DIR: James Bobin • WRI: Jason Segel, Nicholas Stoller • PRO: David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman • DOP: Don Burgess • ED: James M. Thomas • DES: Steve Saklad • Cast: Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Beaker, Swedish Chef, Animal
It’s been twelve years since The Muppets last had a cinematic release (the not terrible, but still a flop Muppets From Space), and in the interim the world has just kind of forgotten about them. Which is exactly where this movie picks up, with Mary (Amy Adams) and Gary (Jason Segel) and Gary’s muppet brother Walter heading to LA for a holiday, and discovering the old Muppets Studio is now in disrepair, and about to torn down so Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) can dig for oil. The only way to save the studio is if they can convince Kermit & Co to perform a reunion show, and as far as plot’s go, that’s your lot.
From the amount of cameos from famous folk (Neil Patrick Harris, Jack Black, Emily Blunt, John Krazinski, Zack Galifianakis, Sarah Silverman, Ken Jeong and Whoopi Goldberg to name just a fraction), there is still a lot of love for these mop slash puppets. And that love is well deserved, for as soon as Kermit, Gonzo, Animal, Beaker and the irrepressible Miss Piggy show up on screen, a giant grin will be plastered to your face, and will remain there for hours after the film has finished.
The script, co-written by Segel and Forgetting Sarah Marshall director Nicholas Stoller, as well as being directed and the original songs written by the creators of Flight Of The Conchords, makes for a film that is is both incredibly smart and witty (plenty of meta moments to be found). On top of this the film’s use of lowest common denominator funny without being stupid (a chorus of Muppet chickens singing Cee-Lo Green’s most famous song, or ‘Cluck You’, if you will), means that everyone in the audience, regardless of age, is catered for. There hasn’t been a film this wilfully fun and funny since Disney made fun of their own formula with Enchanted, and as well as being an early frontrunner for Funniest Film Of 2012, it’s also a great reunion and reintroduction to one of the all-time greatest groups of entertainers.
Rory Cashin
Rated G (see IFCO website for details)
The Muppets is released on 10th February 2012
The Muppets – Official Website
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4YhbpuGdwQ
