Watching Kermit the Frog sing “Rainbow Connection” in “The Muppets” brought back memories I cherish. “The Muppet Movie” was the first film I ever saw in a theater, and I consider myself fortunate that it was. I even brought along my own Kermit the Frog hand puppet which I still have, and I had him singing along with the real Kermit who was singing this same song onscreen back in his swamp all those years ago. These characters were a large part of my childhood, and I still find them endlessly entertaining as an adult.
“The Muppets” represents the kind of Muppet movie I have been yearning to see for years; one which appeals to the whole family and doesn’t just condescend to kids. Ever since Jim Henson passed away in 1990 everything Muppet has been geared towards children without much thought to us adults. The ironical humor vanished without a trace, and Disney took over the franchise without really knowing how to make an effective Muppet movie. This became abundantly clear when “Muppets From Space” collapsed both critically and commercially back in 1999 (perhaps because they weren’t partying like it was 1999).
But with “Forgetting Sarah Marshall’s” Jason Segel and “Flight of the Conchords’” co-creator James Bobbin directing and star Bret McKenzie supervising the music, “The Muppets” is a movie the whole family can enjoy together, and it will put a smile on even the most jaded fan’s face. Granted, a number of puppeteers from this infamous franchise (namely Frank Oz) refused to participate because they felt the script didn’t respect the characters. I beg to differ on that.
Segel stars as Gary whose brother Walter is a Muppet himself, and both are die hard fans of “The Muppet Show” in childhood and their love for it stays strong even through puberty. They finally get their chance to visit Muppet Studios when Gary invites Walter to come along with him and his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) to Los Angeles. But when they get there, they find that it is now in a dilapidated state as Kermit and company haven’t performed together or seen each other in years.
Even worse, Walter overhears the evil oil magnate Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) planning to buy the studios not to preserve it as a landmark, but to drill for oil underneath it. As a result, Walter, Gary and Mary join forces to reunite the Muppets in order to put on a telethon that will raise the money needed to save not just the studios but the Muppet theater where the magic all started.
My guess is that Oz and other puppeteers never saw the Muppets splitting up and going their separate ways, but having re-watched a lot of “Muppet Show” episodes recently, they didn’t always have the best time working together. Besides they did split up (if only temporarily) in “The Muppets Take Manhattan” when Kermit got all pissy about the gang constantly leaning on him to figure out what to do next. Heck, that Kermit didn’t ditch Miss Piggy sooner is amazing.
Starting off with the Muppets having gone their separate ways years ago gives “The Muppets” an interesting jumping off point. Like many, the Muppets wonder if they are still relevant in today’s popular culture. While they are a big favorite of my generation, whether they can translate to another is uncertain. Of course, there’s only one way to find that out.
Even though the voices of the original Muppet performers are not present, the characters have not changed nor have they gotten cynical (unlike Statler and Waldorf). Steve Whitmire performs Kermit the Frog and does great work in capturing his unforgettable mannerisms without ever simply going through the motions. The same goes with the rest of the puppeteers working here as they make each character from Miss Piggy to Animal their own.
It’s also interesting to see where everyone is at today. Kermit is living in a mansion that is not in the best condition, Miss Piggy is the editor in chief of Vogue Paris, Scooter works at Google, and Sam the Eagle is a Fox News-like personality which seems to be the perfect venue for his endless pomposity. But the one Muppet who practically steals this movie is Animal who we meet up with again at an anger management clinic where Jack Black is his sponsor.
As for the human actors, Segel is a hoot as Gary and his love for the Muppets shines through every contribution he has made to this film. Amy Adams remains infinitely adorable even after her ball busting turn in last year’s “The Fighter.” Her sweetness is no act, and she scores a huge musical highlight with “Party of One.” We even get to see Chris Cooper do a rap song, and it’s not as terrifying as it sounds. As for Jack Black, he becomes the most unwilling guest star “The Muppet Show” has ever seen.
The music is really good as well and never becomes cringe inducing thank goodness. “Life’s A Happy Song” starts off the proceedings with a happiness that feels genuine, and you can tell Segel is having the time of his life while singing it. The one song though which deserves a Best Original Song nomination is “Man or Muppet” where both Segel and Walter bring down the house in deciding who they really are (as if the answer wasn’t obvious).
It’s also great to see that ironic humor the Muppets were famous for back on display They push the bounds of their PG rating to where if the kids don’t get what’s being said, it’s probably just as well. I loved how they got away with the Muppet chickens singing Cee-Lo Green’s “Fuck You” without its explicit lyrics. Oh I’m sorry, I mean Cee-Lo Green’s “Forget You” (right, whatever).
But what makes “The Muppets” so good is that everyone, be it Muppets or human actors and those making cameos, comes into this project without any cynicism. Making a movie with the best of intentions or one with a happy ending is greeted with our eyes rolling in the back of our heads as we come out feeling utterly and shamelessly manipulated. The filmmakers even bring back “The Muppet Show’s” opening theme song as it was performed in season three, and it looks almost exactly like it did years ago. Even “Mahna Mahna” is brought back, and being that was the very first sketch on “The Muppet Show,” that should show you how much these filmmakers value their childhood entertainment.
Kermit, Fozzie, and Miss Piggy will never feel or sound exactly as they did from years ago, but “The Muppets” proves that they still have their charms and hilarity long after their glory days. From start to finish, “The Muppets” was made with a lot of love for the imagination Jim Henson gave us so many years ago, and deep down we all would hate to see it die away without a trace.
* * * ½ out of * * * *
See also:
Will ‘The Muppets’ Restore Kermit and Company to Their Former Glory?
Non-Muppet Movies Directed by Jim Henson
‘Muppet Vision 3D’: Jim Henson’s Final Movie