Every once in a while, a trip to the theater hits differently in hindsight. On August 10, I headed over to AMC to catch Muppet Treasure Island as part of their “Fan Faves” program. Believe it or not, it was my first time watching the film. I went in expecting a lighthearted afternoon with Kermit and the gang, and while it delivered plenty of laughs, reflecting on that screening today carries a much deeper resonance.
A Raucous, High-Seas Adventure
Directed by Brian Henson, the 1996 musical adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic adventure novel is pure, unadulterated Muppet energy. From the delightfully absurd madness of “Cabin Fever” to Gonzo and Rizzo serving as Jim Hawkins’ chaotic sidekicks, the film leans completely into its brand of irreverent wit and slapstick charm. Kermit plays a dignified Captain Smollett, Miss Piggy arrives with grand theatrics as Benjamina Gunn, and the pacing never lets up.
It’s an outright fun, breezy movie that knows exactly what it wants to be: a colorful pirate romp packed with catchy tunes, fourth-wall breaks, and puppet mayhem.
Tim Curry’s Incomparable Magic
What truly anchors the entire picture, though, is Tim Curry as Long John Silver.
Many live-action actors who share the screen with Muppets either play things too broadly or wink at the audience so hard that the illusion falls apart. Curry did neither. He committed 100% to the bit, playing Silver with a dashing, swashbuckling theatricality that treated every puppet as a peer. He sang, schemed, and bantered with genuine heart and wicked charisma. Watching him belt out “A Professional Pirate” on a massive theater screen was an absolute blast.
Looking Back with Gratitude
When I walked into AMC that day, Tim Curry was still with us. Just two weeks later, the legendary stage and screen icon passed away at age 80.
Knowing what followed, I look back on that August 10 screening with immense gratitude. It was already a treat to experience the film for the first time with a receptive theater crowd, but getting to see Curry’s larger-than-life presence projected on the big screen just days before his passing felt like a rare, unintentional gift.
Muppet Treasure Island gave him one of his most joyously uninhibited comedic performances. If you haven’t revisited it recently, put it at the top of your watchlist—it’s a wonderful reminder of the warmth, wit, and singular genius Tim Curry brought to every role he touched.
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