The plot sees Muppets super fan Walter (himself seemingly of Muppet stock) and big brother Gary (Jason Segal), travel to LA along with Gary’s girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams), with the intention of visiting the legendary Muppet theatre. It’s never actually explained why a Muppet and a human are brothers but like so many ridiculous things in the Muppet universe, it really doesn’t matter. Once on the tour of the dilapidated Muppet theatre, Walter overhears villainous oil tycoon called Tex Richman (subtlety is overrated), played with maniacal glee by Chris Cooper, plotting to buy and then tear down the theatre in order to drill for oil beneath it. The only way the Muppets' spiritual home can be saved is if they raise $10million and then buy the theatre outright themselves. Walter, Gary and Mary track down Kermit and after some soul searching on his part, they talk him into getting the band back together and putting on one last show.
It turns out though that the Muppets haven’t seen each other for years and have all long gone their separate ways. Thus it falls on Kermit to track them all down and rope them into a grand gala performance. Thus we now see Miss Piggy working at French Vogue, Animal having anger management counselling and Fozzie working in a Muppet tribute act, The Moopets. After getting everyone back together, Kermit and the gang to put on a telethon in order to raise enough cash to save their home. Studio Execs doubt their relevance and The Muppets themselves aren’t sure if they are wanted by the public any more. As show time approaches, the jury is definitely still out.
The first thing to say about The Muppets is that it has clearly been made by people who love and understand their subject matter. Director James Bobin and especially writers Nicholas Stoller and Jason Segal don’t mess with the winning formula and take the Muppets right back to their 70’s heyday. They don’t try to drastically modernise the characters and make them edgy or cynical, they remain as family friendly, optimistic and anarchic as ever. The movie goes to great pains to emphasise that The Muppets are not the force they once were, yet this isn’t a film that seeks to regenerate the Muppets and rebrand them in any way, it’s one which embraces its origins and seeks simply to continue and improve on a winning formula. There are plenty of nods to previous Muppet releases too including a strangely moving rendition of ‘The Rainbow Connection’ by Kermit towards the film's end.
Director Bobin and songwriter Brett McKenzie are both prominent alumni of Flight of the Conchords and their influence is plain to see when it comes to the movie’s songs. From the infectiously catchy “Life is a Happy Song” to the anthemic power ballad “Man or Muppet”, the tunes fit the movie and its tone perfectly.
There are some typically clever and knowing Muppet gags thrown into the mix too. The team decide to collect the majority of the Muppets back together using a montage, because it's faster. They also travel to Paris via map, as it saves time. At one point a Muppet stooge working for Tex Richman even turns to his buddy and says, “do you think we’re working for the bad guy?”
Naturally there are plenty of celebrity cameos along the way as well, with my personal favourite being a minor role for Dave Grohl in Fozzie’s new band . For a film that centres on the Muppets' waning popularity it is noticeable that the celebrity cameos are not exactly what you would call Hollywood A-list. Perhaps in real life, much like in the film, many in Hollywood doubted the modern day appeal of the Muppets and so stayed clear?
This is by no means a flawless movie, odd scenes don’t quite work and some storylines, mostly the ones including the human characters, do feel a little undercooked. Yet any minor flaws you can pick out soon get forgotten as a sure-fire zinger is always right around the corner to make up for it.
The Muppets is a film which seeks only to entertain and to bring the third greatest gift you can possibly receive (apparently after children and ice cream), laughter. The film itself makes a point of emphasising that modern TV has moved into a far more edgier and violent direction and there is some doubt as to whether there is still a place for wholesome family fun. Well, judging by the public reaction at the screening I went to, and the unanimous positive reviews that have emerged since its release, it would seem there just might be yet. Disney will be hoping this movie will win The Muppets a new generation of fans and I’m sure it will appeal to older fans just as much.
The bottom line is, sometimes you just can’t beat a band of dancing chickens clucking along to Cee- Lo Green’s ‘Forget You’. Despite Statler and Waldorf’s protestations, it feels good to have The Muppets back and at their best.
