Sensational, Inspirational, Celebrational, Muppetational!
Frank Oz is one of the biggest stars that you will rarely see. He helped to breathe life into The Muppets, several Sesame Street characters and the Star Wars character Yoda. Oddly enough, when the new Muppet film was released he only said that he was disappointed. “I wasn’t happy with the script,” Oz explained. “I don’t think they respected the characters. But I don’t want to go on about it like a sourpuss and hurt the movie.” By the way, this will be the first time that you will not see Frank Oz’s name on a Muppet film.
To celebrate their 10 year relationship, Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) take a trip to Los Angeles. Because Gary’s puppet brother Walter (Peter Linz) is obsessed with The Muppet Show, the couple feels they should also invite him. While on a tour of the now derelict Muppet Theater, Walter overhears corrupt oil tycoon Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) plotting to buy it. Once he owns the property, the theater will be demolished and replaced with an oil well. They must now find the Muppet cast members in order to save the theater. Unfortunately, The Muppets have had a falling out and have been estranged for many years. With Kermit by their side these superfans plan to have a telethon and raise the ten million dollars needed to keep their beloved theater standing. The difficult part will be finding all of the Muppet cast members after so many years. Since they parted, Gonzo has become a high-class plumbing mogul. Animal, the once ferocious drummer of Electric Mayhem now seeks inner peace in an anger management clinic. Even Kermit’s porcine love interest, Miss Piggy, has left the nation to be the plus size fashion editor for Vogue Paris. As the drill draws ever closer, The Muppets must put on the performance of a lifetime.
As Kenneth Ascher and Paul Williams’ song “Rainbow Connection” suggests, we have been “half asleep.” Why else would we not realize that our dear friends The Muppets were somehow absent from the cinematic world? After a 12 year hiatus from making motion pictures, they have returned with a felt lined fury! The Muppets was directed by James Bobin and written by Jason Segel. These two men who previously have only coarsened our culture have taken up the banner to revitalize wholesome and enchanting entertainment. This kind of a triumphant return is what we have been wanting from our family films for so long. Bobin and Segel’s The Muppets is perfectly faithful to the comedic troupe’s original modus operandi. Their sense of humor is not mean-spirited like many others. They are just as madcap, witty and charming as they ever were. For those not well acquainted with these characters this is a good introduction that is very entertaining. Those of us who grew up with The Muppet Show should bring Kleenex. Seeing Henson’s vision brought to life again can melt the heart of even the most stoic reviewer. Jim would be proud. There are far too many celebrity cameos to list them all in one review but some include Jim Parsons, Neil Patrick Harris, Jack Black, Mickey Rooney and Zach Galifianakis.
In an idyllic musical number one lead character states, “I’ve got everything that I need right in front of me.” For a critic it is a relief when you can actually agree with a statement like that. Seeing children sing along with Camilla the chicken’s cover of a Cee-Lo Green song says that Jim Henson still connects with viewers of all ages.
Wonderful review Aaron! I always enjoy the interesting facts you use to introduce a review. I have to admit, I cried more than once during this movie in the theater…mostly out of joy.
Thanks Georgia! I could not understand why I was hearing bad reviews from Frank Oz until I did a little research. He was offered the chance to take part in the making of the movie. But after they chose Segel’s screenplay instead of his he dropped it like an old hat. I was surprised. I really liked that it had so many poignant moment for the older viewers who grew up with it.
I’m excited to take my 10 year old son and introduce him to the Muppets! My brother and I would watch The Muppet Show every week back in the 70′s/80′s. Can’t wait to see it! Great review!
Longtime Muppet fans will undoubtedly have more fun than young ones, but for the most part, it’s a witty, delightful romp, that shows you that you can still be funny, without ever being mean still in 2011. Good review.
I appreciated one theme especially. That was the Muppets/Moopets theme. They basically said that Hollywood’s standards of quality had plumeted so far that the Muppets are now competing against morally askew reality shows like “Punch Teacher” and their Jersey Shore-esque duplicates The Moopets. This is really a cry for quality in television and movies.
Great review! I loved third movie too. I though they did the characters justice and did an amazing job of keeping the witt, humor, and heart we all expect from a muppet movie. I’m really saddened by Frank Oz’s comments. I thought every line respected the characters (yes even the fart shoes)and don’t see what he is complaining about. Oh well another victory for the muppets IMHO. love reading your stuff. keep it up!