THE MUPPETS (2011) Movie Review – Guaranteed To Put A Smile On Your Face
If you have missed THE MUPPETS for all these years they have been off our screens, then you will be happy to know that starting today they are back stronger than ever. But before I start talking about the movie, I have to first disclose that I had never watched the Muppets growing up. It wasn’t because I purposefully avoided them or anything, I just don’t remember the show being on TV at all when I was a kid, so when I saw The Muppets, it was with a complete blank state and no expectations.
Now that’s out of the way, let’s talk about this new movie, The Muppets. The script, written by Jason Segel (from Forgetting Sarah Marshall and How I Met Your Mother) and Nicholas Stoller, introduces a brand new Muppet named Walter (whom you’ll probably add to your list of favorite muppets after seeing the movie), who happens to be Gary’s (Jason Segel) brother and the biggest muppet fan out there. When Gary invited Walter to come along with him and fiance Mary (Amy Adams) to Los Angeles, Walter is ecstatic at the idea he will be visiting the Muppets Studios.
Unfortunately, when they get there, they find the studios almost in ruins. During their tour of what’s left of the studio, Walter overhears oilman Tex Richman’s (Chris Cooper) plans to raze the Muppet Theater in order to drill for oil recently discovered beneath the grounds. Walter then enlists the help of Gary and Mary to reunite the Muppets and stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever, in order to raise the money they need to save the theater.
As I mentioned above, I wasn’t really sure what to expect from The Muppets. All I knew is that I was excited to see it. Well, let me tell you it was fantastic, I loved every second of it. From the ingenious story, which finds a truthful way to acknowledge the fact that the Muppets have been gone for a while (let’s just say that if the Muppets really existed, I’d like to think this movie could absolutely pass as their reunion film “based on a true story,” that’s how smart it is).
In addition, the movie gives quite a few winks at the audience acknowledging the fact this is a movie, with lines such as this “we should travel by map” or “that was an expensive looking explosion.”
On top of everything, you add humor (because this movie is funny), musical numbers (including Chris Copper rapping!) and some amazing guest stars, whom I won’t mention because it’s so much more fun to discover them as you’re watching.
Overall, it was pretty magical and I felt like a kid watching it. And that’s without me having any sort of childhood ties to the Muppets, so that’s saying something. I definitely would love to see the movie again.
Oh and I forgot to mention, before The Muppets starts you will get to see a really cute Toy Story short, so now you have no excuse to miss it.
Hitting theaters today, November 23, The Muppets is definitely fun and entertaining for the whole family and with the Holidays this week, it seems like the perfect time for a family outing. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
