The Muppets Wizard Of Oz

If you think the original classic The Wizard of Oz is too scary for your little ones, check out this 21st-century version of the tale as played out by those loveable Muppets. Dorothy (singing star Ashanti) works in her Aunt Em’s (Queen Latifah) diner, but dreams of pop stardom. After a tornado hits her town she finds herself transported to Oz, and heads off with the cowardly lion (Fozzie Bear), Scarecrow (Kermit the Frog) and Tin Man (Gonzo) to meet the Wizard and see if he can make her dream come true.
Sticking (loosely) to the original story, this works some of the time as a junior version of the 1939 film, with fun cameos from Quentin Tarantino and Kelly Osbourne, but comes a cropper with some modern-day references (there’s a Passion of the Christ joke, bizarrely) that would fly over the heads of little viewers and just grate with older ones. While parents of tiny tots may be relieved to hear that the Wicked Witch (as played, of course, by Miss Piggy) is funny rather than frightening, they should also note that Ashanti’s skimpy outfits should probably have got a ‘15’ certificate all on their own.