The Muppets is not a great movie. As much as it wants to rely onbeing meta and tongue-in-cheek about its simple, cliché ridden plot, that doesn’t justify it’s simple, cliché ridden plot. It’s relatively short runtime mean a lot of the characters end up on the sidelines and while it’s nice to see old friends again, it would be nice to spend more quality time with them as well. However, even with those major issues, it’s a film I absolutely loved from start to finish and one I look forward to seeing again.
The film’s delightful setup follows new Muppet Walter (voiced by Peter Linz) as he spends his childhood watching and obsessing over the Muppets. Now grown up, he gets a chance to finally visit Muppet studios when he tags along with his brother Gary (Jason Segal) who decides to take his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) to LA on their ten year dating anniversary. But when Walter arrives at Muppet studios, it’s to uncover a dastardly plot by oil man Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to take over the studios.
From there, the film is essentially a variant of The Muppets Take Manhattan, which isn’t to deride to too much, but it would have been nice for the film to have a bit more of an involving or interesting plot than: the Muppets must put on a show to save something or other. However, it’s a plot the film revisits in order to develop some thematic ideas.
The whole show theme taps into Walter’s enthusiasm for the show and in a lot of ways is that childlike fantasy of being able to live in your favorite TV show. Walter gets that chance, so, in a lot of ways, the story serves as fantasy fulfillment for Walter, a chance for him to find his place and live with these characters. One could argue that he’s done that already for years through years of obsessing over the Muppets, which makes him immediately understandable to any Muppet fan.
The other reason why it follows this plot is because the film is basically posing to itself whether or not the Muppet formula can work anymore. In a world that has moved onto other forms of children’s media that is aimed for edgy teens, does the Muppets still have any staying power? Are these characters simply of their times or is there some universal appeal?
However, the film does subvert a straight rendition by adding some surprisingly edgy elements of its own. Chris Cooper plays the role of the baddie with a surprising amount of straightforward maliciousness. Likewise, the film also has a dark version of the Muppets called the Moopets who make several appearances throughout the film.
And wrapped around all of this is a thick layer of self-aware meta humor. These jokes are smart, witty and allow the film to cut some corners, such as when the group says it would be easier to gather the rest of the Muppets during a montage. But I only thinly disguises the skeletal framework underneath. It’s not a case of the emperor having no clothes, but more of the case of him attempting to be a Muppet man when you can see through the guise a mile away.
I think we lose spend some genuine time with these character and enjoy them for who they are by having so much metaness . Sure, we get quality time with Kermit, Mrs. Piggy, newcomer Walter and, surprisingly, Animal. But characters like Gonzo, Fozzie Bear, Rizzo and more pop up every now and again for a good meta joke. While it usually fits into their character, it would be nice if there was more time of just letting them be them and not have to deliver meta jokes at the pace of a standup comedian.
What the film absolutely nailed was the musical numbers. “Life’s a Happy Song,” the bookends of the film, is a delightful, upbeat and cleverly written piece with a great dance number built around it. Amy Adam’s solo “Party of One” is a short, yet memorable refrain and “Man or Muppet” is delightfully over the top and hilarious.
Of course, the highpoint of both the musical numbers and the film is when it revisits “Rainbow Connection.” It’s a song that is still as powerful, poignant and relevant as it was thirty-two years ago when a frog with a banjo waxed on about stars and rainbows. It’s a call to a new generation to not let arrogant cynicism replace the wonder, delight and awe of life. Even with the few shortcomings, The Muppets renewed the rainbow connection once more.
© 2011 James Blake Ewing
4 Comments
Excellent review! Sounds like The Muppets is one of the better films of the year, eh? I’m seeing it tomorrow!
It’s easily in my top 5 of the year. Wonderful film.
I understand why people would like this, but am amazed that you say it’s in your top 5 of the year. I wasn’t even planning to see it. Is it the nostalgia factor or the meta factor that you liked the most? Or simply the fun and music?
I don’t think nostalgia is a huge factor. I certainly like the Muppets in part because of that, but it’s a smart, witty film that consistently had me smiling. No other film was as enjoyable or fun to watch this year.