Okay, so let's talk Little Shop! (Kershner??)

Alright guys, so I just revisited "Little Shop of Horrors" (the '86 one, obvi). And I'm kind of in a weird place with it. So, going in, I was trying to figure out who directed it, because somehow it completely escaped my notice. I was shocked when I saw it was Frank Oz. Like, the Muppets guy? Seriously? It's not that it's bad, it's just...unexpected. The direction itself is fine, perfectly competent even, but it lacks a distinct auteur feel, you know? It felt almost... workmanlike, which considering the source material feels wrong. That said, the performances are killer. Rick Moranis IS Seymour. And Ellen Greene as Audrey? Iconic. Like, seriously, her performance of "Suddenly, Seymour" still gives me chills. And Steve Martin as Orin Scrivello? Pure comedic genius. The whole dentist scene is just... chef's kiss. But I couldn't help but wonder...if someone who had more of a distinctive vision directed it, could it have been more? Honestly, the puppetry on Audrey II is still pretty damn impressive for the time. I remember being utterly terrified by the plant and the whole concept growing up, and that definitely still holds up. I will admit though, the ending originally filmed with the plant taking over wasn't so strong. I was glad that they reshot it with the ending we now know, otherwise it would have been a darker movie. Overall, I enjoyed revisiting it, but I'm left with a nagging feeling that it could have been even better in the hands of a different director. Maybe a Kershner or somebody with a darker edge, but who knows? What do you guys think? Was Frank Oz the right choice, or would you have preferred a different directing style?