The Muppets (2011)

So here we have it, the first new Muppets film for a while, and the first to receive near universal praise in a while too. My anticipation for this film could not have been higher going in, which worried me, as I didn't particularly want the only thing spoiling the film to be my own ridiculous standards. Well some facts. The film does not star Frank Oz (Miss Piggy and others) as he felt the script strayed too far from the original Jim Henson Muppets. The film was written by Jason Segel, writer of 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and star of TVs How I Met Your Mother. It stars Jason Segel and Amy Adams (of 3 times Oscar nominated fame) and has a whole slew of guest stars also including some great turns from Chris Cooper, Jack Black and Rashida Jones.

The story of this Muppets film is sadly familiar, Sad in that it reflects real life far too closely. The Muppets are disbanded, they've not done a show together for years and their studios are being sold off. Whilst they think that they are being sold off to create a Muppet museum, they are in fact being sold off to an oil tycoon to be destroyed to create an oil refinery. Jason Segel and Amy Adams play Gary and Mary, who visit LA with Garys friend Walter (himself a Muppet) and discover this plot, so they go in search of the Muppets to try and persuade them to perform one last show to raise the money to save the theatre. It's a really heart warming portrayal.

All the old Muppet gang are here, from Fozzy Bear (found performing in the tribute band the Moopets with some rough looking stand ins (and a funny cameo too), Miss Piggy (editing vogue in Paris), Kermit (being Kermit), Swedish Chef, Gonzo, Sweetums, well... pretty much everyone is back. The film itself plays tribute to the legacy of the Muppets, with very knowing references to the show and previous films. Where the old films were very Meta (before Meta was really a thing) constantly referencing the fact they were in a movie, the new one does that too, at least to an extent. There are songs here too, whilst they are definitely a lot more modern than a lot of Muppet songs, they aren't crudely modern, ripping off current trends, instead, with the help of Brett McKenzie (of Flight Of The Conchords fame), we have something that sounds fresh, is very funny and will hopefully prove to be as timeless as the songs in the early movies.

As the film progresses you find yourself more involved with the characters, they completely hook you in, you want them to succeed more than you've wanted a character in a movie to do anything. It's remarkable, and really a testament to the puppeteers who control the Muppets, as quite frankly, you instantly forget that you are watching a bunch of cloth on screen, these are real characters. By the end of the film, tears were forming in my eyes, both through emotions of nostalgia, and happiness. This happened both times I saw it, as I loved it so much the first time I went to see it again the night after.

This film is a true delight. I heard one customer at work complain that he didn't feel it was aimed at children, and taking his kids to see it left him a little disappointed, and maybe he's right, but I think that there is enough to keep children entertained, as well as heaps of stuff to make older viewers fall in love once again with the Muppets. Besides the original Muppets Movie, this is my favourite Muppets film. It filled me with joy, and any film that can do that is worthwhile in my eyes.