The Muppets

Starring: Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones, Jack Black, John Krasinski (cameo), Neil Patrick Harris (cameo), Sarah Silverman (cameo), Whoopi Goldberg (cameo), Alan Arkin (cameo), Zach Galifianakis (cameo), Ken Jeong (cameo), Jim Parsons, Donald Glover, Emily Blunt, Selena Gomez, Judd Hirsch, Mickey Rooney
Directed by: James Bobin
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy, Drama
2011

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: To save the Muppet theatre from an evil businessman (Chris Cooper), Kermit and the gang attempt a comeback. But- has it been too long, and has the world completely forgot about them?

Review:

Tim: I really like the effort put forth by Jason Segel tp bring the muppets back to the big screen. This was no small feat, as he wrote the script, starred in the movie, and successfully relaunched a franchise that had laid dormant in theaters for 13 years. And yet, The Muppets was a hit, and Kermit and the gang are back in the public consciousness. I love the approach the script took- acknowledging that people have pretty much passed the muppets by and forgotten about them. It was really cool how they incorporated those real life touches into the film.

As such, we get a movie that takes on a journey of rediscovery- it allows us to admit that like the rest of the world, we haven't given Kermit and the gang much thought over the last decade. Yet, through this movie, we get a nostalgic trip back to when they mattered in our lives and when they could make us laugh with their antics. That's not too shabby at all.

The movie itself is clever, but a bit cliched. The muppet theatre is going to be torn down, so Kermit rallies the muppets for one more gig to save it. I felt like this is a story that had been done numerous times before, and was a bit too predictable. The genius of the story, though, lies with making Kermit, Piggy, Gonzo, and the others secondary characters. This is really what makes the movie so successful. We are introduced to a man and a muppet- two brothers who care about each other a lot, but are quite different as well. They are our protagonists, and through their eyes we see Kermit and the other muppets. This allows us to have a proxy in this zany muppet world, and draws us into the film. This aspect made the movie work.

I'm a huge fan of Jason Segel, so I was really excited to see him star in this passion project. I'll say that his performance is decent, but it's not quite great. He certainly gives a purposefully over-the-top performance, which worked in the context of this movie. However, he did seem a bit silly with his massive grin and his constant use of the word "buddy". Still, he was good. Amy Adams was fun to watch as well, and I thought she worked well with Segel. Chris Cooper really embraced his evil businessman role. Jack Black did good work playing himself, and was a nice addition to the cast.

There are also a ton of celebrity cameos and small roles, and I want to mention a few. I'm a huge fan of both John Krasinski and Neil Patrick Harris, so I loved seeing them on screen together. I just wish they had something to actually do. Rashida Jones is always a welcome presence, and I enjoyed her here. Zach Galifianakis was also a funny inclusion. We also get Sarah Silverman, Whoopi Goldberg, and others in the film.

The Muppets is an enjoyable movie. I had a fun time watching it, and I genuinely appreciated the revival of this franchise. The world is a better place with regular muppet movies, and it was fun seeing this franchise come back to life. While the movie is a bit too predictable and cliched, it's still a fun time for viewers of all ages. I liked this movie.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper