The Muppets - (November 23, 2011): PG
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures
Opening Weekend Box Office: N/A
Domestic Box Office Gross to-date: N/A
Gross Revenue: N/A
Production Budget: $45 million
Director: James Bobin
It has been twelve years since The Muppets have enjoyed a theatrical release, and in that time, the younger generations have largely forgotten the classic characters, so the decision to resurrect them was understandably greeted with some skepticism. Luckily, with Disney owning the rights to the franchise, studio decision-makers still recognized the potential and put their faith in lifelong Muppet fan, Jason Segel. Now, with Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Knocked Up, I Love You, Man, and six seasons of How I Met Your Mother under his belt, Segel is known for a much more adult style of humor, but entrusted with penning and starring the project, the young actor felt more than up to the challenge. In terms of marketing, Walt Disney Pictures understandably wanted the film to be seen as an event, so alongside expected partnerships and television appearances (Kermit presented at the Latin Grammys), the most creative tactic involved spoof trailers, whereby the Muppets would invade trailers ostensibly promoting blockbusters like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo or Paranormal Activity 3…what a way to grab attention and establish resonance with your audience! Understandably excited and hoping that Swedish Chef would be granted the most screen time, I could not wait to see and review The Muppets.
Seeking a viable way to reunite the Muppets after more than a decade, the film starts with avid Muppet fan Walter (himself a puppet) travels to Los Angeles alongside his human brother Gary (Jason Segel) and Gary’s longtime girlfriend, Mary (Amy Adams). Eager to visit Muppets Studio, Walter is devastated when he discovers that evil businessman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) is preparing to demolish both the Muppet Theater and the studio in order to drill for oil. The plan is conditional, in that if Walter is able to raise $10 million, the demolition can be stopped; grasping at this newfound hope, Walter, Gary, and Mary, seek out Kermit the Frog. Resolved to raise the money, Kermit and friends work to reunite the rest of the Muppet gang in hopes of staging one of the greatest telethons in history...adding to the complications involves the fact that a kindhearted television executive, Veronica (Rashida Jones), agrees to televise the show in primetime, provided that a celebrity can be found to host. So, with Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Animal, Gonzo, and the rest of the Muppet gang together, the revered characters do their best to regain their popularity and save their legacy.
As any avid Muppet fan no doubt expected, easily the best part of The Muppets is the sheer novelty of seeing all the classic characters together again, engaging in the type of humor that made them all famous. Swedish Chef’s notorious gibberish, Fozzie’s lame jokes, Animal’s obsession with his drums…it’s all here and glorious, but the standout segment involves the ending credits, where each cast member and guest star cameo sings the classic Muppet song, "Mah Nà Mah Nà." The human and Muppet cast also display a distinct style of self-aware humor (good writing, Jason Segel), in effect poking fun at the fact that the story told is clearly part of a movie; the best example involves the suggestion that the renovation of Muppet Theater could be accomplished much faster if it was done with the help of a montage. In terms of the rest of the cast, everyone from Jason Segal and Amy Adams to the numerous celebrity cameos clearly has fun interacting with their felt co-stars, providing for a simple and lighthearted adventure that audiences of all ages can enjoy. However, with a legacy as respected and storied as that of the Muppets, the film was bound to come up short in a few areas.
It is obvious that Disney had high hopes for The Muppets to be a family film, but the truth is that the chief appeal lies solely with avid fans, the kind of which are not likely to fully tolerate any missteps. For instance, it was nice to see all of the Muppets again, and giving them all adequate screen time would have been near impossible, but some of the more popular characters clearly deserved more respect: Rowlf the Dog, Rizzo the Rat, and Pepe the King Prawn, have earned more than a simple one-line scene. Also, when it comes to celebrity cameos, the absence of certain Muppet mainstays is disappointing, while the apparent substitution is a little insulting….Steve Martin has always been well associated with the Muppets, so how can Selena Gomez and Rico Rodriguez possibly serve as adequate substitutes to placate longtime fans? Now, these criticisms may sound like little more than the complaints of a Muppet geek, but that is exactly who this film is made for, as I doubt general audiences will respond as positively to slapstick jokes and silly musical numbers that others have come to expect over the years…though I guarantee that almost everyone will be humming at least one tune as they drive home. If you go into the film expecting a deep story or profound humor, you don’t belong in the theater in the first place, so even though The Muppets may not be perfect, it should serve as more than enough to please audiences.
At the time that this review was written, exact numbers for The Muppets’ opening weekend are unavailable, but given the five-day Thanksgiving holiday, the newest Disney title should perform rather strongly. Unfortunately, with two other family offerings opening the same day (Arthur Christmas, Hugo), analysts have actually predicted that audiences will be so severely split that holdover Breaking Dawn – Part 1 might actually take in the top earnings. Still, with a forecast of $41 million for the long weekend, The Muppets should have little to no problem recovering its modest production budget. But with as strong a marketing campaign as was generated prior to release and the size of the fan-bases for both the characters and actors present, I would not at all be surprised if the film ends up defying more than a few analysts. Plain and simple, hardcore Muppets fanatics may not get the immaculate and glorious return they feel that they deserve, but the fact remains that The Muppets is a must-see for fans and may end up surprising those with more lukewarm feelings towards the beloved characters.
Overall Recommendation: High
