The Muppets Review
By: T.J. “maniacal laugh… maniacal laugh…” Mulligan
By the time the closing credits to 2008’s Forgetting Sarah Marshall started rolling across the screen, a few things were made abundantly clear: A) Jason Segel was a runny man who could write a funny movie, B) Jason Segel was a funny man who could star in a funny movie and C) Jason Segel was a funny man who could make comedy using music and puppets. When it was announced that Segel was co-writing a Muppets movie, the first of its kind in over a decade, many, including yours truly, began their waiting and bated breathing. The prospects seemed good, but the popularity of the Muppets has waned over the years and Segel has yet to prove himself as a talent in the avenue of family-friendly affair. Does Segel’s fandom and talent translate into a revival for the beloved franchise or does it fall short of being anything more than a lucky fanboy’s nostalgia-laden nice try?
The Muppets is about Walter (Peter Linz), a puppet, and his brother Gary (Segel), a human. Together, the two grow up in a town called Smalltown, with Walter feeling like an outcast at all times except for when he and Gary watch their favorite television program, The Muppet Show. Gary and his girlfriend of ten years, Mary (Amy Adams), decide to go to Los Angeles for an anniversary vacation. Gary wants to invite Walter along to see the Muppets Studio and Mary reluctantly accepts. Upon finally reaching the studio, they find the place to be nothing more than a run-down tourist attraction that obviously doesn’t see that many guests. After wandering off from the tour, given by an apathetic guide (Alan Arkin), Walter stumbles upon the remains of Kermit’s office where he overhears Statler and Waldorf (Steve Whitmire & Dave Goetz) in negotiations to sell the rights to the studio to Tex Richman (Chris Cooper). Also mentioned is a clause in the current contract which allows the Muppets to keep control of the studio if they can raise $10 million. After Statler and Waldorf leave, Richman mentions to his associates Bobo the Bear and Uncle Deadly (Bill Barretta and Matt Vogel) that after he has control of the studio, he plans to tear it down and drill for oil on the premises. When Walter relays the news to Gary and Mary, they all decide to take action, leading them to the front gates of Kermit the Frog (Whitmire). Kermit informs him that he hasn’t seen his fellow Muppets in years but, after some cajoling, they all decide to seek out the other Muppets and put on a show to raise the money. However, getting the other Muppets to agree, securing television rights and plenty of stage-rust threatens to derail their plans before they even begin.
Since I know they suspense is killing you, I’ll answer the question from about: yes, Segel can write a funny, nostalgic, family-friendly film that’s appealing to all audiences. I could just end the review there, but I am a professional (i.e.: delusional amateur). The film is rated PG for “some mild rude humor,” but I’ve honestly seen jokes more “rude” in movies like Shrek. There are plenty of topical pop culture references, blunt lines of humorous dialogue and sight gags that will tickle the funny bone of anyone who didn’t break it long ago (cynics). As well, the music is exactly how it should be for a musical comedy, equal parts hysterical and toe-tappingly, finger-snappingly catchy. I legitimately had the song “Man or Muppet” stuck in my head the whole ride home from the theater.
And if you’re someone who enjoys watching movies where you can “count the stars” via cameos, this movie is perfect for that. Mickey Rooney, Donal Glover, John Krasinski, Neil Patrick Harris, Emily Blunt, Jack Black and Zach Galifianakis are among the many television, film, music and comedy personalities to appear over the course of the film, either playing alternate versions of themselves or their own characters (Hobo Joe is particularly great).
In the end this movie is meant to be entertaining not only for kids but for the kid in all of us. One of my friends, who is admittedly a far bigger Muppets fan then I am, shed a couple of tears when the gang sang “The Rainbow Connection,” a very sentimental moment indeed. But this movie’s goal isn’t to make you opine for days gone by, but to remember them fondly while living in the now. The term “feel good movie of the year” is thrown around a lot, but based on the smile across my face while exiting the theater, The Muppets takes that crown in my book.
I give The Muppets 4 80s Robots out of 5.
