The Muppet Movie – Review

It ain’t easy being a classic franchise tailoring itself to an entirely new audience without betraying your past in the process. The Muppet Movie is the latest offering from Hollywood’s take on classic TV (see also, The Simpsons, Inbetweeners) that was either going to be a sure hit or a complete flop, and I’m happy to report it’s anything but the latter.

Jason Segel both wrote the original script and stars as Gary, brother to the orange and lovable Walter, a Muppet fanatic who leaves his home of Smalltown (yes, really) for the bright lights of LA and the irresistible pull of the Muppet Studios. But disaster strikes when big-time villain and part-time melodramatic-laugher Tex Richman (yes, really) has a very oily incentive for ruining our furry friends old haunt – destroying all that remains of the Muppet legacy forever.

If only there was a mildly predictable plan to save the day, that included reuniting the remaining Muppets and putting on one last show for old time’s sake! (Think Blues Brothers with puppets…) And, ladies and gentleman, we have ourselves a charming and somewhat self-deprecating plot.

We knew from Enchanted that professional pretty person Amy Adams could sing – when she’s not busy in this movie with her secondary jobs as a car mechanic, electrician and general day-saver. But Segel is a pleasant surprise, and comfortably carries the more challenging musical numbers – which are actually really good, and damn catchy.

This is not a film that wants to be taken seriously – breaking the fourth wall more times than you can shake a puppet at, but this is precisely what makes it so glorious. It’s perfectly well aware of its ridiculousness and revels in it – its pleasingly intelligent humour enchanting adults and children alike.

A plethora of celebrity cameos only adds to the undeniable glee of the entire venture, and you will surely find yourself bouncing in your seat throughout and smiling ear to ear. There’s even a moral too.

The Muppet movie it utterly delightful from start to finish, and had our entire party (we treated this as a major event) walking out the cinema just wanting to walk right back in again.

Five Stars.