FILM REVIEW: THE MUPPETS
Review By Ryan Cauchi
Director: James Bobin
Cast: Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Animal, Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Walter, Rashida Jones
Synopsis: On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world’s biggest Muppet fan, and his friends Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets’ former stomping grounds. To stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate.
Review: A generation has passed since master puppeteer Jim Henson first captured the hearts and imaginations of children and adults everywhere with his lovable creations the Muppets. Now those funny things of foam, fleece and fur are back with a smart, charming, self-referential musical that will appeal to longtime fans and newcomers alike.
Directed by FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS alumnus James Bobin, the latest Muppets flick reunites quintessential everyman Kermit the Frog, narcissistic ham Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear and pretty much every Muppet that has appeared on screen, as they put together one final show, in an attempt to save their beloved Muppet theatre from being demolished by an evil oil tycoon, played by the straight-faced Chris Cooper – who I swear, has the best maniacal laugh ever. No seriously he does. Joining their cause are Smalltown residents Walter (who looks like a Muppet, not a man), his older brother Gary (Jason Segel) (who looks like a man, not a Muppet), Gary’s sweetheart Mary (Amy Adams), a fierce network executive (Rashida Jones) and a host of hilarious celebrity cameos, led by – drum roll, please – Jack Black.
The screenplay by Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller is incredibly funny (of course, those crazy old men Statler and Waldorf have all the best lines), the dance scenes are impressive and well-staged and the songs by Brett McKenzie are pretty damn memorable. We get both big and sentimental numbers typical of a Hollywood musical and a very unique kind of villain song. And of course, no Muppets film would be complete without a reprise of Kermit’s famous ‘Rainbow Connection’.
Ultimately, THE MUPPETS is a very touching and nostalgic piece of fluff, born from a real love and affection for these characters. It is a brand new chapter in the rich legacy Jim Henson has left behind. Now if only FRAGGLE ROCK and the DARK CRYSTAL sequel could be pulled out of development hell!
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