In this Muppet film, Kermit the Frog and his friends stage a "Muppet reunion show" in New York City, out of concern that they don't appeal as much to people as they once did. However, when the Muppet Show sign goes missing, the Muppets have to find it before the curtain rises on their show. The movie features countless, memorable Muppet songs and returning characters, many of whom hadn't been seen in decades.
This film is notable for lacking Disney's creative involvement; while The Muppets Studio and The Jim Henson Company produced the film, Disney simply handled theatrical and home media distribution.
Muppets to the City provides examples of:
- Amicable Exes: Kermit and Piggy may not have the romantic feelings they once did, but their relationship is still healthy enough to accompany Robin on his fishing trip.
- Ascended Extra: Rowlf the Dog appears in his biggest role yet since his Muppet Show days (getting an even bigger role than Fozzie Bear and Gonzo); he helps find the missing Muppet Show sign, and he gets one whole scene with him in the Muppet Theatre basement, looking at photos of him on The Jimmy Dean Show and talking to Kermit about reliving the glory days while also building a brighter future. Justified since Rowlf's tenure on Jimmy Dean was instrumental in giving Jim Henson and the Muppets national exposure, and thus, he is too important a part of their legacy to reduce to a supporting role.
- The Bus Came Back: The film sees the return of Muppets that haven't been featured in years, from Clifford, Bean Bunny, and Annie Sue, to Sam, Harry the Hipster and Yorick; Wilkins and Wontkins; Taminella Grinderfall; Delbert the La Choy Dragon; and an adult, puppet version of Skeeter. Even Pierre the French Rat, the first puppet Jim Henson built, makes a cameo. Also counts as this for the performers as well; for example, this is the first performance of Kevin Clash in a Muppet project since 2005, and Louise Gold's first performance since 2014.
- '80s Robot makes his first appearance since Muppets Most Wanted.
- The Cameo: Of sorts; archive recordings of Jim Henson, Frank Oz and the other original Muppet performers can be heard in the background in every scene taking place in the Muppet Theatre basement, as are the voices from the classic and reboot Muppet Babies; they are all even credited for their roles as "Voices of Muppets Past".
- Canon Immigrant: This film officially brings Skeeter, a character originally created for Muppet Babies, into the main Muppet canon.
- Character Tics: When Skeeter listens to a good song (or any catchy rhythm), she always taps her foot in time to the beat.
- Chekhov's Skill: Skeeter's ability to locate missing objects (per her career as an explorer) is key to helping Fozzie and Rowlf find the Muppet Show sign.
- Commuting on a Bus: Frank Oz and Steve Whitmire return as creative consultants, but do not play any of their Muppets.
- Crossover: While the final film sees Bert and Ernie make a cameo, deleted scenes reveal that the casts of Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock and Bear in the Big Blue House were to also make appearances.
- Demoted to Extra: More "modern" Muppets, like Walter and Pepe the King Prawn, only get a few scenes each.
- Easter Egg: There are at least several in every single frame! From artifacts from the days of Sam and Friends, to photos of Rowlf on The Jimmy Dean Show, to props that had been used on The Muppet Show, to pictures of the Muppet Babies, to in-jokes paying homage to past Muppet performers and crew members, to products sold in Muppet commercials from the 1950s' and '60s, and more.
- Hidden Depths: In her interview, Skeeter reveals that while she can't sing and hasn't really learned how to play an instrument, she is a great tap dancer, adding that she sometimes invites Miss Piggy to her farmhouse to teach her how to tap dance barefoot. She does admit, however, that for Miss Piggy, dancing without footwear is similar to a balancing act.
- In spite of Miss Piggy's usually haughty demeanor, she does show her soft spot for children (and young Muppets), like willingly going fishing with Robin since his uncle Kermit is too busy to go with him.
- At one point in the film, Kermit meets up with Rowlf in the Muppet Theatre basement, where decades of Muppet history is stored and preserved. Kermit asks the piano-playing dog if he feels like he's accomplished everything he's dreamed of in life. Rowlf's response completely spooks the frog:
Rowlf: It depends on what you want to accomplish. I know what I wanted to do: to sing...play music...and bring joy to so many people. I've done all of that already. But over the years, I've learned the hard, inevitable truth about climbing to the top of the mountain. There comes a time when you find yourself on top of the world one moment, and a nobody the next. Over time, you fade into the bleak void of obscurity, and slowly but gradually, people start to forget that you even existed. And you're left thinking to yourself, "What happened to me? Where did I go wrong?" Then, one day, it hits you: you didn't do anything wrong...the world simply moved on without you. It's as if people just don't care about you anymore.- In that brief moment, the image of the laid-back, ivory-tickling hound vanishes, and in its place stands a former star bitter about losing his fame post-Jimmy Dean.
- Logo Joke: The film opens with the classic Walt Disney Pictures and Jim Henson Productions logos, to fit in with the nostalgia theme of the film.
- The Musical: More so than any other film. Aside from the occasional sketch or gag, the whole film is a montage of classic Muppet songs.
- Mythology Gag: This film is CHOCK FULL of them:
- The Vanity License Plate on Miss Piggy's personal limo is "FRO 525", a reference to Piggy's original performer, Frank Richard Oznowicz, and his birthday, May 25.
- The outfit worn by the puppet Skeeter is the same one she wore in the panels of The Muppet Show Comic Book: Family Reunion. The story's illustrator, Amy Mebberson, was even credited as a design consultant.
- The basement features echoes of the voices of past Muppet performers as several Muppet characters, as well as a Wilkins Coffee can, an original La Choy Chicken Chow Mein can (Henson created a dragon character for the brand), photos of Rowlf and Jimmy Dean, photos of characters from Sam and Friends, Kermit's old, red sweater (back when he wasn't yet established as a frog), a ticking clock (a reference to Henson's growing awareness of his own mortality after the death of his brother in a car crash), and an old record player playing instrumentals of two jazz pieces written by Henson: "The Countryside" and "Tick Tock Sick".
- The credits show appearances by Muppets from old Henson commercials (Scoop and Skip, Mack, etc.), the rest of the Sam and Friends cast (Omar, Moldy Hay, Mushmellon, etc.), and even Summer Penguin.
- No Antagonist: Possibly the first Muppet movie to feature no Big Bad.
- Odd Friendship: As described in Tomboy and Girly Girl, Miss Piggy and Skeeter are as different from each other as they can be, but Skeeter, having grown to find herself as a lesbian, harbors a huge (but hidden) crush on Piggy, feelings which Piggy may or may not requite, despite coming around to see Skeeter as a very nice friend.
- Prefers Going Barefoot: Skeeter mentions not wearing any shoes since she was twelve, and confirms she never wears them when traveling. Indeed, the animated end credits sequence sees Skeeter go barefoot.
- Pungeon Master: Rowlf displays this at levels not seen since The Jimmy Dean Show.
- Revisiting the Roots: The film is a loving homage to the Henson-era age of the Muppets, with tributes to both The Muppet Show and Jim Henson's early work.
- Shout-Out: Several, including:
- In the extended version of the scene where Skeeter reunites with Rowlf and Fozzie, she mentions that she currently lives in a farmhouse in the countryside, away from show-business and Hollywood. When asked about what she loves about the countryside, she replies, "One of my favorite things to do is to go outside and beat my feet on some Mississippi mud." This is a reference to the song, "Mississippi Mud".
- Several Muppets make references to how long they haven't been seen in any project.
- One scene features Gonzo palling around with several Frackles. When Camilla enters the scene, he tells her, "Oh, Camilla, I've always felt like I'm one of them." This is a reference to the Gonzo puppet's beginnings as Snarl, the cigar-box-dwelling Frackle from The Great Santa Claus Switch. Just to make the reference more obvious, the music that plays over it is the same as in Cosmo Scam's introductory scene at the beginning of the special.
- Sir Not-Appearing-in-This-Trailer: The promotional material does a great job in not spoiling most of the returning Muppets.
- The Stinger: As Scooter is announcing that the show is over and demanding that everyone go home, he receives a phone call. He calls the Snowths over to answer it, and the caller on the other end lets out one last "Mahna Mahna!"
- Straight Gay: During a talk show appearance to promote the film's release on DVD, Skeeter appeared to share some big news; after years of being away from the Muppets to "find" herself as a person, she has come out as a lesbian. At the interview's end, Miss Piggy came out on stage and, being a straight woman but wanting to make Skeeter feel better, gave her a Big Damn Kiss on her cheek, just like she would to Kermit.
- Tender Tomboyishness, Foul Femininity: Skeeter and Miss Piggy, respectively. While Miss Piggy is widely known to be a hot-tempered, vainglorious Attention Whore obsessed with stardom and looking fabulous (who can act charming when she wants to), Skeeter is an easy-going, humble lady content with living a peaceful, quiet life as an explorer in the country, and has a fondness for getting herself (particularly her perpetually bare feet) muddy; she is one of the nicest and sweetest Muppets around.
- Tomboy and Girly Girl: As with on Muppet Babies, Skeeter and Miss Piggy share this dynamic; while adult Piggy is the same bombastic, fashionable, fame-obsessed diva she's always been, adult Skeeter is a down-to-earth, unassuming tomboy who actually prefers a life in the countryside, surrounded by nature and peaceful silence. Their attire and voices also reflect this; while Piggy wears a different outfit and hairstyle for nearly every scene she's in, Skeeter has messy hair, a forest green sweater with striped sleeves, and walks everywhere barefoot (even on gravelly or muddy terrains). Also, while Piggy's voice, provided by Eric Jacobson, is high, boisterous and effeminate-sounding (which can sound almost raspy when angry), Skeeter's voice, performed by Colleen Smith, is low, soft and slightly nasally; it's the same voice she used for Mancie from That Puppet Game Show. The two are also opposite in their romantic interests and how they express love: while Piggy used to be known for her overt infatuation with Kermit (a male frog), Skeeter once revealed that she has a strong crush on Piggy (a female character), often calling Piggy "sweetheart", "baby" or "my love" when around her (in return, Piggy sometimes calls Skeeter "honey", "sweetie-cake" or "sugar-pie"). Still, she prefers to remain subtle about her advances.
- Took a Level in Kindness: Miss Piggy is noticeably nicer in this film than in most other projects, not utilizing her trademark karate chop even once.
- Unkempt Beauty: Since moving to the countryside and becoming an adult like her fellow Muppets, Skeeter has presented herself with messy hair, unpretentious clothes, a lanky build, and a dislike for any type of footwear, finding pleasure in walking around barefooted and bathing her feet in areas with moist mud. Still, there is no doubt upon looking at her that she is still beautiful, both inside and out.
- Womanchild: Skeeter again. According to source material, her favorite pastimes include walking in mud, giving her friends The Glomp, and munching on her feet when alone. Her crush on Miss Piggy also borders on Precocious Crush at times, and loves leaving dirty footprints on her house floors and walls.
