The Muppets - Review

In stark honesty this film comes out and says it; The Muppets have been forgotten. The current generation of children have found new forms of entertainment and puppet characters are more archaic than the artefacts that rest in the natural history museum. However, Disney have resurrected the dolls, dusted them down and unleashed them onto the big screen supplying them a return to a beloved franchise.

The old gang have moved on, the muppets have parted ways to pursue different careers and lifestyle choices. Gonzo is the head-honcho of a plumbing corporation, Miss Piggy is an editor at Paris Vogue, Dr Bunsen Honeydew and his squeaky assistant Beaker are working at the Large Hadron Collider and Animal is sponsored by Jack Black in a monk-like institute. With the aid of their biggest fans Walter, who happens to be a muppet himself, his human brother Gary (Jason Segel) and his girlfriend of 10 years Mary (Amy Adams) Kermit travels the globe re-uniting his posse so they can team up once again for one final show, to raise enough money to save their studios from the antagonist, who intends to destroy the building to gain access to oil.

Nostalgia appears to be the primary purpose of the film, providing more enjoyment to the parents in the cinema than their children. The sharp wit of the script provokes some soft humour which in addition to some wonderful set designs the all-singing-all-dancing show creates an honest family spectacle.

Charming and unique the vivid colours and upbeat tempo will bring smiles to even the most cynical faces.  If the official soundtrack “Life’s a Happy Song” doesn’t get your heart fluttering then you have a soul of stone.  The wonderful production captures everything good that life has to offer, at the risk of becoming Ross Geller, you really do emerge from the cinema with a new found respect for life.

There are a series of high profile cameos throughout the film. Stars such as Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters front man), Jim Parsons (Sheldon Cooper from TBBT), Jack Black (musician and actor), Zach Galifianakis(Actor, Alan from the Hangover), Whoopi Goldberg  (actor), Selena Gomez(ermmmm), Ken Jeon (actor), Emily Blunt (actor) and others.

Fans of the series have the opportunity to witness their favourite muppet on the screen once more, whilst the younger audience will be faced with the tough decision to make that choice. For me, it’s Bobo the bear, who in the film plays the role of henchman for the baddie. But a bear in a suit? Who doesn’t love a grizzly bear in a suit?

Everybody can enjoy this film as there is a little bit of everything in this production for the whole family. There is also a charming short-film from Toy Story in there for you, making this a wonderful experience for all movie-goers. If you can look past the fixed expression of Segel, who ranks very highly on the Pierce Morgan scale of incredibly punchable faces, The Muppets is a lovable film.

9/10

(Post your favourite Muppet in the comments section below)

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