I’m quite surprised that the Muppets have never really been about Halloween in all their time on screen. They’ve mostly been about Christmas and Thanksgiving which is a shame, because they’re fitted well for the holiday. I’d love it if the Henson company allowed for yearly Halloween specials, but at this point it’s probably wishful thinking. Nonetheless, “Muppets Haunted Mansion” does a good job mixing the Disney attraction with the Muppets.
Tag Archives: Family
For Better or for Worse: The Good for Nothing (1993)
It’s weird how “For Better or Worse” never actually took off as an animated series. Comic strips like “Charlie Brown,” “Garfield” and even “The Boondocks” hit big as series, with the former two offering up their own iconic Halloween special. “The Good For Nothing” is a Halloween special mostly in spirit as the central conflict is set primarily on Halloween. That doesn’t make “The Good for Nothing” bad. It just never quite rises to the occasion to be as good as “The Great Pumpkin.”
The Adventures of the Scrabble People in A Pumpkin Full of Nonsense (1985)
Also known as “A Pumpkin Full of Nonsense,” this animated short from the eighties is probably one of the more bizarre product tie ins I’ve ever seen. While it’s traditionally known as a Halloween special, the idea of Halloween is only minimal in what is a more unusual fantasy adventure. The entire narrative lives and breathes by the implementation of the trademark letter tiles, in so many unusual and baffling ways.
Double, Double, Toil, and Trouble (1993)
In the 1990’s, there were two blonde moppets that took over the world, and their names were Mary Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen. They were twin actresses known for their role in the hit family sitcom “Full House.” As they grew up they became so popular that they were transformed in to cash cows, producing everything from music, merchandise, clothes lines, and of course movie vehicles. One of their first was “Double, Double, Toil, and Trouble,” a Halloween adventure with the pair of blonde, dead eyed girls battling their wicked aunt.
Spy Kids: Armageddon (2023)
It’s been almost fifteen years since there was a new “Spy Kids” installment and one of the last times Robert Rodriguez released a film in theaters (he’s apparently locked in to Netflix like Adam Sandler). Sadly, these days Robert Rodriguez seems more committed to delivering low budget kid accessible entertainment more than anything else, and “Spy Kids: Armageddon” allows him to kill two birds with one stone. Not only is he able to continue his line of mediocre family films, but he gets to revive his long stagnant action franchise for a new generation.
And the results are decidedly a mixed bag.
Goodbye Monster (2022)
Bai Ze, a healer banned for destroying an island, returns years later as he must heal a child and redeem himself.
Dear Dracula (2012)
DRACULA WEEK
I think I recall “Dear Dracula” airing on cable television back in 2012, but I never paid it much attention. It’s too bad because considering its obviously small budget, “Dear Dracula” is a fun and funny animated film. Maybe it’s because I can relate to young hero Sam and his love for characters like Dracula and the Wolfman over characters like Santa or the Tooth Fairy.