I was accused the other day of being too harsh on Tintin which, I was told, was a children's film and should be judged accordingly. I don't agree, however, because Tintin was supposed to be a family film, and as Mi pointed out, the bar for those types of films have been set very high by Pixar. The Muppets, however, is indeed a children's film, and so I set my expectations accordingly. And, it was absolutely brilliant.
Before we get onto the actual Muppets, the film is prefaced by a short Toy Story film, where a Happy Meal version of Buzz takes Buzz's place in order to get played with. As usual it's brilliant, and I am astonished by the number of really good shorts that Pixar are able to produce.
The Muppet Show, a product of a naive and innocent time, now no longer has a place in this cynical world, and so when Gary (Jason Segel) and his brother, Walter (who just happens to be a Muppet himself), visit The Muppet Studios they are shocked to find it decrepit and unused. Walter is more shocked when he overhears Statler and Waldorf (my all time favourite Muppets, I have to say), offer to sell the studios to Tex Richman (Chris Cooper), who secretly plans on knocking them down to get the oil beneath. Walter, Gary and Gary's girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) go to Kermit's home to convince him to put on a telethon to get the ten million needed to keep the theatre. Naturally enough, Kermit agrees; but getting the Muppets back together and having a telethon is not going to be an easy venture.
The human actors in the film - Segel, Adams, Cooper and Rashida Jones (as television executive Veronica) - embrace their roles playing them firmly over the top, but at the same time quite seriously. As such, despite the fact that Cooper says "maniacal laugh" instead of actually doing it, and Segel openly acknowledges his song and dance routines (though Segel is careful enough to avoid doing any serious dancing, unlike Adams), the relationship problems between Gary and Mary seem quite real, and although Gary's brother is a Muppet, there is still a very strong brotherly bond between them. It's a very difficult line to walk, but the actors do it with aplomb.
And, in fact, so does the whole movie. The movie is a dutiful homage to the original Muppet Show television series - recreating the opening title sequence, having Scooter give the guests their time to stage, Kermit performing "The Rainbow Connection", and a special guest in the form of Jack Black, who is just as keen to indulge the whole format - but at the same time embraces a more modern television movie with Kermit and Miss Piggy going on an emotional rollercoaster, along with Gary and Walter trying to find their place in the world and with each other. It is a credit to Jason Segel who wrote the film that the story is so rich, and to James Bobin, whose direction brings the seventies back to life while firmly pushing the Muppets into the current century.
There are copious amounts of cameo appearances, be they small roles for Alan Arkin and Mickey Rooney, or just surprising guest appearances from Whoopi Goldberg and Selena Gomez (and one cameo that was completely unexpected but utterly brilliant), and everyone seems to be in on the joke of the Muppets, with no one sending it up at all.
The fact is, this movie just reeks of love by a production crew who are keen to make a brilliant new Muppet movie. The fact that they succeed, is not only brilliant for the audience, but also for the Muppets who have proven that they still have a place in today's media world.
Before we get onto the actual Muppets, the film is prefaced by a short Toy Story film, where a Happy Meal version of Buzz takes Buzz's place in order to get played with. As usual it's brilliant, and I am astonished by the number of really good shorts that Pixar are able to produce.
The Muppet Show, a product of a naive and innocent time, now no longer has a place in this cynical world, and so when Gary (Jason Segel) and his brother, Walter (who just happens to be a Muppet himself), visit The Muppet Studios they are shocked to find it decrepit and unused. Walter is more shocked when he overhears Statler and Waldorf (my all time favourite Muppets, I have to say), offer to sell the studios to Tex Richman (Chris Cooper), who secretly plans on knocking them down to get the oil beneath. Walter, Gary and Gary's girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) go to Kermit's home to convince him to put on a telethon to get the ten million needed to keep the theatre. Naturally enough, Kermit agrees; but getting the Muppets back together and having a telethon is not going to be an easy venture.
The human actors in the film - Segel, Adams, Cooper and Rashida Jones (as television executive Veronica) - embrace their roles playing them firmly over the top, but at the same time quite seriously. As such, despite the fact that Cooper says "maniacal laugh" instead of actually doing it, and Segel openly acknowledges his song and dance routines (though Segel is careful enough to avoid doing any serious dancing, unlike Adams), the relationship problems between Gary and Mary seem quite real, and although Gary's brother is a Muppet, there is still a very strong brotherly bond between them. It's a very difficult line to walk, but the actors do it with aplomb.
And, in fact, so does the whole movie. The movie is a dutiful homage to the original Muppet Show television series - recreating the opening title sequence, having Scooter give the guests their time to stage, Kermit performing "The Rainbow Connection", and a special guest in the form of Jack Black, who is just as keen to indulge the whole format - but at the same time embraces a more modern television movie with Kermit and Miss Piggy going on an emotional rollercoaster, along with Gary and Walter trying to find their place in the world and with each other. It is a credit to Jason Segel who wrote the film that the story is so rich, and to James Bobin, whose direction brings the seventies back to life while firmly pushing the Muppets into the current century.
There are copious amounts of cameo appearances, be they small roles for Alan Arkin and Mickey Rooney, or just surprising guest appearances from Whoopi Goldberg and Selena Gomez (and one cameo that was completely unexpected but utterly brilliant), and everyone seems to be in on the joke of the Muppets, with no one sending it up at all.
The fact is, this movie just reeks of love by a production crew who are keen to make a brilliant new Muppet movie. The fact that they succeed, is not only brilliant for the audience, but also for the Muppets who have proven that they still have a place in today's media world.
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