The Muppets

Once upon a time, a boy longed to make sense of a world he didn't quite fit into. And then he found The Muppet Show. These Muppets—all goofballs, misfits and monsters—were weird like him. And they reveled in that weirdness. If there are Swedish chefs and boomerang fish, the world can't be so bad, the boy thought.

This boy is Walter, the new Muppet character at the center of the story in The Muppets. But this boy was also me, and perhaps even you too. Actor Jason Segel certainly was. And so, when Disney—who bought the Muppets in 2004—met with Segel about projects he might be interested in, the actor had one thing in mind: reviving the Muppets.

The Muppets have not seen the big screen since 1999's Muppets from Space. In fact, since Disney took over, the Muppets have only done a TV movie and some YouTube videos. As co-writer and executive producer, Segel's vision for reviving the franchise was to let art reflect reality. If 1976's The Muppet Movie documented the formation of the Muppets, what if a new movie showed their re-formation after a long absence from the public eye?

And so, Walter's story is pretty much Segel's story: Boy grows up loving The Muppets. Muppets disappear off the face of pop culture. Boy never forgets them. Boy brings them back for one big show.

Jason Segel (right) as Gary, Walter as himself

And some show it is. True to the spirit of Jim Henson's original creation, The Muppets is odd, zany, cameo-heavy, surprising, sentimental, and sweet. Bottom line: This is one fun movie. You really just can't help but smile, laugh aloud several times and even tear up—especially if you have fond memories about a frog, pig, bear and whatever Gonzo is.

In terms of nostalgia, The Muppets is pitch-perfect. Because the Muppets have always allowed for self-reference and the breaking of fourth walls, much of this nostalgia is overt. For instance, when asked how they will get somewhere, Kermit replies: "Didn't you see our first movie? We drive!"

The first half of the new film is one big walk down memory lane as Walter and his decidedly more human brother Gary (Segel) and Gary's girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) travel to Los Angeles to visit the now rundown Muppet Studios. Along with Walter, we take a loving walk through Kermit's banjo-filled office, remember classic bits, and view the roped-off Electric Mayhem bus. Later, in one of my favorite sequences, Kermit strolls down a hallway of his friends' portraits remembering—in song—their good times and wondering if they could make the world laugh again.

The Muppets also evokes nostalgia by intentionally returning to the style and tone of the original Muppet productions. This world has that wide-eyed innocence but yet a tongue-in-cheek knowingness as it views our bright world of infinite possibilities. The movie also echoes motifs from Henson's work. The Muppet Movie was a road movie, and so The Muppets' first half is as well. Later, the movie takes on Muppets Take Manhattan's "let's-put-on-a-show" plot as the crew prepares a telethon to save their old theater from oil baron Tex Richman (Chris Cooper), who smells black gold under the Muppets' land. As they do, much of the final third is simply The Muppet Show itself. Yes.

If you grew up with the Muppets, you'll feel right at home. Almost every character you remember is back—down to lesser-used faves like Lew Zealand. Kermit, Piggy, Fozzie, and Animal get the most attention. Gonzo or Rizzo fans may quibble about a lack of character time. However, I was glad to see how often we see the Muppets en masse in all their weird, chaotic glory.

Amy Adams as Mary

Besides Muppets, there are lots of humans this time, too. In some ways, Segel and Adams almost seem like Jim Henson creations themselves: earnest, innocent, sweet, and naive. Could any other pairing in Hollywood have carried this off? They just exude joy. And if actors can have chemistry with puppets, they do. They each have golden moments. As the villain, Cooper revels in the opportunity to sneer, conspire, bad-mouth Kermit, and even rap. Yes, rap. It's fun watching him, but his character does get a little old, and a key motivation for his actions seems to be left out: appearing in song on the soundtrack but not in the movie.

Speaking of characterizations, Frank Oz's well-publicized abstention from the movie may concern fans. He claimed the script did not respect the characters. But according to Entertainment Weekly, the writers perfected the script during filming with input from Muppet veterans. Oz's concerns that Kermit came off as a mean mogul who chased off his friends seem to have been corrected. Still, while we don't see that side of Kermit, there are hints—or at least questions—that his actions may have led The Muppets to disband. Kermit seems to apologize a lot, but for what exactly? Probably wisely, the movie doesn't fill in holes but just accepts that this is where things sit and moves on.

Hollywood's most heart-felt couple. Well, felt, anyway.

Kermit and Piggy's relationship is especially ambiguous. Kermit lives in a house with both of their faces on the gate—but she lives in Paris. Are they divorced? Were they ever really married? While confusing, this certainly fits in Muppet canon. Their relationship has been ever-fluctuating and hard to define. In fact, after Muppets Take Manhattan, Jim Henson said, "As the film ends, its apparent Kermit has married Miss Piggy. [However,] Kermit will continue to say, 'I'm just an actor and when two actors marry on stage, they're only acting.' But Miss Piggy continues to [argue] they're really married. So, the argument will continue on."

One odd note to their Muppets relationship—and Kermit's character—is when he inexplicitly says to Miss Piggy, "You give me no choice but to do things that hurt you." Wait. What? Kermit kinda sounds like an abusive boyfriend? Luckily, the film moves on and resolves their storyline happily and sufficiently.

So, how does the film fare just as a movie, besides the pull of nostalgia? Overall, it's a rollicking good time—like The Blues Brothers with felt actors. It's an excellent family film. But in the second half, the old bus sputters a bit. It can feel like a long 98 minutes as the movie gets caught up on less-interesting storylines that don't go anywhere. A couple gambles don't pay off. Once or twice, the tone veers off the old-fashioned Muppet feel. And I was annoyed by blatant Disney product placements.

But that's all nitpicking. Three constants make this one of the year's best films. The first is Segel's unabashed love and reverence for these characters. But he doesn't just love the Muppets. He also knows them very well.

The second constant: An ambitious pursuit to entertain. Yes, some jokes fall flat but that is to be expected when so much is crammed in. There are gags flying everywhere. I can't wait to see the movie again just to catch more of the bits.

Thirdly—and most impressive: the music here is consistently the strongest for a Muppet movie in a long time—maybe ever. Bret McKenzie (HBO's Flight of the Conchords) gives the movie an excellent soundtrack of big Broadway-esque numbers, touching ballads, and fun parodies. Chickens performing Cee Lo Green? Yes, please.

Chris Cooper as the villain Tex Richman

In terms of the big themes, The Muppets stays true to old Muppet values: teamwork, family, embracing the weirdness of life, and having a positive attitude. Disney also mixes in a healthy dose of its "believe in yourself" mantra. Laced into it all is the question of whether or not the world has become too cynical for The Muppets. As Tex Richman sneers, "The world has moved on from the goody-two-shoe Muppets."

The Muppets suggests he's wrong. Sensational? Pretty close. Inspirational? Yes. Celebrational? The most. But above all, this movie is supremely Muppetational. This is the Muppets' show.

Note: The movie is preceded by a Toy Story short film that is fantastic.

Talk About It

1. Tex Richman claims that the world is now too hard and cynical for the Muppets. What does it mean to be hard and cynical? Is it OK to be cynical? Can Christians be cynical?
2. Walter says, "The sunniest days have a few clouds." What does this mean to you? How do you handle life's clouds? Why are there clouds in life if God loves us?
3. Kermit tells some new friends, "If I'm gonna do this, I'm gonna need moral support." What does it mean to get moral support? Who gives you moral support? How do you support others?
4. What does it mean to be family? How are The Muppets and all Christians also like a family even though they are not related?

The Family Corner

The Muppets is rated PG for some mild rude humor. There is very little here that is objectionable. Jack Black yells something about "balls" referring to a special effects suit he's wearing but could also be a double-entendre. Fozzie makes "fart shoes" out of whoopee cushions, but he's always had a fondness for that gag (see The Great Muppet Caper). Walter is electrocuted (with no lasting effect). The most bizarre (and dark) bit is when the Muppets lead a kidnapping of a celebrity to host their show. At first Kermit objects to the act but then goes along with it. There are no repercussions and the hostage's attempts to be saved are played up for laughs.

Photos © Walt Disney Pictures

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