Broadway bound, the Muppets take Manhattan by storm in this magical musical about breaking into show business! Fresh out of college, Kermit, Fozzie and the entire cast of Kermit’s musical “Manhattan Melodies” head for the Big Apple with plans to turn their small play into a big hit! All they need now is someone to produce their show! But when no one in town will even meet with them, it’s up to Kermit to believe hard enough for all of his friends that the show WILL go on! Family entertainment has never been more fun than this comedy marking Frank Oz’s solo directorial debut.

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[youtube https://youtu.be/8LVGW1SoP0U?si=FYOKLCPHAGdEdEEs&t=480]

Video Quality

The Muppets Take Manhattan has been graced with a 2160p 4K UHD upgrade with HDR/Dolby Vision that has been scanned from the Original Camera Negative and approved by director Frank Oz. The included Blu-Ray is the same disc that was first released in 2011, and while great for the time, it is clear that there has been a substantial uptick in quality since that HD debut. This 4K UHD disc delivers the perfect amount of natural film grain which resolves well and never fluctuates unnaturally. This is a film replete with wonderful texture and detail on each muppet and within each environment thanks to this transfer. Leave it to The Muppets to provide one of the most impressive catalog transfers we have seen this year.

The skin tones of the humans look natural and the clarity of the transfer gives you a notable amount of facial detail including facial hair and makeup. The UHD disc contains vibrant, nuanced colors throughout, most notably in the shades of the characters, some of the flashy costumes, the production design, and other dazzling facets. Highlights are brilliant and offer great stability without veering into blooming. Black levels are stellar and allow the picture to harness an incredible amount of depth and detail in shadowy environments. This transfer is a godsend for fans of this classic family film. Any print damage or other such blemishes are nowhere to be found. The improvements in contrast and overall clarity are significant, especially within the diner or the textures on the costumes. Sony continues to find new ways to impress us with each upgrade.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc showcases a new Dolby Atmos track along with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track and a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mono track for the purists. Sony has made the right decision to give consumers a choice when it comes to their audio journey. The Atmos track may not be a night-and-day difference from the 5.1 presentation, but it does expand things out in an effective manner. Things are more obviously different when it comes to the mono track, which handles the original audio perfectly within its reserved sonic ambitions. The track sounds full-bodied and natural even without the full-on immersion of the Atmos track. Each of these tracks respects the material and feels perfectly in line with the sonic intention.

One of the most important aspects of the film is the music, and it flows through with flawless fidelity from the first song to the last. The dialogue is crisp and clear without ever getting drowned out by the somewhat chaotic situations. It stays grounded up front, but the activity extends to the surrounds, rears, and overhead speakers when it comes to the music and various environmental sounds to make the adventure feel more momentous and dynamic. The sounds up above do not carry the main load, but they show their worth when filling the room with music or when walking through the bustling city. The subwoofer comes when it needs to support the low end. Directionality is always precise when it comes to environmental effects. No matter which track you choose, you are in for a treat. There are optional English, English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles provided.

Special Features

4K UHD Blu-Ray (Disc One)

Audio Commentary: Director Frank Oz provides a great new commentary track in which he reflects on the creation of this film, where he was at this point in his career, the difficulties of shooting around the puppets, taking a more emotional approach to the story, the brilliance of Dabney Coleman, memories of the performers, the moments that could not be included if it were made today, and much more that makes for a great listen.

Trailers: This disc provides the Teaser Trailer (0:56) and the Theatrical Trailer (1:27).

Blu-Ray (Disc Two)

Muppetisims: A three-part featurette totaling two minutes offering up brief humorous moments with Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy & Kermit, and Pepe.

Jim Henson Interview: A nearly 15-minute archival interview with Jim Henson in which he discusses the differences between directing and acting, his connection to Kermit, the roles of the characters in the film, filming in New York City, the cameos in the film, and much more.

Previews

Final Thoughts

The Muppets Take Manhattan is a more character-driven take on the titular characters, and we fully embrace this decision. The film may not be quite as uproarious as other entries – although it is hilarious – but it makes up for this by giving our characters more room to show off who they are, how they feel inside, and how they respond to failure. The cameo appearances may not mean as much to modern audiences, but they still add quite a bit of fun, especially the impossibly committed performance of Dabney Coleman. It is hard to go wrong with a proper Muppet movie, and this delivers exactly what we want. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a grand A/V presentation and terrific new and archival special features. Fans of the franchise should pick this up without hesitation. Highly Recommended

The Muppets Take Manhattan is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Digital.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.