“Are you one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?”
What’s it all about? Gary (Jason Segel) travels to Los Angeles with his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) and his brother Walter (performed by Peter Linz), who happens to be the Muppets’ biggest fan. After arriving in LA, Gary, Mary and Walter learn that a businessman (Chris Cooper) plans to demolish the Muppet Theater so he can drill for oil. With the help of Kermit the Frog, Walter and his friends must reunite the Muppets in order to raise ten million dollars to save the Muppet Theatre.
Everything is perfect. It’s falling into place. I can’t seem to wipe this smile off my face. Life’s a happy song when there’s someone there to — wait, wait, wait. Those sound like song lyrics.
I’m sorry. I was super-excited.
Also, I currently have a headache. From smiling too much while watching THE MUPPETS. Yes, I have a physical ailment because Jason Segel’s contribution to the Muppets filmography was so entirely delightful. I don’t quite understand why Frank Oz and a handful of the Muppeteers wanted to distance themselves from Segel’s THE MUPPETS. The film is respectful toward the franchise and legacy of Jim Henson — reverentially so — and Segel’s script is clever and earnest, the trademarks of any Muppets story.
Jim Parsons, without even speaking, wins the prize for best cameo. “Life’s a Happy Song”, “Let’s Talk About Me” and “Are You a Man or Muppet?” all win for best song. Jason Segel, of course, wins the entire shebang. To understand how quirky and fun the film is, here’s a scene from “Life’s a Happy Song” which introduces the brightly-coloured town of Gary, Mary and Walter:
Well, isn’t that just magnificent?
Unfortunately, THE MUPPETS isn’t able to recreate the near-perfection of its first act in the remainder of the film. It becomes somewhat overwrought and plodding, and the ending is just a bit contrived. I also still don’t understand the appeal of Rashida Jones (despite my adoration of PARKS AND RECREATION). And the songs are a little bit too FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS, if you know what I mean. But all of that doesn’t really matter because Kermit the Frog is still on the big screen, and you know Jason Segel is having the time of his life. Also, it’s still THE MUPPETS.
I do have one small warning, however. You should know that Steve Martin does not make a cameo in THE MUPPETS. He is referenced once or twice. When Kermit the Frog goes to pick up his banjo, all while celebrity guests start showing up left and right, I was glued to the screen, waiting for the banjo-playing Steve Martin to show. He didn’t. I waited the entire movie for him to show up but got nothing.
But I did get delightful musical numbers with Muppets and that’s all you really need in life.
Notes: Directed by James Bobin, Produced by David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman; Written by Jason Segel, Nicholas Stoller; Based on The Muppets by Jim Henson; Starring Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Peter Linz, Rashida Jones; Music by Christophe Beck; Cinematography by Don Burgess; Editing by James M. Thomas.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
That contrived ending is actually “very Muppet”…all of the classic films built up to something similar. The movie is flawed, but you’re right – it’s so wonderfully flawed!
While you were busy grinning the whole time, i was busy wiping away tears of joy.
I did a double feature of this and Hugo. I couldn’t stop smiling for hours.
Lovely!
I was also very disappointed in the lack of Steve Martin. I wonder if there’s a story behind his absence. I waited all the way through the credits hoping he’d pop up at the last second. Great movie, though! I love FotC. My first clue that they (turns out, Brett McKenzie) were involved was the line “it’s never just me and him; it’s always me and him… and him”.
“Life’s A Happy Song” seems like something Segel would have written, not Bret. So, I got the FOTC vibe at the “him and him” thing as well.