Synopsis: Walter, a lifelong fan of Kermit, Miss Piggy and crew, dreams of visiting the Muppet studio. When he, his brother Gary, and Gary's significant other, Mary (Amy Adams), finally make the trek over there, they discover that it's been largely abandoned. Worse yet, Walter overhears an evil tycoon's plan to buy the Muppet studio only to dig up the oil reserve beneath it. The only way the nefarious scheme can be stopped is if Kermit and friends can raise ten million dollars. Kermit assembles the old crew together to put on a benefit...but, that nefarious oil baron will stop at nothing to be the owner of the Muppet studios. Will Kermie prevail in the end?
Features appearances by Jack Black, Whoopi Goldberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Selena Gomez, Emily Blunt, and several other celebrities.
The Good: After Jim Henson died, the Muppet franchise went into a downward spiral. Muppet Treasure Island and Muppets from Space were pretty good...but, after the mediocre and somewhat crude It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, the absolutely horrible The Muppets' Wizard of Oz, and the inane A Muppet Christmas: Letters to Santa, things seemed bleak for Kermit and crew. Well, I'm happy to say that this film brings back the Muppet magic. It's a serious throwback to a time when movies were made to simply be enjoyed, not picked apart for hidden meanings. Humor abounds; the musical numbers were great; the heroes were likable; the villain was utterly despicable; and, there's many a cute moment.
The Bad: Unfortunately, the makers felt the need to add some occasional crude bits, though it's nowhere near as egregious as in the other Muppet flicks mentioned above. Without them, this movie could have scored a "G".
Conclusion: I grew up watching the Muppets in various forms: movies, both older and newer; Muppet Babies; Muppets Tonight; and, yes, even Fraggle Rock. That may make me a bit biased, but, I still had a blast with this movie. Say what you will about Disney; they brought back the Muppets to their former glory. Whereas the movies from the 2000s would have made Jim Henson turn in his grave, this would have made the late Muppet creator proud. Let's hope the next movie, Muppets: Most Wanted, continues this trend.
Score: 4.5/5
I grew up with "The Muppets". They premiered on TV when I was 12 and I watched them every week. I loved their off-the-wall humor, the overall craziness of the skits, and how every week Kermit had to keep control of the Muppet cast who were nuts. I looked back on the show with fondness and the nostalgic nerd in me was geared up about the Muppets coming back. I should have known better.
This is an awful reboot. The story is the typical 'someone's-going-to-close-the-theater' tripe. The bad guy is another villain that we've seen countless times out of Hollywood. Yes it's the evil oilman. Even dumber...his name is "Tex Richman". Get it? Ha! Ha! "Tex" as in "Texas" and "Richman"...like "Rich" as in "money"? Isn't that clever?!? My god it's idiotic.
So we get a new Muppet character named "Walter" who wants to be a Muppet. He ends up saving the theater during a fund raising telethon. And his talent? He whistles really well. Whistles! I couldn't believe how stupid that was! I sat there in the theater with my jaw on the floor.
Each Muppet is basically in the movie so we nostalgic types can see our favorites again like Fozzy Bear, Animal etc. But they aren't part of the story. Instead, we get the bland new Muppet Walter, his meat-headed human brother Gary, and his boring girlfriend Mary.
The only reason I give this a 2 out of 10 score is because I liked the recreation of the old "Muppet Show" opening. But that's it.
"I'm gonna shoot straight: you guys aren't famous anymore."
Other than the original The Muppet Movie, I can't say I am a super fan of the franchise (or of musicals). That being said, I found myself humming the songs while watching and it was good to see Kermit and the gang back again.
Really fun, great songs and an excellent way to revive the Muppets for a new generation.
A funny and charming movie for the entire family. Definitely the best Muppet movie of recent years.
Its funny, but is for childrens but was very good
A suitably bright, cheerful revival of the old Muppet franchise, stuffed with cameos and furry puppets, old and new. I really loved this upon my first watch, five or six years ago, but much of the shine has worn off since then. It does manage to modernize the show without losing its spirit, no small task in and of itself, but the ceaseless, overwhelming optimism is lathered thick and I didn't find the soundtrack quite so charming on a second pass. Amy Adams and Jason Segel are the worst offenders here, acceptable enough as small-town sweethearts but disturbingly happy and overacted, prone to drop everything for a song like they're in the process of succumbing to a massive Glee overdose.
My boys didn't care for the musical numbers either, but all three of us enjoyed the big, seat-of-their-pants stage production that closes the show. That felt like the most successful interpretation of the old material anyway, a fast-paced variety show that's just as comically chaotic behind the scenes as it is before the audience. Fresh in the sense that they don't make clean, wholesome, feel-good programming like this any more, but it doesn't have a lot of shelf life. One viewing is more than enough.
The Muppets are back baby! “It’s time the play the music. It’s time to light the lights…” This is the most meta of all the Muppet films; a revival film about the revival of The Muppet Show. In fact, half of the time one didn't know whether you’re was laughing at the film or with it, yet it’s the funniest film of the year bar none. Jason Segel and Amy Adams both give great performances, and the musical numbers are incredibly fun with catchy songs, including “Life’s a Happy Song” and “Man or Muppet.” The Muppets is a charming nostalgia piece that pays homage to The Muppet Show (and films) while delivering a campy, goofball comedy.
Shout by MajorMercyFlushVIP OG 14BlockedParent2012-03-08T04:00:17Z
Rarely does something truly stir the child and emotions in me as this film did.
"The Muppets" didn't sit with me as their previous forays to the big screen, it's not that kind of film and I don't think it was meant to be. It's not a Muppet movie, it's a movie with The Muppets; if that makes sense.
The Muppets are a pinnacle of anthropomorphism, but Kermit has never felt as human as he does here. His introduction and his first song (which is better, I feel, than the Oscar winning Man or Muppet) sets the tone perfectly and had me flicking between being 10 again but just as firmly an adult. Memories of sitting on the carpet three feet from the TV watching The Muppet Show as Mum told me I'd get square eyes if I didn't move away, flooded back. As an adult his struggle with their relevance landed and is what lifted this to a place I found really affecting.
Towards the end Kermit sings The Rainbow Connection and it floored me in a wave of goosebumps and seriously moist eyes. It wasn't shot on the scale of The Muppet Movie version, was on a stage and felt intimate in a way they haven't before.
Aside from Kermit all the major players are back and in fine form, though some have only scant appearances. I was a little disappointed that Pigs in Space didn't get a cameo but the Swedish Chef can make up for a multitude of sins.
Animals "...in control" was brilliant and had me laughing every time.
Highly recommended.
Totally Wocka Wocka!