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The Muppets: The Most Sensational Inspirational Celebrational Muppetational Movie of the Year

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Film Reviews | Comments (52)

new-muppets-movie-Hollywire.jpg

There is nothing to gain by trying to criticize The Muppets. It’s a fool’s errand. Trying to find fault with The Muppets is like scaling a skyscraper made of ice, like swimming up Niagara. I’m sure it’s possible, but anyone that puts in enough effort to find something wrong with The Muppets is probably a spectacularly unpleasant person to be around. It’s not a perfect movie, but the sum of its parts is more than perfect: It’s sublime, capable of bringing the kind of joy they sing about in holiday songs. It won’t kill cynicism; it will transform it into bliss. It will melt the black off of coal. It doesn’t matter how many terrible films you’ve seen in your lifetime, The Muppets is a freight train of emotion and it will make you believe in the magic of movies again.

Unlike so many others who have attempted, both successfully and not so, to bring back relics of the 70s and 80s and add their own spin, Nicholas Stoller and Jason Segel understand what they have in The Muppets: They are timeless. The wry pop-culture riffs may change, and the celebrities they are surrounded by may be replaced, but the Muppets need not an edge, a darker story, a novel approach: They are perfect. They represent the the tipsy band of rubious faces, the glimmering liquid eyes of laughter, and the dimpled joy of children dancing. The Muppets are George Darley’s irregular levy, to which mocks and grimaces are immune. It is childhood joy embodied and I will not endeavor to find fault.

Here’s what you may want to know about the The Muppets: They have not performed together in many years. With the help of Jason Segel’s Gary, his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams), and Gary’s muppet brother, Walter, Kermit gets the band back together to put on another show to save The Muppet Theater before an evil wealthy man (Chris Cooper) tears it down. There are songs, some happy, some touching, some new and some old; there are celebrities, some cool (Donald Glover!) and some made cool again by appearing in the movie (Jack Black); and there are Muppets. All of them. There’s also that guy from “Flight of the Conchords” who does the music. It’s fantastic. And so is Segel. And Adams. And Cooper.Everything else needs to be experienced for the first time in the theater. To spoil it is to rip off the wrapping paper of the perfect gift the week before Christmas.

The Muppets is at times poignant, and at others joyful, and if the nostalgia doesn’t overwhelm you, the earnestness will. But you will be overwhelmed, and for a few brief moments after you leave the theater, before you’re reminded of the obligations and responsibilities of life, you will bounce, fueled by glee, by jubilation, and by the rousing echoes of Mahna Mahna (doo doo do do doo).

(The Muppets opens in theaters today. It is appropriate for ages 3 - 100).










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Comments

In the SNL monologue and bits, Kermit was very unlike his old cheerful self. He was snarky and wry. My kids noticed. My youngest was upset.

Is he back to his usual sunny self in the movie?

Posted by: mswas at November 23, 2011 3:18 PM

I am so excited!!!!!!!

Posted by: McSquish at November 23, 2011 3:19 PM

I know where I'm going after work!

Posted by: Luke at November 23, 2011 3:24 PM

Are Miss (Mrs.) Piggy and Kermit still married? I will always remember their wedding from my childhood....

Posted by: Ashley at November 23, 2011 3:25 PM

THANK GOD. I was terrified that this would be horrible. The Muppet Movie was the first movie I ever saw in the theater. I am so pleased to hear that this one doesn't suck clwown ass. Can't way to see it.

Posted by: Mr. Yuck at November 23, 2011 3:25 PM

The absolute worst thing about this movie is that my damned kids (ages 5 and 12) have zero interest in seeing it. The wife and I have told them they are seeing it and they can screw off if they don't like it.

Posted by: chad at November 23, 2011 3:31 PM

I've got tickets for tomorrow's morning showing! It's gonna be better than leftover turkey!

Posted by: sars at November 23, 2011 3:37 PM

Is Crazy Harry in it?

Other than that essential, I'm there for this movie.

Posted by: The Wanderer at November 23, 2011 3:40 PM

I'll be seeing it next week so I don't have it ruined by other peoples insolent flesh-bags that they call children.

Posted by: admin at November 23, 2011 3:41 PM

Thank the sweet baby Jesus. I'm seeing it tomorrow morning with friends before we begin our epic cooking and baking extravaganza. I think it will be a Thanksgiving to remember.

Posted by: beckster at November 23, 2011 3:54 PM

I'm seeing this on Black Friday while I hide from the shopping fanatics. I'd much rather be surrounded by Muppet fanatics.

Posted by: Bob Frapples at November 23, 2011 3:54 PM

That's the spirit, admin. The Muppets you enjoyed as a kid should in no way be enjoyed by today's kids ("flesh-bags"). Wait...

Posted by: sars at November 23, 2011 3:57 PM

That guy from "Fight of the Conchords" gave us this, so I think our nostalgia is in good hands:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMjgSkfQPSY

Posted by: Three-nineteen at November 23, 2011 3:58 PM

I am in no mood to spend my money at the theater but I will give my money to ensure another Muppet movie or 100.

Posted by: Julie at November 23, 2011 4:39 PM

My love of the muppets is one of the few spots of warmth in my cold and flinty heart. They represent all that is good in childhood to me. They brought me joy beyond measure and have done the same for my own young children.

I love the muppets so very much.

I WOULD GAY-MARRY THE REANIMATED CORPSE OF JIM HENSON IF IT CAME A'COURTIN'.

Yeah, you heard me.

Posted by: Soulless Merchant of Fear at November 23, 2011 5:24 PM

I agree with this a thousand percent... only the most lost of lost cynical souls could really disapprove of this movie.

The gods honest truth is, like the world the movie portrays, I had kind of forgotten the Muppets. Not that they existed, but the essential values and qualities they embody. Sitting in the theatre, I really was overwhelmed... I remembered my father singing The Rainbow Connection with his banjo in the next room while I was falling asleep... I remembered how inspiring a figure Jim Henson was and remains... ultimately, I remembered what it was like to be
optimistic, unjaded, and unencumbered by cynicism.

Jason Segel's love of the Muppets, and their core values, is impossible to miss. I was lucky enough to catch the midnight show last night, which he introduced, and his excitement and joy really was palpable. I couldn't be happier that the Muppets got a champion like him, and that he put so much forth in making all this happen.

Posted by: k at November 23, 2011 6:44 PM

I am crushed. I was having a great time but the Wee-Bibli was bored to death. We had to leave with 30 minutes or so still because she started with The Whining. As we drove away from the theater, I was literally trying not to cry, but I realized that ALL the kids were bored. Occasionally a kid would laugh at a sight gag, but mostly it was the parents getting a kick out of the show. I think the humor about the 70s and 80s just went zooming over their heads. I'll have to buy this eventually, so I can see how it ends.

Posted by: bibliophile at November 23, 2011 7:16 PM

So glad that, now that the reviews are coming in, this appears to be as good as hoped (or at very least not awful!). Taking an extra post-Thanksgiving vacation day Monday and I think seeing this movie will be at the top of my agenda.

And, still holds - no song can bring me to instant tears like "The Rainbow Connection". Here's to the lovers, the dreamers, and the Muppets.

Posted by: kimk at November 23, 2011 7:30 PM

Oh for sure I loved the muppests, as a stupid ass kid, but not as an adult. I mean really, the muppets, adults are going bat-shit crazy over this. There is nothing more sad than an adult trying to relive their childhood by going to the movies to see a goddamn cartoon. What the fuck next, riding your big-wheel to work?

Posted by: Pookie at November 23, 2011 7:48 PM

Hey! Pookie's back! Welcome home!

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at November 23, 2011 8:55 PM

Oh, Pookie. You never disappoint. A merry Trollsgiving to you and your brood.

Posted by: Matty at November 23, 2011 9:02 PM

the rousing echoes of Mahna Mahna (doo doo do do doo).

doo doo do do doo

Mahna Mahna

doo doo do doo

Mahna Mahna

doo doo do doo doo do doo doo do

....

DAMN YOU FOR PUTTING THAT IN MY HEAD!!

Posted by: Fredo at November 23, 2011 9:21 PM

I'm leaving in about 30 seconds to see it. Great write up. I'm more excited than ever.

Posted by: Colleenie at November 23, 2011 9:28 PM

Happy Thanksgiving to everybody, tomorrow I got family coming over and I hope they come and eat and enjoy everything. I hope nobody gets drunk and start talking shit because I’m not in the mood. I’ve been running around all day trying to get shit ready for their asses. I just hope they don’t start no shit.

Posted by: Pookie at November 23, 2011 10:21 PM

You know, I liked The Phantom Menace immediately after watching it. Then good sense sort of set in.

Posted by: Jeff in Middletucky at November 23, 2011 10:43 PM

Chris Cooper is in the Muppet Movie? I think my heart just grew three times its size.

Posted by: citizen_cris at November 23, 2011 11:56 PM

This is something I never told anyone. I never liked the Muppets or their movies. Yes, I watched them but only because I was obligated as a child. I liked it better than Fraggle Rock but I always thought of watching the Muppets as a chore as a child.

Posted by: Candy at November 24, 2011 2:13 AM

If I were a wealthy man, I'd like to think I'd endeavor to be kind and generous and giving; at the very least, I'd make an effort not to be evil.

So, why is my imaginary wealthy self always -- GODDAMN ALWAYS -- portrayed in movies as evil? Why couldn't it simply be that the revenues from the theater don't match the expenses, that the boiler or the roof needs to be replaced and there's just not enough money for that, which is what happened to the fucking movie theater in my town that wasn't a megaplex and probably would have shown "Take Shelter" by now while the Carmike and Hollywood fuckaplexes can't be fucking bothered?

Or why couldn't a generous wealthy man or woman make a huge donation to save the theater? And the Muppets could put his/her name on the theater:

,politan Theater

Like that?

GOD DAMN and mother FUCK you all for making me pissed about a Muppet movie.

Posted by: , at November 24, 2011 2:48 AM

agreeing with pookie on this one. LOVED the muppet show as a kid, but could give 2 farts now.

Posted by: gp at November 24, 2011 10:12 AM

I'll see it if they screen it in the original. If you think the Muppets are untouchable, try them dubbed into German. Teutonic goose-stepping soul-killing international distributors. Rot in hell.

Posted by: cinekat at November 24, 2011 10:27 AM

Oh, and Häppy Thänksgiving to all US Pajibans!

Posted by: cinekat at November 24, 2011 10:28 AM


Rugrat: I'm bored.

Uncle Bleujay: (whispering) Shhhh. Just sit there quietly then. We only have 30 minutes left and other people are trying to watch the movie.

Rugrat: But I'm BOOOORED!

Uncle Bleujay: What did I just tell you? Sit there, eat your popcorn and Be. Quiet.

Rugrat: THIS SUCKS! I'M BORED! I WANNA GO HOME NOW!

Uncle Bleujay: (hissing through tightly gritted teeth) All right. Listen here you little shitpoke. If you don't shut that yap of yours right now, when I take you home, I'm going to stick you in the Recycling Bin again. If that happens I won't be able to protect you from the monsters that live in the backyard bushes. And if the monsters come and get you, Santa Claus won't bring you any toys because Santa doesn't bring toys to dead children who misbehave in movie theaters. Do you read me kid?

Rugrat: (sits quietly sobbing)

Uncle Bleujay: You don't don't have to like me kid, but you will respect me...And the Muppets. And oh look on the screen, there's one of the monsters right now. Maybe if you sit here quietly for 30 minutes he'll go away.

Sometimes you gotta be tough on kids to love them.

Posted by: bleujayone at November 24, 2011 10:50 AM

I had a big old grin on my face the whole time watching it and was pleasantly surprised by some of the cameos. The only thing that sucked was that there were way too many young kids in the theater who didn't get the subtle jokes/references throughout the movie, which I'd say is more for fans who remember the original Muppet show/movies.

Posted by: Snrub at November 24, 2011 11:09 AM

so.....i take it this means that the disney purchase of the muppets hasn't ruined it for us? any noticeable impact?

Posted by: Jane Ellis at November 24, 2011 11:39 AM

I got to see this at a sneak preview at my college last week, and went again last night with my family. Overall, the college audience was more enthusiastic, but the largely 12 and under crowd last night was far better behaved. I actually found that they laughed a lot (especially at Muppet Man). I saw a little boy, 8-ish, outside the theater afterwards, reenacting the Gonzo bowling bit, and I think my heart grew three sizes.

The second time through, I suppose I could see some pacing problems in the first half hour, but damn if I didn't laugh and smile throughout, even though I remembered many of the jokes. Pay attention to the subtitles of Cooper's song--I was too flabbergasted at the visual of what was happening the first time, but the lyrics killed me last night.

Overall, if you like the Muppets, I can't see how you'd be disappointed. I'm still joyfully belting "Man or Muppet" this morning.

Posted by: bravesjade at November 24, 2011 12:47 PM

I just don't like Jason Segel and don't care for his shtick. Reminds me of Seth Rogen. I'll catch it on cable.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at November 24, 2011 1:21 PM

Amen, Dustin.

This was joyously entertaining. Fuck y'all who can't appreciate happiness and joy as delivered by felt.

Posted by: Ian at November 24, 2011 2:21 PM

"I’m sure it’s possible [to find fault with The Muppets], but anyone that puts in enough effort to find something wrong with The Muppets is probably a spectacularly unpleasant person to be around."

Here I am! Not only was I able to find fault with The Muppets, by about half-way through the film I had my head in my hands as I blearily tried to figure out how much more drivel I was going to be able to suffer through before I could leave. I considered going to the bathroom and then hiding in the lobby for the rest of the film, but I was in the center of the row.

What kind of person am I? I've been a Muppets fan my whole life. Muppets Take Manhattan is my favorite of the main films, and Muppets Christmas Carol, aside from being one of the best goddamn movies of all time, is something I've rewatched with my family at Christmas without interruption since 1993. I even enjoyed the much-panned Muppets From Space in 1999 which, despite some weaknesses, was filled with great jokes.

This film was so joyless, manipulative, and desperate it made me want to wring the necks of the fuzzy creatures I love so very much. The jokes were terrible, and much of them were cheap meta jokes -- Chris Cooper saying "manical laugh" over and over (maybe it would be funnier the third time?) marks the low point of his career. "Maybe we should pick up the rest of the gang in a montage to save time..." is another "joke" that takes the traditional Muppet self-consciousness-about-the-theatrics and pushes to the point of stupidity. Haha, I know about montages, too!

I am realizing with horror, however, reading reactions online, that this film is going to be massively successful. Which means bad, bad things for fans of the great work the franchise used to produce.

Posted by: Nate at November 25, 2011 12:04 AM

"I even enjoyed the much-panned Muppets From Space"...

And entire argument invalidated.

But seriously, nice try, Nate. Or should I say...

*peels off Nate's mask*

...Armond White!

*dramatic sting*

Posted by: Blurg at November 25, 2011 3:21 AM

My wife and I saw it Wednesday night, and loved every second of it. Well, maybe other than Chris Cooper's song. Everything else was as genuinely muppet as you could expect.

Plus, they had the decency to take something from my childhood and not 3D/CG/Michael Bay all over it. That alone is worth my $10.

Posted by: Markus at November 25, 2011 10:09 AM

No Muppet film is ever perfect. Even this one. I found it much better than The Muppets Take Manhattan - which is like the Star Trek V of the Muppet movies. It's definitely a J.J. Abrams reboot of Star Trek, only with Jason Segel and the Muppets.

(Waits for the anguished screaming from Admin & B. Slim's Evil Glee Club to die away.)

P.S. - Muppets from Space rocks, if you're as big of a Gonzo fan as I am. I could do without the cameos later, but no Muppet film is perfect.

Posted by: idiosynchronic at November 25, 2011 7:43 PM

It was SO GREAT. I was a huge Muppet fan as a kid, but have always had a hard time selling my kids on it. With the previews of this they began to get interested and agreed to watch one of out DVDs in preparation. They liked that one, so we went today to see the new one. They LOVED it, and so did I! Very, very happy to have my childhood friends back together.

Posted by: Jifaner at November 25, 2011 7:47 PM

Took some kids (not mine) to see it and, aside from one bathroom break in the middle of the freaking movie, I was able to watch it in all its muppetational glory.

The movie was full of the cheesy, gooey goodness that I was used to from the Muppets of yore and I left the theater hoping they're already working on a sequel. I was surprised at how packed the theater was and how into the movie most of the audience members (mostly adults) were. Everyone clapped as soon as the Muppets started up with "Rainbow Connection."

It was everything that I hoped for and more. Still can't believe how verklempt I got over pieces of felt but, there you are. Grown ass as I am I teared up and left that theater with the biggest grin on my face. As we made our way to our car we could tell who had been to see "The Muppets" because they were enthusiastically singing "Mah Na Mah Na."

Posted by: smijca at November 25, 2011 8:24 PM

It looks fun and I can't wait to see it,but it's missing that Henson magic.
I'm still not able to get past the new voices. They're almost spot on,yet different enough to be noticeable.

Posted by: Case Crum at November 25, 2011 8:24 PM

My almost three-year-old son and my five-year-old daughter were a very good audience. They laughed as much as my husband, brother, and I. My son got a little restless toward the middle. But when Kermit started in on "Rainbow Connection," he froze. I've been singing my kids that song since they were tadpoles, and he knew it instantly.

Enjoying this movie requires a healthy dose of nostalgia, it's true, but I don't think it's fair to say it has no appeal to kids who didn't live through the first round of Muppets in the 1970s and '80s. There is something timeless, something so goofily, lovingly postmodern, about the Muppets. Even my toddler gets it.

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Posted by: sugar daddy in Los Angeles at November 26, 2011 3:58 AM

"Chris Cooper saying "manical laugh" over and over"

This. And I'm sorry, but the evil rap was stomach turning. There were other moments that fell flat as well. Overall there was much joy going on and I would rate it roughly an 8, but it very much had its warts.

Posted by: Matt at November 27, 2011 8:51 PM

Husband and I took the little one (13 months) to see it. Okay so maybe we went to see it and took her with us.

Either way, it was hilarious. I have not laughed that hard at a movie in a very long time (unless you count watching that Twilight abomination with my stepdaughter and laughing at all the wrong things.)

It's lighthearted, it's sweet, it's very aware it's a movie. ("This is going to be a REALLY short movie.") It's not Oscar fodder. It's just a silly, entertaining movie. The kids were laughing at the showing we went to. You could hear people around us singing along to the theme song and "Rainbow Connection." Some things I'm sure the kids didn't get, although it did make me wonder whatever happened to Tab.

We saw this on Black Friday. Considering the news headlines about all the awful stuff going on in the world, and the people pepper spraying each other over XBoxes or whatever, it was nice to just laugh and not have a high expectation.

Posted by: Kelly O at November 27, 2011 9:48 PM

LOVED it. Saw it this weekend with my big brother ( I am 30, he's 36) and we were DYING. For all of you guys who didn't dig on the "Maniacal Laugh" business - did you guys ever watch the Muppet Show? It's FULL of bizarro, non sequitur, overt gags like that. All in all, I thought this movie had more in common with the TV show than it did the other movies, and I thought that was to its credit. It felt like a return to form of the mad-cap gags and silliness that made the TV show so fun, while also honoring the sweetness of The Muppet Movie.

Plus, "Maniacal Laugh" gave Uncle Deadly such a great payoff at the end.

I can see if kids aren't accustomed to the Muppetverse, they'd find this baffling. If your kids have already had the chance to grow up on the movies, they'll have a better shot at appreciating this - but (like old-school Sesame Street) if you throw it at them as-is, they won't be able to get into it because it is so much different in tone than the current kids-entertainment fare they've been exposed to. Hence my plan to make sure my new niece has a full library of Henson to grow up on - I am not having a Muppet-hater in this family. Not on my watch.

Posted by: Tammy at November 28, 2011 11:58 AM

we took our boys on saturday. I smiled so much i cried. the boys (12 & 14) loved it. the mr. loved it. and yes, the audience was aged 3 - 100, and they all walked out with smiles on their faces.

I wont say what parts I loved though - JUST GO SEE IT

Posted by: bokchoi at November 28, 2011 12:59 PM

This movie came out on my birthday, and I was thrilled and told everybody that the muppets made it just for me! I would have loved to see it opening (birthday) night, with all the other happy muppet people, clapping for rainbow connection and the like, but as usual, I had more holiday-y and thankful-y matters to attend to and couldn't do birthday shit right away. Tonight was my functioning birthday, and I finally saw it in a theater with about six other people and my boyfriend, who tried to fall asleep and then was mad that the movie was too loud to allow that. I was definitely the only one who laughed at Fozzie's jokes. WHAT THE HELL.

It's actually very easy to notice the slow parts of the movie when you feel like you're the only one in the room enjoying it. I could just cry.

Posted by: chanohack at December 4, 2011 1:03 AM

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Posted by: Diana Ambagis at December 8, 2011 8:41 PM