by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor
The Muppets have returned to our lives with the new movie called…The Muppets, now available to own in an amazing Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Combo Pack!
Having grown up watching the original Muppet Movie countless times (I was born a little late for The Muppet Show), I was excited, yet hesitant when this newest endeavor was announced. The last few Muppet theatrical installments were…Less than great (I’m looking at you Muppets In Space), and didn’t really meet expectations. Upon hearing that the 2011 film was being written by Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother) and Nicholas Stoller (Undeclared), with original music by Bret McKenzie (Flight of the Concords) I was slightly reassured. But how will the new film compare to my childhood memories of Kermit and the gang?
The newest Muppet movie, The Muppets, can be summarized with one word:perfection.
The story begins with the introduction of Gary (Jason Segel, How I Met Your Mother), his brother Walter (voiced by Peter Linz, Sesame Street), and their life growing up in Smalltown, USA. Through the years, Walter finds escape from the mediocrity of quiet, smalltown life in the Muppet Show; So, naturally, he grows up hoping and dreaming to one day meet his heroes. When Gary decides to take his girlfriend Mary, (Amy Adams, Enchanted), to Los Angeles for their 10 year anniversary, Gary invites Walter along so that he can finally visit the famous Muppet Studios.
After a fantastic opening number, (“Everything is Great”), the trio embark to LA, only to find that the Muppet Studios aren’t in great shape. The years have not been kind to our fuzzy friends, who have all dispersed and gone their separate ways. Walter proceeds to sneak into Kermit’s old office, where he learns that the dilapidated studio is being sold off to Oil Tycoon Tex Richman (Chris Cooper, Where The Wild Things Are), who has offered to turn the studio into a Muppet Museum. Well, as one might anticipate, things aren’t quite what they seem with Tex Richman, as he actually wants to destroy the studio to drill for oil! *insert maniacal laugh here*. Walter is horrified to hear this news and convinces Gary and Mary to help him find Kermit, determined to stop Richman before it is too late. After locating Kermit at his home in LA, he informs them that the Muppets disbanded years ago and he hasn’t seen the gang since. Walter convinces Kermit that they have to save the studio by raising $10 million dollars, which will buy it back before it is lost forever. Kermit , joined by his robot friend (80’s Robot, one of the best additions to the movie) venture off with their new friends to seek out the old gang. Eventually, everyone starts coming together (only after a very fun montage, of course), and they realize that someone is still missing: Miss Piggy! Kermit reluctantly agrees to try and convince her to come back, but she initially declines the offer. The Muppets, minus Piggy, set out to get a broadcasting partner for their telethon, and eventually meet with a Television Executive at CDE Studios (Rashida Jones, Parks and Recreation) who informs them of their lackluster status in today’s popular culture. After some startling information regarding a CDE hit series is delivered by a Junior CDE Executive (Donald Glover,Community), the Muppets are given a spot on Friday night for their program! Can the team raise the $10 million dollars? Will they be able to find a replacement for Miss Piggy? Will they be able to find a host in time?
The Muppet Show and previous movies were always filled with special guest appearances, and this new release is no different. Look for special appearances from Jack Black, Donald Glover, Neil Patrick Harris, Alan Arkin, Ken Jeong, Jim Parsons (who has the best cameo in the movie), Whoopi Goldberg, Selena Gomez, Kristen Schaal, Emily Blunt, Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Silverman, John Krasinski, and Mickey Rooney and more!
Muppet movies are traditionally filled with catchy songs, and The Muppets is no exception to the rule. The music, like the rest of the film, is handled with style and respect. I have had “Life’s a Happy Song” stuck in my head for two days now, along with “Pictures In My Head”, and the fantastic duet ,”Man or Muppet”. With the inclusion of the classic “Rainbow Connection”, the story feels complete on a musical level.
(Side note: If you get the 3-Disc combo pack version of The Muppets, you also get a bonus copy of the Soundtrack!)
Segel and Stoller truly have an appreciation for the Muppets, which enabled them to handle the classic Henson property with the high level of respect that it deserves, and it radiates throughout the 90 minute feature. What worked best for this particular film was that it acknowledged the legacy of these characters, and truly did justice to their history. The creative team took everything that was fun, enjoyable, heartwarming, and classic about the Muppets and made it so that a new generation could enjoy and appreciate Kermit and his friends. With throwbacks to the original Muppet Show and several references to the original Muppet Movie, old fans will be pleased and new fans will easily want more.
Special Features:
- Scratching The Surface: A Hasty Examination of The Making of The Muppets- A surprisingly shallow but profoundly absurd look at hte Muppets and humans working together to make cinematic history
- Deleted Scenes
- A Little Screen Test On the Way to the Read-Through- The Muppets bring the wocka wocka wocka to a routine camera test
- Explaining Evil: The Full Tex Richman Song
- Unreleased Theatrical Spoof Trailers
- Audio Commentary- with Jason Segel, James Bobin and Nicholas Stoller
- The Longers Blooper Reel Ever Made (In Muppet History)
- Blu-ray Copy of the Film (1080p Video – DTS-HD Master Audio)
- DVD Copy of the film
- Digital Copy of the Film
- Digital Full-Length Original Soundtrack
Overall
The Muppets knocks it out of the park from beginning to end. There was a moment in the film where the telethon begins and they start with “The Muppet Show Theme Song”, and I got chills. Why? Because this film got everything right.
When so many memories of my childhood are being destroyed with remakes, The Muppets succeeds from start to finish on being an endearing movie that people will love. I had a smile on my face from beginning to end and I cannot remember the last time that I had that much fun watching a movie. There should not be a question of “if” you will see this movie, it is more a question of “when”.
I consider The Muppets to be one of the best movies of 2011.
ComicsOnline gives The Muppets- Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Combo Pack – 5 out of 5 memories from my childhood.
Get your copy of The Muppets at Amazon.
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