They say there are two kinds of people in the world: those who like Muppets and those who don’t.
This reviewer became a fan watching their weekly TV show (1976 – 1981) and reruns with the kids and enjoyed their first films, although the later movies suffered in quality. Their latest movie outing, The Muppets, is a return to quality.
Jason Segel and Amy Adams play a young couple who travel to Hollywood with Segel’s brother (who’s a Muppet) to visit the old Muppet studio. But it’s been taken over by a nasty developer (Chris Cooper) who is planning to tear it down and drill for oil.
The only way they can save the studio is for the Muppets to reunite, put on a show and raise $10 million to buy it back before a looming deadline.
It’s a thin plot, sometimes corny and with some unmemorable songs. But all the old characters and familiar faces are back, with lots of cameo guests from Alan Arkin to Mickey Rooney.
The Muppets have actually been around since the 50s when Jim Henson, who died in 1990, created them. A lot of kids today are not familiar with the characters, but their parents are. This is a happy, positive story that makes everyone feel good, which is why it is doing well at the box office. It’s hard to dislike a movie filled with so much affection and enthusiasm. It’s nice to have them back.
Rating: three deer out of five
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Alf Cryderman is a Red Deer freelance writer and old movie buff.
