Muppets from Space

Muppets from Space is a 1999 American science fiction family comedy film produced by Columbia Pictures and Jim Henson Pictures. The sixth feature film to star The Muppets, it is the first film since the death of Muppets creator Jim Henson to have an original Muppet-focused plot, and is a deviation of other Muppet films as it is the only non-musical film. The film was directed by Tim Hill from a screenplay by Jerry Juhl, Joey Mazzarino, and Ken Kaufman, and stars Jeffrey Tambor, Pat Hingle, Rob Schneider, and Andie MacDowell, alongside Muppet performers Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Bill Barretta, and Frank Oz. In the film, Gonzoattempts to discover his origins after having nightmares. After he and Rizzo the Rat are captured by government officials during his search, Kermit the Frog and the rest of the Muppet gang must save them.

The film was released on July 14, 1999 by Sony Pictures Releasing. Alongside The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, it is the last Muppet feature film to have the involvement of Oz prior to his retirement from Muppet performing the following year.[4] In addition, it is the last Muppet film written by Juhl prior to his death in 2005. The film was shot in Wilmington, North Carolina at EUE/Screen Gems in 1998.

Plot
Gonzo has always been identified as a "whatever"; but, after having disturbing dreams of abandonment and rejection, he begins to realize just how alone he is in the world. One of his nightmares involves his being denied entry by Noah onto his ark. The next morning, Gonzo tells Kermit that he is getting tired of being referred to as a "whatever." After an alien race appears to be trying to send him a strange mysterious message through his bowl of cereal, Gonzo realizes that he may not be so alone after all and later that evening, he climbs to the rooftop to watch the sky. Suddenly, he is struck by a bolt of lightning, which allows him to communicate with a pair of cosmic knowledge fish, who reveal his origins as an alien from outer space.

Unable to convince Kermit and his friends of the aliens' existence, Gonzo is lured by Agent Barker into the clutches of K. Edgar Singer of C.O.V.N.E.T., a government organization disguised as a cement factory. Singer is aware of the aliens' attempts to communicate and thinks that Gonzo is the key to convincing his superiors that aliens do exist. Gonzo and Rizzo are taken to C.O.V.N.E.T. by Agent Barker. Rizzo's antics cause himself to be flushed down a tube by wrestling legend Hulk Hogan and ends up having to go through C.O.V.N.E.T.'s rat training and medical research held by Dr. Tucker, alongside other Muppet rats. After Miss Piggy interrogates Barker, she, Kermit, Fozzie, Pepe, and Animal go to rescue Gonzo and Rizzo from C.O.V.N.E.T., using inventions from Bunsen and Beakersuch as a door in a jar, a rubber duck that emits temporary invisibility spray, and mind control gas.

An alien channeling his voice through a sandwich asks Gonzo where the alien ship can land, and Gonzo suggests a beach known by the name of Cape Doom, unaware that Singer's assistant Agent Rentro (Bobo the Bear) is listening. The gang arrives at the military base to rescue Gonzo and Rizzo. They use the invisibility spray to enter but when Fozzie washes his hands upon exiting a restroom it wears off, attracting the attention of a female guard who Animal chases away. Meanwhile, Rizzo frees Gonzo from the dissection table while the other rats attack Dr. Phil Van Neuter, which is witnessed by Singer and General Luft. Luft feels that his time has been wasted and leaves angry. Upon discovering from Rentro that Gonzo is heading for Cape Doom, Singer prepares the Subatomic Neutro-Destabilizer to use on the aliens. Rentro tells Singer that his car has been impounded because of unpaid parking tickets; they use the company car—a cement truck.

The Muppets rescue Gonzo then go to Cape Doom where a crowd of alien-happy spectators await their arrival. The ship comes to Earth and the aliens, who all resemble Gonzo, explain that many years ago they lost him but now welcome him back into the fold. Singer shows up and tries to kill the aliens, ultimately failing to do so (Rentro removed the Subatomic Neutro-Destabilizer's battery) and is laughed at. Gonzo considers going into space with his long-lost family but chooses to stay with his fellow Muppet Show cast-mates. Singer is invited by the aliens to go with them and leaves as Earth's ambassador.

As the Muppets are watching the stars from the roof, Gonzo tells Kermit he wonders why his family asked him to build a Jacuzzi. Pepe chuckles, because he and Rizzo had pretended to be them and asked him to do it.

Cast

 * Jeffrey Tambor as K. Edgar "Ed" Singer, the head of C.O.V.N.E.T.
 * Pat Hingle as General Luft, a military official who K. Edgar Singer reports to.
 * Rob Schneider as the TV producer of UFO Mania.
 * Andie MacDowell as Shelley Snipes, a UFO Mania anchorwoman.
 * Gary Owens as UFO Mania Announcer (voice)

Muppet performers
Due to scheduling conflicts, Oz only provides the voices for his characters; on-set puppetry was provided predominantly by Peter Linz (Miss Piggy) John Kennedy (Fozzie Bear and Sam Eagle), and Rickey Boyd (Animal). In addition, Whitmire, Boyd, Kennedy, Linz, and Drew Massey made on-screen cameos as hippies at Cape Doom.
 * Dave Goelz as The Great Gonzo, Bunsen Honeydew, Waldorf, The Swedish Chef and Birdman
 * Steve Whitmire as Rizzo the Rat, Kermit the Frog, Beaker, Bean Bunny and Cosmic Fish #1
 * Bill Barretta as Pepe the King Prawn, Bobo the Bear, Johnny Fiama, Bubba the Rat, Cosmic Fish #2 and Rowlf the Dog
 * Jerry Nelson as Robin, Statler, Floyd Pepper and Ubergonzo
 * Brian Henson as Dr. Phil Van Neuter, Sal Minella and Talking Sandwich
 * Kevin Clash as Clifford and Carter
 * Frank Oz as Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal and Sam Eagle
 * Adam Hunt as Scooter
 * John Henson as Sweetums
 * John Kennedy as Dr. Teeth

Cameos

 * F. Murray Abraham as Noah
 * David Arquette as Dr. Tucker, a sadistic scientist that works at C.O.V.N.E.T. and is in charge of the medical research that involves the rats
 * Josh Charles as Agent Barker, an operative of C.O.V.N.E.T.
 * Kathy Griffin as a female armed guard of C.O.V.N.E.T.
 * Hollywood Hogan as himself, an operative of C.O.V.N.E.T.
 * Ray Liotta as the gate guard at C.O.V.N.E.T.
 * Joshua Jackson as Pacey Witter, a character from Dawson's Creek
 * Katie Holmes as Joey Potter, a character from Dawson's Creek