Let's start at the top. Walter and Gary are brothers, residents of Small Town, USA. They're best friends, do everything together, even share a bedroom. There's just one thing: Gary is Jason Segel, while Walter is a muppet. And, close as they may be, it's gotten a bit awkward. Gary's perenial girlfriend, Mary (the ever-lovely Amy Adams), feels it most: Gary continues to put Walter first in his life as she meekly waits for him to grow up and make her a priority.
But no matter - their anniversary is coming up, and Gary has promised to take her to Los Angeles for a romantic getaway. Of course, Gary also insists on bringing Walter, who is beside himself with excitement. After all, LA is where the Muppet Studio is! It would be hard to find a bigger fan of The Muppets than Walter, who still has all of the old shows on VHS, and the first thing he does when he gets to LA is drag them all there...
...which is the saddest, most dilapidated muppet mausoleum you could ever imagine. And - even worse - it's about to be taken over by the very evil Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) if the muppets can't raise $10 million in two weeks. There's only one thing to do - tell Kermit! And so they do. Next thing you know, the trio is sitting in Kermit's living room (hermitic as he's been lately, he really wasn't all that hard to find), imploring him to help. Get the group back together. Do one more show. (After all, as Mary points out, if they don't do it, it's "going to be a very short movie.")
It takes a little convincing, but of course they succeed and thus begins the journey (sped up first with a montage, then by traveling by map) around the world to reunite the troop and take to the stage once again. Not that there aren't setbacks. Fozzie's current crowd, the thuggy tribute band "The Moopets" are menaces throughout, Tex Richman coerces his henchmen into sabotage, and network exec Rashida Jones threatens to pull the plug from Day 1.
The cameos are fantastic. Miss Piggy is a plus-size editor for Vogue Paris and her assistant is none other than Emily Blunt a la "Devil Wears Prada". Jack Black (Animal's anger-management sponsor) is kidnapped to host. Sarah Silverman is a greeter in a cheesy restaurant. Alan Arkin runs Tinseltown tours. Dave Grohl, Neil Patrick Harris, Selena Gomez... the list goes on. It's a who's who of Hollywood muppet lovers. Though, what's not to love?
As beloved and nostalgic as the premise is, neither writers Nicholas Stoller ("Get Him to the Greek") & Mr Segel nor director James Bobin ("Flight of the Conchords") are too precious with it. Together, they capture The Muppet Show in a way that no other muppet movie before has done: by focusing on the show and bringing it to life for the first time in thirty years (yep, you read that right). Jason Segel hams it up, clearly loving every last second in the way only a fanboy can. Only Amy Adams falls short, playing a bit too much the victim.
For those who love the Muppets like I do, the film won't let you down. Yes, it's a little strange without Jim Hensen and Frank Oz contributing voices, though a couple of the original voice actors do contribute. Kids will enjoy the slapstick, the puppets and the silliness. Parents will enjoy the nostalgia, in-jokes and the cameos. The energy flags a bit in the middle as the plot is developed and younger viewers may get restless. But when the curtain rises, the theme song starts, and the muppets march out onto that familiar set, it's enough to bring a tear to your eye. The stakes are high. Will they raise the money? Will Kermit and Miss Piggy get back together? Will Gary and Mary make it? All I can say is: Manamana.
| Movie title | The Muppets |
|---|---|
| Release year | 2011 |
| MPAA Rating | PG |
| Our rating | |
| Summary | Kermit, Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo and the gang are back together with all their old quirks, drama, bad jokes and even chickens. How does it measure up to the original series? Refreshingly, quite well. |
