special, including three new songs, titled "Rest In Peace", "Life Hereafter", and "Tie The Knot Tango", as well as a cover of King Harvest's "Dancing in the Moonlight".

This was one of Ed Asner's final acting works before his death, he was described on The Muppets social media as "a great friend of the Muppets" at the time of his death and the special was dedicated to his memory.

Release

Muppets Haunted Mansion was released exclusively on Disney+ on October 8, 2021.

The special made its linear TV premiere on Disney Channel on October 22, 2022.

Reception

Audience viewership

According to Whip Media, Muppets Haunted Mansion was the 6th most streamed movie across all platforms in the United States during the week of October 10, 2021, and the 10th during the week of October 17, 2021.

Critical response

On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 70% based on 30 reviews, with an average rating of 6.30/10. Metacritic gave the film a weighted average score of 67 out of 100, based on 4 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

John Serba of Decider praised the humor saying, "Muppets Haunted Mansion is trifling silliness. It inspires some smiles, if not out-loud laughter." W. Andrew Powell of The GATE reviewed the show positively, stating, "Disney World's Haunted Mansion meets The Muppets in one of the best, and most entertaining Muppet experiences in years." Victoria Rose Caister of GameRant.com complimented the series, stating that the "spooky elements are actually done in a very nice way", and the show is "a really solid watch that will be easy to throw on for kids or adults at Halloween time."

Garrett Martin of Paste rated the Halloween special 8 out of 10 and stated that Muppets Haunted Mansion recalls The Muppet Show, saying, "It's a silly, ultimately heartfelt hour destined to become a holiday favorite for fans of Disney parks, the Muppets, or just felt in general." Tara Bennett of IGN gave the series 8 out of 10, claiming, "The Muppets at their best are timeless, and this special captures much of that spirit." Polly Conway of Common Sense Media rated the Halloween special 4 out of 5 stars, stated the Halloween special promotes positive message and role models, such as being courageous and encouraging others, while complimenting the diverse representations across the portrayal of different origins.

Accolades

References

External links

Official website

Muppets Haunted Mansion at IMDb

Muppets Haunted Mansion on Disney+

Muppets Haunted Mansion on Muppet Wiki