Life is a Happy Song in Joyful ‘The Muppets’
Delightfully crafted and hilariously self-reverential, Disney’s The Muppets is a little bundle of unadulterated joy at the movies that will satisfy audiences of all age. In an era of computer animation, 3-D and reality trash TV, Kermit and his gang aim straight for the heart by creating a contagiously funny, moving and plain wonderful cinematic experience that is likely to revive their popularity more than five decades after their inception. Seriously, this is easily the sweetest, happiest movie of the year.
Jason Segel stars as Gary, a small-town guy whose Muppet-looking brother Walter (Peter Linz) has been raised as a human with no questions asked. Gary is planning a trip to Los Angeles with his schoolteacher girlfriend of ten years, Mary (Amy Adams) and decides to bring Walter along so he can realize his life-long dream of touring the Muppet studios. What they find however is a broken-down, cobweb-covered lot that leaves the trio terribly disappointed. Worse, Walter overhears a greedy oil tycoon (Chris Cooper) plotting to tear down the crumbling studio, leaving them no choice but to embark on a journey to re-unite the long forgotten Muppets for one final show so as to raise the $10 million needed to save the day.
Director James Bobin has lovingly crafted a musical comedy filled with irreverent in-jokes, funny cameos and infectiously joyful musical numbers. Forget about crude humor and lame hipster wisecracks, The Muppets is a sweet and heartwarming movie with a refreshing amount of innocence and nostalgia. Kermit says several times that laughter is the third-greatest gift ever, after children and ice cream and it certainly looks like he is onto something. This is pure unadulterated wacky fun that will leave you with a big grin on your face. The movie often winks at its own silliness in such a delightful way and the cameos are pitch-perfect with actors such as Jack Black, Zach Galifianakis, Rashida Jones and Emily Blunt playing it completely straight to hilarious effect.
The musical set-pieces are the heart of the film and are one highlight after another, ranging from Amy Adams and Miss Peggy performing “Me Party” to the entire population of Smalltown singing and dancing to “Life’s a Happy Song.” The witty original songs by Bret McKenzie (of Flight of the Conchords fame) leave a lasting impression and so does Kermit reprising “The Rainbow Connection”. Expect a song or two to be in contention for an Oscar next February.
The affable Jason Segel (who also co-wrote) is charmingly over-the-top as Gary and the adorable Amy Adams is winningly cheerful, a perfect fit for the role of Mary as seen by her similar work in Enchanted. As the antagonist, Chris Cooper is deviously funny, launching into an impromptu rap song and saying “maniacal laugh” when he is overly satisfied with his evil self. And one shouldn’t omit the excellent voice work by Steve Whitmire, Eric Jacobson, and Dave Goelz, among many others.
Some things never change and this movie resonates with uplifting lessons about kindness, reveling in oneself and believing in others. Despite a small misstep near the end (Walter suddenly discovering a hidden talent), The Muppets is an honest-to-goodness family film that will appeal to nostalgic viewers who grew up watching the show while also pleasing a new generation that may have never heard of Kermit and his friends. One of the underlying thread of the movie is the Muppets’ fear that time has passed them by, that they have become irrelevant in this cynical world of ours. Bobin and Segel prove with this lovable gem that the venerable cloth puppets have nothing to fear.
B+
Notes: Watch out for the Toy Story short attached to this movie.
40 Comments
Nice review Castor. There’s no state secret that I’m seeing this one in the cinema as soon as its released!
Thanks, just edited out some kinks. It wasn’t supposed to be published that soon ah!
And yea we all know you want to see it for Amy Adams
She’s fun but underused and let’s face it, the human protagonists are expendables.
Its a bonus that she is in it I probably would have seen this one in the cinema anyways. The muppets are pure nostalgia for me.
However, I wish she would focus more on better parts in general for instance lead roles that she doesn’t play 2nd fiddle like Superman or the upcoming Clint flick.
That’s the problem though, not nearly enough good roles for actresses.
Hope you don’t mind, but I skipped over the review. Don’t want to spoil myself. It’s going to be a long wait until February for me!
February? Oh no, that’s a long time to wait. But it will be all worth it then
Yep, don’t know why in the hell we couldn’t get it at least in December..
Only a B+?
Scrooge.
This movie kicked ass! Fun, and funny, and meta in all the right ways. The songs were great, the story was great, I thought it was phenomenal. I never realized how much I loved these guys until Jason Segel showed me.
I was disappointed by Walter suddenly finding a hidden talent that is never hinted to prior to the film’s ending. I was looking forward to what he would do, thinking it would relate to his struggles but that came out of left field. Heck he could have sung “Man or Muppet?” again and it would have been an A-.
Scrooooooge.
That’s ok, you can get me back when I downgrade “Hugo”.
Well, he DID whistle earlier in the movie (which I caught the 2nd time I saw it in the last 6 days, which should tell everyone how much I loved it).
My niece- who’s in that danger territory that might not connect with the movie (between the age of 10 and 28; more on that in a sec)- thought that his talent was sort of lame because it’s such a basic thing that anyone can do. But then I pointed out to her that having it be something that every little kid can do is part of the charm. It makes it far more relatable for little ones.
About the age group… I figure anyone over 28 either grew up with the show or had kids that they watched the show with. Anyone under 10 will love it because, well, it’s a funny, great, infinitely lovable kids movie. But that middle territory won’t care about the nostalgia and they may be too “mature” for the humor. That said, both my 17 and 20 year old nieces loved it, as did my 4 year old nephew and elderly mother.
I loved this movie in ways that I didn’t think were possible. I feel like sending Christmas gifts to anyone involved in making it. Not that I’m anywhere near subjective about it.
John, I think your age range is a little off…i’m 22 (pretty much in the middle of that age group) and i definitely watched The Muppets plenty growing up
The original run of the show was 1974 to 1981 and then their three major movies were all released by 1984. That’s mostly where I was coming up with that age range. If you were old enough to remember the 80′s, then you probably saw the TV show or the movies, either in the theater or on VHS.
I think Walters talent is hinted at earlier, he is whistling away as he and Gary are helping clean up the theatre. It didn’t come a surprise to me. Other than that, I agree with most of your super review, although I would give the Film an A rating- it is pitch perfect:)
Thanksgiving movie tradition! I’ll admit I was doubtful going in, but was I very pleasantly surprised! One of the year’s best for me. Although the humor was at times innocently childish, I had both a lump in my throat and a grin in my face the entire movie. Nostalgic, carefree and wonderfully entertaining. The musical numbers were all great as well. I’d give it an A-.
And yes, the added mini Toy Story short before the movie was also a good surprise.
Yea I know a person who was giving me a hard time for seeing this movie, saying how the genius trailers looked totally unfunny and how a movie about muppets couldn’t be that good. What a fool!
yeah yeah yeah. Words eaten. Yaddi Yadda
By the way, the trailers were not “hilarious”. Chuckle worthy maybe.
I saw this earlier today and I found it to be fun. Man, I never knew Chris Cooper can rhyme. I want more Muppets!!!!
And I too, dug that Toy Story short. I’ll have a finished review of those 2 for tomorrow.
Ahaha yea the rap song was unneeded but still pretty funny.
Fantastic, just fantastic… It’s overwhelming how much I loved that movie. A “bundle of unadulterated joy” really describes it perfectly. Overall it’s a hilarious, really entertaining movie that everyone should see.
Glad you loved it Gibbs!
This movie made me so happy. Seriously my favorite movie of the year. I’ve been humming Life’s a Happy Song ever since ^^
Maybe an Oscar-worthy song?
I am so gutted I have to wait such a long time to see this film. I really want it in my life so bad, no fair!!
Great write up Castor
Thanks Scott. It will come eventually and the wait will be worth it
I thought The Muppets was fantastic. Nice review, Castor. Jason Segel did a phenomenal job producing, writing, and starring in this fun and light-hearted film. I really loved the musical numbers as well as several of the celebrity cameos. Easily the most fun and happiest film of the year!
Indeed, I actually kinda loath Jack Black but I thought his cameo was hilarious!
The Muppets might be best celebrated as a movie that reminds us of why we love the Muppets and, more importantly, why we need them. Contemporary pop culture is much too cynical and lacks compassion; the Muppets are antithetical to that particular condition, and we could really use a dose of their medicine.
For me, this pulls in right behind The Muppet Movie in terms of sheer joyful madness and emotionalism. It’s sweet, it’s happy, it’s positive, and all in the ways that only the Muppets can be. Loved it. If there’s justice in the world this will lead to a resurgence of the Muppets’ television presence; I think if anything the film makes a great argument for how much we need the Muppets in our homes again.
Well said Andrew. Such a nice breath of fresh air and it’s great for the kids to see that it’s not all about wisecracking cynicism and pretending that emotions are not cool.
I agree with Scott, I want this film to be out in the UK now!
The Muppets are just good, clean fun and it’s great that they’re back. A whole new generation can enjoy them now
I’m looking forward to this film and a lot and even though meanie Castor only gave it B+, I don’t think I’ll be disappointed…
Ahaha but B+ is certainly up there as my highest grade (I rarely give A’s anymore). In any case, hope you get to see this really soon Claire. And if not, the wait will be more than worth it
I rarely give less than an A, LOL, but… what’s the point of not giving As if I might ask?
A’s are for masterpieces!
This is why I avoid a ratings system!
Damn, I wish this film was out now here in Australia. I am sooooo hyped to see this one.
Nice review Castor my man!
Thanks Rodney! The wait will be worth it sir.
I have to say it is really great seeing Amy Adams doing so well now. I recently watched The Fighter which she is terrific in. To think that she was out of work for a long time after she made Drop Dead Gorgeous with Kirsten Dunst.
Yea she went through the trenches early on. Definitely nice to see hard work pay off!
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