The Muppets make their long awaited return to the big screen. Starring and co-written by Jason Segel (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) and featuring Oscar-winning music by Flight of the Conchords' Bret McKenzie.
When a nefarious oil tycoon (Chris Cooper) plans to raze Muppet Theater to drill for oil, uber-fan Gary (Segal) sets out with his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) to reunite the disbanded Muppet troupe in order to save it. Features numerous celebrity cameos including Mila Kunis, Zach Galifianakis, Emily Blunt, Jack Black and Ricky Gervais.
It has long been time to play the music and light the lights. Now the Muppets make a welcome return to form in this affectionate and colourful big screen adventure, a nice throwback to the good old days of the Muppets, largely free from pop-culture references and containing all the favourite characters (and even the obscure ones).
Who better suited to helm this reunion that James Bobin, director of TV’s Flight of the Conchords? The childlike and playful tone of that show is further enhanced by Bret McKenzie, who penned most of the songs here. And whilst they don’t hold a candle to classics like The Muppet Show Theme or Rainbow Connection (which is given a particularly stirring arrangement late in the piece), they have the same irreverent lyrical content that made Conchords such a hit.
Jason Segel (also co-writer) and Amy Adams are perfect as the human leads, both genuine and likeable. Star cameos are a little gratuitous and not wholly effective, while Chris Cooper is hilariously cast as the villainous villain of villainy, Tex Richman.
Why then did I feel a little disconnected to this film? Despite the intent to appeal to audiences of all ages, I feel that it skews younger. Not because of juvenile humour but mainly because there’s nothing very interesting about the ground covered in the film. There are no surprises. Perhaps there’s something to be said for simplicity, however, and The Muppets is to be commended for being happy and fun.
By Andrew Hedley, Flicks.co.nz
and this movie proves it saturday nights on tv1 in the 70's were happy childhood days. this movie spoiled my memories and made me realise just how feeble [now there's a great muppet movie] the original tv show was as well sigh.
They are back and funny as normal gotta love this movie
I really enjoyed this latest 'The Muppets' movie. It's been such a long time since the last one. There were definitely weaknesses - the story line was flimsy at best, and it was very corny. If the idea of a sugar-sweet character suddenly breaking into a cute song makes you want to throw up, don't go and see this film. But that's what The Muppets were. Corny, sugar sweet, and we all loved them when I was growing up. Segal and Adams are good in their roles and sing well. If you were a fan of The Muppets film, you've gotta go and see this.
Henson's characters maintained an essential innocence while sending up the very idea of entertainment. They put on a show with quotation marks around it, but the irony never felt cynical. When it isn't getting bogged down in unearned sentiment, The Muppets gets that right.
A funny, wickedly self-aware musical that opens by acknowledging they've outlived their shelf life.
A breezy, keen-to-please attitudes prevails, and director James Bobin (The Flight of the Conchords, Da Ali G Show for TV) moves things along with good cheer.
For all its sharpness, the movie has a very sweet streak.
The rainbow connection is a smooth, unbroken arch.
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Thursday, 29th Dec 2011.
Release date: December 29th 2011.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
