The Muppets Review

Posted by Jeffrey Harris on 11.23.2011

The ragtag gang known as the Muppets are back for their first feature time in over ten years! But is it the feel-good movie of the year or a hollow trip down memory lane? 411's Jeffrey Harris checks in with his full review!



Directed By: James Bobin
Written By: Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller
Runtime: 120 minutes
MPAA Rating: Rated PG.

Gary - Jason Segel
Amy Adams - Mary
Chris Cooper - Tex Richman
Rashida Jones - Veronica
Hobo Joe - Zach Galifianakis
Jack Black - Himself
Kermit The Frog
Walter
Miss Piggy
Gonzo The Great
Fozzie Bear
Statler and Waldorf
Swedish Chef
Rowlf The Dog
Animal
Scooter
Dr. Teeth And The Electric Mayhem
Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker
Pepe The King Prawn
Bobo The Bear
Sweetums - John Henson

It has been a long road, but the loveable gang known as the Muppets are finally back in their first theatrical movie in over a decade. The Muppets brings the gang back together in, quite frankly, the most feel good movie of the year. The movie definitely exploits a nostagia kick with the Muppet characters. The story is based around two brothers: Gary (Segel) and Walter. Walter of course, was born a Muppet, and Gary a human. Walter and Gary experienced life from different perspectives in their hometown of Smalltown, USA. Walter idolized the Muppets and the original TV series, The Muppet Show. Essentially, Walter is the greatest Muppet fanboy in history.

Gary is planning a vacation to Los Angeles with his longtime elementary school teacher girlfriend, Mary (Adams). In a bit of an ill-advised move, Gary decides to bring Walter along. Walter is ecstatic to finally see the Muppet Studios and the Muppet Theater, but is disappointed to find the lot dilapidated and a shell of its former glory. After sneaking into Kermit’s office, Walter overhears of a plot by nefarious oil tycoon, Tex Richman (Cooper), who plans to buy the Muppet Studio and theater and tear it down to get the oil reserves located underneath the property. Walter is scandalized and charges Gary and Mary to help find Kermit to stop such an atrocity. After a stop at Pink’s Hotdogs and a failed breaking and entering attempt, the trio finds Kermit. Kermit is none too pleased to find out that Tex Richman is just buying the studio to get oil rather than to make a Muppet museum as originally promised. The deal does have a convenient loophole where if the Muppets can raise $10 million, they can buy back the property. And so, Kermit and the group go on a trip to get the band back together for one last hurrah to put together a telethon show to try and save their legacy.

The plot comes off as strangely and eerily relevant. Some years back, the Muppets were sold and re-acquired by The Jim Henson Co. before eventually being acquired by Disney in 2004. Before his death, the creator of the Muppets and founder of the Jim Henson Co., Jim Henson, tried to merge the company with Disney, with whom the Muppets have always had a good relationship. Intentional or not, the plot almost seems to be creating a type of dialogue regarding the turmoil and uncertainty experienced by the Muppet franchise. The road back to stardom and this new movie has also been a long and arduous one. The Muppets are a consistent part of our childhood and we enjoyed watching them in our early development years through Sesame Street. Now, even as adults, many still can’t resist and enjoy it through The Muppet Show. You might not even know or recognize their work in amazing television productions such as Farscape or movies like Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy and Where The Wild Things Are.

Co-writers Segel and Stoller did well in presenting a film that is very much a Muppet movie and feels like a Muppet movie. It is also a full-fledged musical that brings back some old classics that will make you want to jump up and sing in the theater. Best of all was watching the screening of the movie at the famous El Capitan Theatre which doubles as The Muppet Theatre in the actual movie. The soundtrack is a good mix of mostly new songs but also finds time to sprinkle in some classic Muppet favorites, but they saved the absolute best one for the closing credits.

At times, the story does seem to drift a little bit when the focus shifts to Mary's and Gary’s sub-plot. A couple of the songs do feel a little tacked on and most likely could have been excised for time to make the movie’s pace a little more brisk. But even then it is nice to have a Muppet film that does not rush to the end either. Besides the notables as the human members of the cast, like previous films, the movie is littered with celebrity cameos, keeping with old Muppet traditions.

The movie works best when it is on Kermit and the newbie with a chip on his shoulder in Walter, who dreams of becoming a Muppet but doesn’t feel he can live up to their standards. But you love Kermit and the Muppets because they are the ultimate underdogs. Nothing seems to go right but somehow, someway things kind of, sort of come together through the chaos. And it is through that comedic, chaotic spirit of the classic series and movies that Bobin, Segel, and Stoller capture very well. Also, the new Muppet to watch out for? One of the movie’s new Muppet creations, ‘80’s Robot – gold, gold I tells ya!

The 411: Without a doubt, The Muppets is the most feel good movie of the year. Once the movie got going from the opening act, I had a smile on my face that never really stopped. I was overjoyed to see a few classic favorite Muppet songs pop up. Hopefully we won't have to wait another ten years to see the gang back onscreen again.

Final Score:  9.0   [  Amazing ]