The Muppets, James Bobin (Dir.)

The Muppets are great. They manage to be genuinely funny without straying from the family friendly appeal they have always purveyed. They don't rely on pop culture references or crude gags, because the brilliantly imagined characters are funny in themselves. They also manage to produce consistently heartfelt (excuse the pun) performances without being cheesy. The Muppets' return to the big screen epitomizes all of this, and will be a joy for old and new audiences alike. 


One need only look at the people on and off the screen involved in this film to see that this is a most welcome comeback. Jason Segel (who's been in just about everything, most notably How I Met Your Mother which is just about the most popular television show in the world) is at the forefront, having penned the screenplay and taken the lead role. Bret McKenzie (of Flight of the Conchords fame) is behind the film's brilliant musical numbers, which possess the emotional punch reminiscent of Kermit's 'Rainbow Connection' as well as the witty quips Conchords fans will be familiar with. The cameos throughout may not be of the George Clooney or Matt Damon-esque heights rumours suggested, but if you're a fan of American comedy I can guarantee you'll recognize more than a few faces. 

The story line is a familiar one; the Muppet Theatre will be closed down unless one more show can raise the sufficient funds. The familiarity of the plot is of no concern though, because it is pulled off with so much vivacity, warmness and a healthy dosage of self-awareness. Admittedly, this is not so much a film by The Muppets as a film about them. For the most part, the story concerns the protagonists Mary (Amy Adam), Gary (Segel) and Gary's brother Walter (why is he a Muppet? -Who cares?!) Some time is given to the rekindling of Kermit and Piggy's romance, but really it is a celebration of The Muppets and particularly The Muppet Show. This is a far cry from The Muppets' Christmas Carol or Treasure Island; it's these well-known characters doing what they do best - going insane on stage. 


Ultimately, The Muppets is a return to form for a type of comedy that is not often seen these days. In a market dominated by Pixar-style CGI and 'family adventure' films starring ex-wrestlers, its encouraging to see that such an innocent form of fun and humour is still relevant. So, where do The Muppets go from here? It's unlikely that they'll be put away for a few from years, riding on such popularity. Could The Muppet Show return to television? Is it time to play the music? Is it time to light the lights? The Muppets have clearly proven themselves appealing to today's audience, so who knows? One can only hope. 


Etep
Image courtesy of www.collider.com