Line #51 Film/KermitsSwampYears


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4	''Kermit's Swamp Years'' is a 2002 DirectToDVD movie that serves as a prequel of sorts to ''Film/TheMuppetMovie'', following Kermit's years of living in the swamp in Mississippi before he decided to travel to Hollywood.
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6	It opens in the present day with Kermit moving right along on his motor-scooter to visit his old family in the swamp, and then he starts to narrate his tale to the audience of one particular adventure he got involved in when he was only a boy. He had two playmates, Goggles, a nervous, cowardly toad with glasses, and Croaker, a smooth, confident frog. Said adventure involved a confrontation with two human frog hunters, Goggles getting frog-napped, a dog named Pilgrim, and an ordeal through a pet shop, through downtown, and climaxing in a high school classroom where they dissect frogs!
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8	It is produced by Columbia-[=TriStar=] Home Entertainment and Jim Henson Home Entertainment. Even though it is not as popular as most of the other Muppet films, it contains various [[MythologyGag mythology gags]] and nods to Creator/JimHenson's legacy.
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12	!!This movie contains the following tropes:
13	* AccessoryWearingCartoonAnimal:
14	** Much like his adult counterpart, Kermit's only article of clothing is a green collar around his neck.
15	** Goggles' only article of clothing is a pair of glasses.
16	* AdvertisedExtra: Arnie only has one scene in the film (where he explains that animals should ''never'' talk to humans), and yet he's featured on the cover of most video releases.
17	* AlterKocker: The two turtles in the pet shop.
18	* AmbiguouslyJewish: A pair of turtles in the pet store.
19	* AnachronismStew:
20	** Considering this movie is supposed to detail Kermit's youth, the movie, ideally, would take place no earlier than the early [[TheFifties 50s]]... ''however'', a lot of Croaker's dialogue consists of slang and terminology that was far more common of TheNineties and TurnOfTheMillennium ("Boy, do I have issues!", "I'm not worried, I'm psyched!").
21	** Similarly, when we arrive at George Washington High School, the students are clearly working from modern-day, full-colored text books, and are seen wearing or rolling backpacks, when they would more than likely have books that look like small, jacketless, hardback books bounded together with leather straps.
22	** Touch-tone phones are seen throughout the movie, however, those weren't invented until TheSixties, they would have been rotary phones.
23	** Wilson's Pet Shop is full of modern-day pet food, pet bedding, and pet accessory brands. Not only that, but Wilson listens to Bachman Turner Overdrive's, "Roll On Down the Highway," on the radio, which was released in 1975 (the band itself formed in 1973). Wilson also observes Blotch attacking Goggles and remarks, "You two should be on the Nature Channel!" which certainly wouldn't have existed in the mid 50s.
24	** Come to think of it, the movie appears to have taken place more or less in TheSeventies, rather than TheFifties, and that too would have been anachronistic, considering not only did ''Series/TheMuppetShow'' - hosted by Kermit - premiered in 1976, but Kermit was already appearing regularly on ''Series/SesameStreet'' in 1969, and even making appearances with other Muppet characters on ''Series/TheEdSullivanShow'' throughout TheSixties.
25	** A young boy appears who is implied to be a young Creator/JimHenson. Henson was born in 1936 and the boy appears to be about 12-13 years old, which suggests the film may take place no later than about 1950.
26	** The film shown at the movie theater, advertised as ''Swords of Fire'', is actually ''The Black Arrow'', released in 1948.
27	* AudienceShift: Unlike most of the Muppet films, shows, and TV specials, this film is more obviously aimed at children, with very little for adults to appreciate (well...besides, maybe, the nods to the original ''Muppet Movie'').
28	* {{Balloonacy}}: Kermit, at one point, gets the idea to search for Blotch and Goggles by using a bunch of balloons to lift him into the air and give him a better look at his surroundings to see if he can spot them.
29	* BigBadEnsemble: Consists of Dr. Krassman and Mary as a BigBadDuumvirate, and Wilson as a separate villain. [[spoiler:That BigBadEnsemble thing turned out to be a big mistake, as Wilson [[TheDragon is working ''for'' Dr. Krassman]] to bring the frogs to him.]]
30	* BigBadassBattleSequence: It is how Kermit, his best friends, and the frogs fight Krassman.
31	* BigDamnHeroes:
32	** In her EstablishingCharacterMoment, Pilgrim saves Kermit and Croaker from Krassman and Mary by barking at them.
33	** There are several ones at the movie's climax.
34	*** Kermit decides to save Croaker from Krassman just in time.
35	*** Blotch swoops in to save Kermit from Krassman by grabbing his leg.
36	*** Croaker comes to rescue Kermit in the nick of time by hopping on Krassman's face.
37	*** [[TheCavalry The Frogs from Wilson's Pet Shop]] come to save Kermit by hopping out of the cage.
38	*** Goggles steals the knife from Krassman to defeat him.
39	** At the end of the final showdown, Pilgrim leads [[HeelRealization Mary and Wilson]] to save Kermit from Krassman. But [[TheCavalryArrivesLate they are too late to save him]] because [[HeelFaceBrainwashing Krassman is brainwashed by the "Let the Frogs Go" chants]].
40	* BitchInSheepsClothing: Wilson was at first the friendly and cheerful pet shop owner, but [[spoiler:his real job is to lead Dr. Krassman to all the frogs.]]
41	* BittersweetEnding: Really more sweet than bitter: Krassman gets arrested for his crimes, Mary reunites with Wilson, Goggles and Blotch are saved, and the frogs go back to the swamp. Pilgrim decides to move in with Kermit, but [[IChooseToStay she chooses to stay with Wilson]]. At the end of the film, the adult Kermit reveals that he's still friends with Croaker, Goggles, Blotch and Pilgrim, and was on his way back to the swamp to meet them again.
42	* BookEnds: The film begins and ends with Horace D'Fly flying around and singing.
43	* BuddyPicture
44	* ButtMonkey: Dr. Krassman is [[CowardlyLion a scaredy cat]] who has AmusingInjuries. His main injuries are during the film's FinalBattle.
45	* CallForward: After being terrorised by a (real, non-Muppet) pig, Kermit hopes he'll never meet one of ''those'' again...
46	* TheCameo:
47	** Animal is seen as a key chain ornament in the red truck that carries Goggles to the pet shop.
48	** JustForFun/StatlerAndWaldorf are seen in the movie theater as younger versions of themselves, and [[LampshadeHanging note how generous it was for the director to allow them a cameo in the movie!]]
49	--->'''Statler:''' So people could see how young we look?\
50	'''Waldorf:''' No, so we wouldn't have to watch it!
51	** Miss Piggy's dog Foo-Foo is seen in the pet store during "Life as a Pet", as is the Dog from the 1986 Henson special ''Tale of the Bunny Picnic''.
52	** Almost happened but {{Averted}}: [[Series/TheMuppetShow Rowlf, Baskerville,]] and [[Series/FraggleRock Sprocket]] appeared at Wilson's Pet Store in a scene that was either never filmed, or filmed but cut from the final product.
53	* ChekhovsSkill: [[spoiler:Kermit wallops Dr. Krassman using tips he observed from a film. "What is this?! A movie?!"]]
54	* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Mary, Krassman's assistant. For instance, she claims to have wanted to be a scientist ever since reading ''Literature/TheWizardOfOz'' as a child. Krassman points out that the book has very little to do with science.
55	* ComicallyMissingThePoint: Dr. Krassman phones Wilson's Pet Store for frogs for his class at George Washington High School. Goggles only hears "George Washington" and assumes he's their new owner.
56	* ContinuityNod:
57	** Arnie the Alligator, who in ''Film/TheMuppetMovie'' appeared as an animatronic, non-speaking, naturalistic-looking robot in the opening scene, here appears as a more traditional Muppet ''[[SuddenlySpeaking who can speak!]]'' He was on good terms with Kermit back then too.
58	** Kermit is inspired by an action film while in a movie theater. This is clearly a nod to him remarking how "there's a double feature in town every Saturday" in the original film.
59	** Dr. Krassman was named after Creator/MelBrooks' German mad scientist character Professor Krassman from ''Film/TheMuppetMovie''.
60	* DefeatMeansFriendship: Played with, after Goggles and Blotch end up at Wilson's Pet Shop. Beforehand, Blotch was a bully who frequently beat up Kermit and his friends, and after he and Goggles are put in a tank with a snake that begins to constrict Blotch, Goggles challenges the snake to constrict him instead. This is because Goggles, being a toad, can use his poison glands for defense. The snake suffers severe itching, and retreats; Blotch asks Goggles why he did that, and when Goggles responds, "I was helping a friend", Blotch is deeply touched and turns over a new leaf.
61	* DistinctionWithoutADifference: When Goggles replies to Blotch's referring to Kermit and his friends as the Soggy Pants Brothers by pointing out that they don't wear pants and presenting his rear at Blotch to prove that they don't, Blotch angrily asks if Goggles just mooned him. Goggles replies that he wasn't mooning, he was just showing him his bare bottom.
62	* TheDragon: Wilson is this to Krassman.
63	* {{Duck}}: When Blotch is abot to punch Kermit, Goggles, and Croaker, Kermit shouts, "Duck!", and he, Goggles, and Croaker all duck. A distracted Blotch then says, "Duck? I don't see no duck!" before realizing he's been fooled.
64	* EvenEvilHasStandards: [[spoiler: Krassman's assistant won't go through dissecting the frogs.]]
65	* TheFaceless: Kermit's mother is only seen from the back.
66	* FramingDevice: The framing device of the film consists of Kermit as an adult telling the audience the story of his youth.
67	* FreudianExcuse: [[spoiler:Krassman wants to kill frogs because he had to dissect one when ''he'' was in high school, but was laughed at by everyone for not going through with it, and for being called crazy for claiming frogs can talk.]]
68	* HilariousOuttakes: The DVD has an outtake reel.
69	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Despite his past actions as a bully, Blotch shows the good inside of him when he slowly begins to befriend Goggles and later attacks Dr. Krassman to save Kermit.
70	* LargeHam: Dr. Krassman is very hammy.
71	* LoveInterests: Mary's love interest is [[spoiler:Wilson.]]
72	* MediumBlending: Horace D'Fly, like [[Series/TheJimHensonHour Waldo C. Graphic]], is a remote-controlled, virtual CG puppet.
73	* MythologyGag:
74	** A young human boy helps Kermit up from the road so he can continue on his way. The boy watches Kermit walk off-screen, ponders for a moment, and then checks the mailbox. [[spoiler:''The mailbox reads'' '''''Henson!''''']]
75	** During one scene in the film, a boy with a dog visits Wilson's pet shop. The dog's name? Rowlf.
76	** After Kermit is chased by a pig, he remarks, "I hope I never have to see another one in my entire life." Oh, Kermit, you will...
77	** A postcard in the background of the pet shop reads "Salmon Friends", a take on ''Series/SamAndFriends'', Jim Henson's first show.
78	** Another advert seen in the pet shop reads "Goelz Guppies", a nod to original Muppet performer and builder Dave Goelz, best known as Gonzo. Other Henson creative team members referenced include performers Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Steve Whitmire, producer David Lazer, and writer Jerry Juhl.
79	** At different points in the movie, Kermit is certain he can hear something out there calling his name--echoing the lyrics of ''Rainbow Connection'' ("Have you been half asleep, and have you heard voices?/I've heard them calling my name/Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?/The voice might be one and the same").
80	* NobodyHereButUsStatues: Croaker hides from the pet shop owner at George Washington High School by posing as a trophy.
81	* ObviouslyEvil: Krassman.
82	* {{Prequel}}: The film is intended as a prequel to ''Film/TheMuppetMovie'', focusing on Kermit's youth before he met the rest of the Muppet cast.
83	* PresentDayPast: If we are to believe that it's set in TheFifties or at latest TheSeventies then it comes across as this. See AnachronismStew.
84	* ScarsAreForever: Croaker is marked with tire tracks when they first leave the swamp and they stay on him throughout the rest of the film.
85	* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: [[spoiler:Frogs have an unwritten rule never to talk to humans. Kermit has no choice but to break it so he and his friends can escape from the classroom and go home. This implies that Kermit is also a liberator among his species- no frog has ever been revealed to be able to talk to any human before this, save for maybe Krassman as a boy, who tried to convince his other classmates and failed. In ''Film/TheMuppetMovie'', talking frogs are seen as completely ordinary.]]
86	* ShakingTheRump: The beginning of the FramingDevice has Horace D'Fly taunt Kermit by wiggling his rump at him.
87	* SpaceWhaleAesop: [[spoiler:Don't dissect frogs because.... they can talk?! ...In-universe, maybe.]]
88	* StopDrowningAndStandUp: When Goggles jumps into the water for the first time, he says he's drowning. Kermit then has to remind him that the water's only three inches deep.

Context Film / KermitsSwampYears