FILM REVIEW; Close Encounters of a Gonzo Kind

Cut through the attitude, funk and -- beg pardon, Miss Piggy -- sheer hamminess of ''Muppets From Space,'' and inside lie the remains of movies like ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,'' ''Men in Black'' and ''My Favorite Martian.''

O.K., so it's not the first time these material creatures have stuck their beaks, snouts and blobby little noses into the recycling bin in search of a cinematic vehicle, but somewhere along the way they have gone Hollywood when they should be going Oz, as in Frank Oz and Jim Henson, who were present at the creation of the Muppets and stuffed their puffy fabric bodies with so much charm and no little wit.

But instead of sending up their cinematic sources, the creators of ''Muppets From Space'' rely too much on this spent screen fuel. Frenetic movement and loud music overwhelm warmth and compassion, and the balance of character, plot, irreverent humor and innate decency that made some of the earlier Muppet movies so welcome is lost.

So at the risk of sounding like Oscar the Grouch, let it be said that ''Muppets From Space'' doesn't achieve exhilarating liftoff. But its bright colors, high spirits, brisk pace, brief length and familiar characters making a lot of noise will doubtless seem an oasis of entertainment to many parents seeking a diversion for children on a hot, humid summer day.

Directed by Tim Hill, a Nickelodeon alumnus in his feature-film debut, and written by Jerry Juhl, Joseph Mazzarino and Ken Kaufman, ''Muppets From Space'' mixes the Muppets with human actors in a tale of longing and belonging built around Gonzo the Great.

Poor Gonzo. He has been all alone ever since he can remember, a period dating back in his nightmares to a time when Noah (F. Murray Abraham) turned him away from the Ark for being one of a kind (although Noah was kind enough to provide him with an umbrella).

To his Muppet pals in the boarding house where they all live, he describes himself as a one-of-a-kind freak. But kindly Kermit the Frog, in one of the film's rare moments of compassion, tells him he is, rather, distinct.

Gonzo's life begins to change when he receives a message from his alphabet breakfast cereal instructing him to watch the sky. Soon Gonzo's efforts to link up with his extraterrestrial relatives have brought him to the attention of a top-secret Government security agency and made him a springboard for the ambitions of Miss Piggy, a television studio go-fer, to displace Shelly Snipes (Andie MacDowell) as the host of a program called ''U.F.O. Mania.''

When Gonzo and his pal Rizzo the Rat are taken prisoner by the men in black, the rest of the gang rides to the rescue in time to deliver Gonzo from the hands of a mad surgeon to the rendezvous point for linkup with his relatives from outer space. Here, briefly, ''Muppets From Space'' comes close to mixing its puppet stars, its human cast, its plot, its messages, its special effects and its music into a satisfying brew.

Manipulated by puppeteers like Dave Goelz (Gonzo), Steve Whitmire (Kermit) and Mr. Oz (Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, et al.), the puppets as performers remain magical even when their material is uninspired.

The humans, led by Jeffrey Tambor as K. Edgar Singer, the paranoid Government alien hunter, and including Ms. MacDowell, Pat Hingle, Ray Liotta, David Arquette, Rob Schneider and Hollywood Hogan, lend themselves with admirable good will to the supporting roles.

MUPPETS FROM SPACE

Directed by Tim Hill; written by Jerry Juhl, Joseph Mazzarino and Ken Kaufman; director of photography, Alan Caso; edited by Michael A. Stevenson and Richard Pearson; music by Jamsheid Sharifi; production designer, Stephen Marsh; produced by Brian Henson and Martin G. Baker; released by Jim Henson Pictures and Columbia Pictures. Running time: 82 minutes. This film is rated G.

WITH: The Muppet Performers: Dave Goelz (Gonzo, Bunsen Honeydew, Waldorf and the Birdman), Steve Whitmire (Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker and Cosmic Fish No. 1), Bill Barretta (Pepe the Prawn, Bobo as Rentro, Bubba the Rat, Johnny Fiama and Cosmic Fish No. 2) and Frank Oz (Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal and Sam Eagle); and Jeffrey Tambor (K. Edgar Singer), F. Murray Abraham (Noah), David Arquette (Dr. Tucker), Josh Charles (Agent Barker), Kathy Griffin (Female Armed Guard), Pat Hingle (General Luft), Hollywood Hogan (Man in Black), Ray Liotta (Gate Guard), Andie MacDowell (Shelley Snipes) and Rob Schneider (Television Producer).