The Muppets Reviews

The Muppets must reunite to put on a show and save their theater.
Like The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle a few years ago, The Muppets cashes in on its nostalgia, supposing that the audience misses their bygone days. And while I vaguely remember enjoying the show as a child, there isn't much about the original that this film brings back. Whereas The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle had some remarkably funny puns, there isn't much to laugh at here. I chuckled a couple times, mostly at the remarks by the two curmudgeonly spectators, but there weren't any guffaws. Most disappointing were the musical numbers with the exception of Chris Cooper's rap; during her songs it seemed that Amy Adams was forcing a grin, knowing she should look happy. The plot unfolds just as anyone knows it would.
Overall, I wasn't impressed by this film, but Muppets fans might find something worth liking if only for the nostalgia.

Not the gross disaster I was led to believe by some passionate friends, The Muppets is an ode to the begotten ways of the muppets (Marinette-puppets) that have been with with us for nearly fifty years. Originally created by puppeteer Jim Henson, the world of Henson studios has branched out into Sesame Street, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and films such as The Dark Crystal, and Labyrinth. The Muppets references many of these facets and has a tone that respects the ways of the old gang while also making them fresh for an entirely new generation of fans. The muppets really needed a reboot, and after twelve years without a theatrical release they won big time with a script by uber fans Jason Segel and Nicolas Stoller. The film warrants comparisons to the first film entitled The Muppet Movie (1979), as this as well is studded with a plethora of guest cameos, contains many songs, and makes in-jokes, references, and stays true to the original vision of these now remembered childhood icons. The take on this is that the muppets have been forgotten by society, and the group has to reform in order to keep their studio from the evil clutches of Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) who wants to drill there for oil. It's a kitschy premise, but one that is mocked throughout. The tone is surprisingly dark for a children's film, which I generally liked, because it wasn't as waylaid as previous films which didn't have the same care and effort. Segel truly is a fan boy, and it's clear he's having a ball while shooting every scene. He and the cast did a bang up job of letting most of the screen time be dominated by the legends themselves, which I found refreshing. His and Amy Adams' performances were a bit hollow in spite of their forced enthusiasm, and though they remained cheery focal points, they didn't add much to the story. (That hurts me to say with Segel's appreciation and love so obvious and abundant.) The songs weren't all great, as evidenced by an evil villain rap from Chris Cooper, but I think they will mostly hold up in the future. It was sincerely enchanting throughout and a great way to introduce kids to a set of performers that haven't truly held the hearts of America since their groundbreaking show in the seventies. I'm glad to see the muppets looking fresh and unyielding to cop outs, thank God.

After the Muppets have been invisible in the cinemas for over 10 years now, so having a new muppet movie come out was a big surprise to me. But now that I've seen it, is my verdict that I think its a fantastic movie that is well worth your time, or do I think that it is a movie that you should definitely avoid at all costs? I actually think, it wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be, and it was kind of a disappointment. The film does very good at pulling at your heart strings and make you feel sorry for what happens to the characters, even if there are moments that are a bit iffy in the feelings. The pace of the film is very slow at some parts and it doesn't entertain as much as the past Muppet movies. I don't think it is a bad movie, but it doesn't give as much payoff as it could've been, especially for another Muppet film that I've been waiting to see in the theaters for over 10 years. Its good for kids, and you might be entertained by it, but overall it isn't the best Muppet movie, but it is good, but it isn't the best film I've seen this year.

2.5*s out of 5
Review originally written 12/4/11

Walter: Kermit, you're my hero. You're on my watch. 

"Muppet Domination"

I have to admit that I have never been a big fan of the Muppets. It wasn't a big thing when I was growing up, so I never got that into it. With that said, I liked this movie to the extent that I could. Obviously, I'm not the target audience for this one. This is for lovers of the Muppets, young and old. People who grew up on these guys will absolutely love the film, but for me, I felt out of the loop. There's a lot of self-referencing jokes and of course I'm not going to get most of them. So, I wasn't able to get everything out of the movie that big fans were. 

The Muppets follow two brothers, one a puppet, Walter, and the other a human, Gary. They take a trip to LA to see the Muppet studio, which is decrepit. They also learn that an oil tycoon plans to tear it down and drill for oil. So, the two and Gary's longtime girlfriend find and tell Kermit. In order to save the place, they must raise $10 million. In order to do that, Kermit, with the help of the three fans, gets all the Muppets back together to put on a telethon to raise the money. 

The Muppets was actually a pretty fun time, even for someone like me who isn't familiar with them. There's a huge cast and endless cameos. Jason Segel and Amy Adams are front and stage along with The Muppets themselves. Also making appearances are Emily Blunt, Rashida Jones, Neil Patrick Harris, Jim Parsons, Mickey Rooney, Jack Black and countless more. The movie is pretty big for a children's feature and there's a lot of in-jokes. To the extent that I got the humor, it was actually quite funny.

I wasn't able to love it to the extent that many others did, but I still feel comfortable saying this is a good film. I'm sure it was a nice piece of nostalgia for all the adults that grew up on it and I'm sure they were happy to shoe it to their kids to maybe get them interested in it. It's a joyous film that the whole family can enjoy and who knows, maybe this is a new start for the Muppet franchise.

Rarely do I get to say a fim filled me with so much joy it made me feel like a child again, ' The Muppets' does just that, for me it was like an emotional ride through sadness and happiness, I had complete empathy for all the characters and found myself smiling uncontrollably when they were and going through all the pain they were.

There's a wide rnge of cameo apperances that further enhance this film's enjoyability, my favourite of wich was either Neil Patrick Harris or Jim Parsons. If you want to watch something this week in the cinema make it 'The Muppets' because you might just fall in love.

It may not live up to the standards of Jim Henson's work before his death. However, it may be a treat for most, espescially for fans of 'The Muppet Show', as it will give quite a strong dose of nostalgia.

Well, this movie pretty much played out like I exected...and that's maybe the best possible thing I could ask for. Both the film itself, and it's plot are all about how the Muppets WERE great, and how it's a shame no one really remembers or seems to care about them much anymore. Like the other Muppet films, there's plenty of meta and self referential humor, a lot of it based on the above mentioned statement about their decline in prominence and popularity.

The plot follows a guy named Gary and his muppet brother Walter (who doesn't really seem to get that he is indeed a muppet), who are big fans of Jim Henson's creations. Gary has a lovely lady named Mary, who really questions if Gary really cares about her more than he lets on, as he seems to prefer sppending time with Walter to taking their relationship to the next step.

On a vacation to Hollywood (one that's supposed to celebrate Gary and Mary's 10 year anniversary), Gary and Walter find out that an evil oil tycoon named Tex Richman wants ot buy the old dilapidated Muppet studios so he can demolish it and drill for oil that's supposed to be buried underneath. What follows then is baically a "getting the band back together" quest where they try to reunite the Muppets to put on a telethon to raise the money to keep the studio.

All in all, I did really like this nostalgic romp. In a few ways, it reminded me of Toy Story 3, except this one wasn't so heavy on the theme of mortality, had a more lighter tone overall, and didn't make me bawl my eyes out, though I did of course tear up a few times. I mean, who can make it through "The Rainbow Connection" and not be moved?


It's very clear that Jason Segel truly does love The Muppets, and the film is full of all sosrts of references, in jokes, and his deep appreciation, which is why it sucks that his vision ultimately prevented Frank Oz from being involved in any way, mostly do to disagreements about the script and direction of the story. Even without Frank, this is still a nice piece of work, even if it does have some issues, at least for me.

I know the film is supposed to be fun and campy, but awkward villain songs, especially rap ones, are just really embarassing, painful, and something I'd prefer not to watch. Sorry Chris Cooper. I love you, but never rap again. At least it's a short song, but still. Also, I really loved the direction this film started to take in the last oh, 10 minutes or so, especially when it really started to get mature, bittersweet, and be somewhat of a downer. That was brilliant, and it sucks becuase they didn't go all the way through with it, instead copping out during the END CREDITS! Come on! I hate bringing this up again, but Toy Story 3 had more guts than this, even if I knew that in that film they probably wouldn't totally go through with it either, they at least didn't do a complete 180 degree turnaroiund with the tone. Although, to be fair, the slap in the face that this film does to the audience is kind of funny in retrospect, even if it is a bit disappointing.

The performance are fine, and I loved seeing the old gang back together. As good as the human character are though, I couldn't help but notice that the humans seemed more artificial and wooden in their performances than the Muppets. I can understand being in on the joke, and acting like it, but this is a bit much. However, I didn't hate their work, cuz it's Amy Adams and Jason Segel- two of the msot likeable people ever. Plus, there's some obviously great cameos too, as per tradition.

Yeah, I've been a bit hard on this film, but it's hard not to be. That's just how much of an impact and legacy the Muppets have, I don't know what the future holds for the gang, but if nothing happens after this, I can be satisfied with this little return, as it is better than nothing. Plus, my gripes are really just a ton of nitpicking anyway.

Mostly met my expectations. My eyes welled up when they sang Rainbow Connection. I'm looking forward to a new generation of muppet films.

I mean, come on its 'The Muppets'. Its Jason Segel. There are a bunch of celebrity cameos. There is only so much you can complain about with material like this, although there is very little. Kick back and breathe in the nostalgia.

Self-aware and plugged in like the Muppets of yore, Jason Segal's update of the franchise for a new generation is charming, funny, and true to its roots, fan fiction though it may be. Hard to describe, other than to say that if you've ever liked the Muppets at any point in your life, you won't say "Oh, man, did they destroy that!", which will feel refreshing when you consider the reboots and re-reboots that abound in contemporary Hollywood. Ribald but still fun for the whole family, one of the movies from 2011 that you absolutely must see.

What's not to love about the Muppets? I had a feeling this would be a fun time at the movies, but I didn't quite anticipate it would be so charmingly brilliant. They took everything I've ever loved about these wonderful characters, placed them in a modern environment, and brought out the best of both worlds. To simply say it's good, would be like saying that Jim Henson was a fairly creative guy. What I can express in words though, is that it's a joyous celebration of life, music and everything inbetween. An upbeat and nostalgic festival of fun, that brings out the inner child in all of us. And the fact that they've been around since the 70's, certainly goes to show that they're anything but an expiring gimmick. Most kid shows from that era are now mere outdated relics, but the Muppets have indubiately proved that they can outlive anything. Seriously, throw a nuclear holocaust at them and you'll still find them doing song numbers in the aftermath. You'd have to be the most cynical person on Earth not to like them. I've seen about every Muppet movie there is to see now, and I can easily say that this is by far the best entry. All due respect to the classics, but this is the one that really won me over. Simple for sure, yet also amazingly clever with its self-aware blend of old, new and something blue (that would be Gonzo). Not to forget all the great wisecracks and play on words (especially by Statler and Waldorf), which has ever been one of my favourite elements within the core of these films. Because with the Muppets, the fun never stops, and whether you're 9 or 99, you'll find that it has something you can enjoy and take to heart. Not just enjoy, but love and cherish for many years to come.

Maniacal laugh Maniacal laugh

Good movie. As a kid I wasn't much of The Muppets but I have always liked them."The Muppets" lives up to most of its hype. It's a solid, stand-alone movie with a great storyline. While the film may be considered a tribute, which in many ways it is, very rarely does a tribute make a great movie. Any TV show can put the Muppets on proverbial pedestals using archive footage. "The Muppets" succeeds by breathing new life into characters we've known for years, and bringing them back down from their high pedestals so they're easier to see. Dozens of celebrity cameos abound here, but the film's strength is knowing who the real stars of the movie are and why we love them. I just hope younger audience members get the same message. See it with your kids!

Walter is a Muppet whose ambition is to visit the Muppet Theater in Hollywood. One day, he gets the opportunity to go, with his brother Gary and his girlfriend Mary. However, when they arrive they are saddened by the state that the theater has got into. When Walter discovers that oil magnate Tex Richman intends to buy the theater to drill for oil, he, Gary and Mary travel far and wide to reunite the disbanded Muppets. Together again, the Muppets must put on a show and try to keep their theater.

Absolutely DEEEELIGHTFUL!! I was a big fan of the Muppets in the 80's, so all the old references from that time just made me giggle. Yes..I said giggle. AND when Kermit sang Rainbow Connection, I got chills. Yes..I said chills. This was adorable, funny, and FUN for anybody with a Muppet history. Like me. :)

Cast: Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones, Alan Arkin, Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Silverman, Emily Blunt

Director:James Bobin

Summary: When Kermit the Frog and the Muppets learn that their beloved theater is slated for demolition, a sympathetic human, Gary, and his puppet roommate, Walter, swoop in to help the gang put on a show and raise the $10 million they need to save the day.

My Thoughts: "I love Kermit and Miss Piggy, and I was so happy to see them brought back to life with the rest of the gang. The movie is funny, cute, charming, and silly. I loved seeing all the cameos. I was extremely impressed and surprised by Chris Cooper's rapping. Who knew right? The adults will love this film just as much as the kids do. I can't wait to see what they do with the next film."

Delightful. That word describes The Muppets better than any other word that readily comes to mind. This movie is fun, funny and charming in a way that easily appeals to kids and adults. That pretty much sums up my review, but it might be helpful to give a bit more detail.

The story is a simple one, with the Muppets getting back together after drifting their separate ways to put on a huge show to save their old theater. A new Muppet, Walter, his human brother Gary (Jason Segal) and Gary's girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) take a trip to Los Angeles that sparks the whole storyline. Segal and Adams are great, singing and charming their way through the movie while leaving plenty of space for the Muppets to be the clear stars of the show. Celebrity cameos are numerous and usually hilarious.

The frequent songs are catchy and amusing ("Me Party" was pretty much the highlight of the whole film in my opinion), the dynamics and chemistry between the Muppets seem as good as ever, and best of all, it's almost impossible to not have a smile on your face while watching The Muppets. I didn't enjoy the movie so much that I was oblivious to its flaws, though. The pacing suffered at times, the movie peaked too early for me (the first 70% was better than the last act), Chris Cooper was largely mishandled as the villainous Tex Richman (great name, by the way), and the ending fizzled. Oh, and there wasn't nearly enough Amy Adams, but I'm willing to admit that's probably just an issue on my end (she's one of my favorite actresses).

Still, those issues didn't change the fact that I enjoyed The Muppets a lot. Be you an old fan or a newcomer, give it a shot.

This is another movie where I walked into it with absolutely no expectations. Considering that Frank Oz didn't want anything to with it and movie studio's tendencies to modernize old stories, I gave this one a shot anyway. It turns out that The Muppets isn't really about the Muppets... nor is it about anybody really. It's about everybody and nobody, which is the biggest problem I have with it. I've noticed a trend lately of slapping someone's name on a poster and the movie ending up not really being much about them. This film's supposed central character is Gary, at least that's how it starts out and it's not about the Muppets so far. Then they bring his brother Gary and Gary's girlfriend Mary into it, and it's still not about the Muppets. Then later we finally meet Kermit, and one by one, the rest of the Muppets finally appear in a terribly cliche'd story about getting the band back together to raise money or they're going to lose the Muppet's studio. It feels very one-dimensional... just as one dimensional as the puppets themselves. This movie needed to be about the Muppets and everyone else should have been side characters. You know, how it's always worked in the past. It's a problem, and one that I can't overlook. Impressive musical numbers and some funny & endearing moments can't disguise the uneven character development or lack of originality.

An enjoyable musical/kids film with a great number of self-referential jokes concerning the obscurity of "The Muppets" and their journey back to the big screen. Although it might contain a political message through it's villain (Chris Cooper, who plays Tex(an) Richman, a greedy oil digger - a possible reference to George Bush and his widely believed love for oil in Iraq?), it still remains light, very funny, and effortlessly charming. The human actors, notably Jason Segal and Amy Adams, are fine, collecting by far their easiest paychecks of their careers, while allowing the muppets to do their act. A perfect kids movie, with laughs that reach a wide audience range, with a number of fun cameos to boot.

Honestly, the film was a terrific masterpiece, and with Jason Segel and Jim Henson at the the helm of the typewriter, the script was sure to stay traditional, I think it was fantastic that the movie appealed to both the younger and older generations and the kids laughed and the adults can remember when they were kids when they were laughing, it was a spectacle to say the least.

"Wow, that was such an expensive looking explosion! I can't believe we had that in the budget."

With the help of three fans, The Muppets must reunite to save their old theater from a greedy oil tycoon.

REVIEW
Jim Henson's Muppets have been around forever, and part of their appeal is their ability to let us have fun with nothing to worry about. They're innocent, with definite personalities, and I wish I could say true mirrors of ourselves. We could only wish we could solve problems like they do, in 90 minutes. Maybe that's why this movie is a joy to watch. It gives us plenty to be cheerful about, and it is a way to escape reality. In the film, the Muppets themselves are somewhat passé, according to the latest survey by the media authorities. In fact, they are about to lose their beloved theater, and much like most of America, they have managed to isolate themselves from each other. However, there is now an opportunity to work together, to rekindle the flame, to bring everything back to normal, and that will require some work and plenty of fun along the way.

Soon, Kermit, Ms. Piggy, and their new friends, including an adorable new Muppet, Walter, are on a quest around the world to reunite the old gang, put on a show, and reach their goal. There is nothing complicated or too fancy along the way, just simple, funny dialog, much of it with a touch of innocence, and a hint of subversion. Characters turn around and let us in the joke, and modern audiences get their winks. In the end, the film is sweet, looks amazing, and fresh, and for a moment we forget our worries, how we have forgotten to connect to the children in us, and we regain our sense of wonder, singing happy tunes, laughing and clapping at simple, funny jokes. In the end this is pure joy!