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25th January 2012 by MORE

The Muppets

Rated G

Four stars

If you’re eagerly reading this review, I can almost guarantee two things about you:

1) You either grew up watching The Muppet Show on television, or the re-runs or you just know about them because they are so well-known and well-loved (even if you’re too young to have ever watched the show on television).

2) The foremost thought on your mind right now is, ‘Please, please, please tell me they got it right and stayed faithful to the spirit and legacy of the TV show…’

Cue gregarious smile now. The Muppets is a one of the most joyous, nostalgic, family-friendly films you’ll see this year; a musical comedy that not only retains the heart and humour of the original TV series, but uses it to provide social commentary on a world that’s either ‘moved on’ from the Muppets or never known them.

And for those who have never even seen the show, the film provides something for that audience with guest stars Selena Gomez (who plays the character of Alex Russo on Wizards at Waverly Place) and Rico Rodriguez (who pays Manny Delgado on Modern Family) who both readily admit they’ve never seen an episode of The Muppet Show.

Set in fictional Smalltown USA, the film focuses on Walter, the ‘world’s biggest Muppet fan’. Always seen as ‘different’ (he’s a puppet, born into a human family!) and treated meanly by those around him, Walter’s only real friend in the world is his brother Gary (Jason Segel), who will do anything for him. So, when Gary and his girlfriend, Mary (Amy Adams), plan a romantic trip toHollywood, the home of the old Muppet Studios, Walter is invited to join them.

Shortly after arriving, the trio go on a shonky guided tour of the decrepit Muppet Studios, only to overhear the nefarious intentions of oil magnate Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) who plans to tear down the studios and drill for oil.

Walter insists on warning Kermit the frog – once a household name and the host of The Muppet Show, now living a quiet, almost regret-filled existence – and convinces him to reunite the Muppets and stage a benefit show to raise the $10 million needed to buy back the studio.

But it’s all easier said than done. Not only have all the characters gone their separate ways, but there are doubts as to whether the world still wants a family-friendly variety show like The Muppets. Then there are the growing tensions between Walter, Gary and Mary –each forced to search deep within themselves to see what’s really there.

The resultant journeys and feel-good finale is testament to the cute and kooky cast of The Muppets, and the special brand of entertainment the show represents. Able to carry themes of belonging, friendship and maturity, and question the anti-social content that appears on today’s television, all while pouring a sparkly shower of puppet-powered joyfulness into the hearts of all who see it, The Muppets is a triumph of family-friendly fare.

Highlight: seeing the Muppets back together; a cameo by Big Bang Theory actor Jim Parsons (Sheldon)

Red flag: one very minor risqué comment

This article was written by Drew Talor and first published in The Wary Cry on 14 January.

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