The Muppets (Disney)
Rated PG for some mild rude humor.
Starring Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones, (along with voices of) Steve Whitmire, Eric Jacobson, Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta, David Rudman, Matt Vogel, Peter Linz.
Written by Written by Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller, based on characters created by Jim Henson.
Directed by James Bobin.
GRADE: A-
REVIEW:
I've always been a big fan of the Muppets, from the time I first saw them on Sesame Street as a toddler to the Muppet Movie (1979) when I was a teenager and the Muppet Show as a young adult. Jim Henson's great creations have always been a little more than cute talking puppets; they have a part of Henson's soul, character and innovative spirit that lives on despite his untimely death in 1990.
In The Muppets, Henson's torch has been picked up by none other than Jason Segel, who helped pen the screenplay and also plays Gary, older sibling to his smaller brother Walter (voiced by Peter Linz). Walter is a fellow who does not know why he's different until he sees reruns of the Muppet Show (which actually ran from 1976-1981). Walter becomes the Muppets' biggest fan, while Gary grows up and falls in love with the local Smalltown schoolteacher Mary (Amy Adams). When Gary and Mary decide to take a trip to Hollywood, Gary insists on bringing Walter along so he can tour the Muppet Theater and meet some of his heroes.
When they get there, Gary, Mary and Walter find out that the Muppet theater is in ruins and that Kermit the Frog's standard "Rich and Famous" contract he signed way back in 1979 has a loophole which allows the evil oil baron Tex Richman (Chris Cooper). The trio sets out to find Kermit and get the old Muppet gang back to air a TV telethon to raise enough money to save the theater from becoming an oilfield. Kermit joins and and the group travels the world retrieving all the old gang from Fozzie Bear to Gonzo, to Rolf...all the way to Miss Piggy in Paris. The reunion hits a few snags, but the group eventually gets back to Hollywood and begins renovations on the theater, just in time to air a telethon in an attempt to raise $10 million.
Part of the Muppet's scheme is to lure famous people into guest starring on their telethon, but resort to kidnapping Jack Black. The telethon hits several snags, but ends up being rating bonanza.
But was it enough to save the theater?
The Muppets is a great follow-up to the 1979 classic, and is full of the silly humor everyone expects from them. Segel's script and eager performance captures the Muppet spirit inspired by Henson. The film is also a decent musical with outstanding and fun production numbers from Amy Adams and others.
Kids like me who grew up with The Muppets and kids of present day will love the humor and spirit of all those great Muppet characters all over again.
