The Muppets (2011)
84th Academy Awards 2012
4/5 Stars
Nominated for 1 award, which it won.
Won Best Music, Song ("Man or Muppet" by Bret McKenzie).
Watched February 9, 2012.
Photo Source: I Am Your Target Demographic
The Muppets, Jason Segal, Amy Adams, Kermit, and the rest of the crew are delightful in all the right ways in this nostalgic, blast from the past episode of the Muppets and their crazy, cute, sometimes childish adventures. If you didn't love this film, perhaps you have lost your love of the Muppets somewhere among the many years of growing up.
Walter (voiced by Peter Linz) and his brother Gary (Segal) have grown up in an idilic small town suburb and are the cheesiest friends the big screen could ask for. Gary's long time girlfriend Mary (Adams) is slightly less happy-go-lucky than the two boys, but not by much. Although the side-plot of Gary and Mary is a little distracting from the best story-line, it does give a bit more depth to Gary and grows him into less of a sidekick and more of a main attraction, even though he isn't a frog.
Walter has been in love with the Muppets since he discovered them as a young boy. To commemorate Gary and Mary's 10th anniversary, the three of them take a trip to LA, where Walter is ecstatic to see the Muppets studios, which to his dismay have fallen into extreme disrepair since the show has been off the air. Here follows the entrance of the super-villain and oil tycoon, Tex Richman (Chris Cooper), who is slightly over-done in acting and under-done in character development. His one goal is to buy the studio and drill for the oil that is underneath it.
Walter, Gary, and Mary seek out Kermit and the rest of the crew to save the studio! Kermit is reluctant at first, but soon his nostalgia wins over and they set out on an epic road trip of Muppet proportions to pick up everyone else, including a trip "by map" across the country, and the Atlantic, to wind up in Paris where Miss Piggy is a prestigious editor of Vogue.
They set up a telethon, repair their condemned studio in minutes, and put on a show in just as much time. The famous cameos are to die for, and it's obvious that everyone from Emily Blunt to Whoopie Goldberg is having a fantastic time. Jack Black has a something-to-be-desired sort of role that doesn't nearly explore his full potential, although the fact that they were able to make a role of his NOT be completely about Jack Black is pretty impressive.
All it in all, it is your typical Muppets film, and will be especially enticing for those who grew up with them, and loved them. It has an extreme undertone of nostalgia, even for the characters, and brings back many famous songs, as well as introduces a few new ones. It is delectably cheesy, audience engaging, and everything that it should have been. By no means will it wow you cinematically, or artistically, but should bring you back to a more simple time and impress upon you how much things have changed.
Even if you don't have kids, I would recommend The Muppets for a few laughs, a good time with Jason Segal and Amy Adams, and quite the reunion with Kermit and the gang.
Sources: IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, NY Times, John Likes Movies, Films According to Chris Wyatt
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