After doing my three part blog on the movies I saw in 2011, it gave me the drive to get out to the cinema more often and get these movies seen as soon as possible, and also to blog about each movie I see. Now, while I have been wanting to see Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows, that is not what kicks off my film season for 2012. I'll get to it, but when you're organizing movie days with friends, it's not so easy to get everything lined up. No, I have something else lined up for the first film of the year (and second, that will be covered in the next blog). What did I see first off? Well, as you might have guessed from the blog title, it's The Muppets.
I should preface this review by saying that I never saw much of The Muppet Show when I was a tyke. A few things here and there but it was never something I watched consistently. Same with Muppet Babies. Now, Muppets Tonight, that I watched and I really enjoyed it, and I credit that for my interest in The Muppets. I still have to check out their entire film series, but as of writing, I do have the first season of The Muppet Show in my seemingly never-ending “to watch” pile, so that will tide me over for the time being.
What's the plot? Well, Walter (voiced by Peter Linz) is a huge Muppet fan, as is his brother, Gary (Jason Segel). Upon visiting the old, run-down Muppet Studio, he uncovers a plot by oil magnate Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to destroy the studio and drill for oil if the Muppets are unable to come up with ten million dollars. Walter, Gary and Gary's girlfriend, Mary (Amy Adams) seek out Kermit the Frog to explain the situation and stop the drilling. This inspire Kermit to get the gang back together and reclaim their studio.
Yeah, the plot's not breaking new ground but I don't care. It's like the Super Mario games: the song remains the same but that doesn't mean they don't tinker with it to produce a different experience every time. After being away for so long, it's just good to have them back in the limelight.
It's sometimes worrying when an old or long-running franchise gets some new blood running the show, you worry that they'll try and “modernize” it or do something for the younger crowd, like dropping loads of slang or references to things the characters shouldn't rightly know (I'd have probably come out punching a Muppet display if they had mentioned twats like that Nicki Minaj or Jersey Shore), it'd be like if Bugs Bunny teamed up with Myley Cyrus, you'd have huge fan revolts for including people who have no right being there. But it's like Jason Segel (who had a hand in writing the script) and the crew knew this going in and kept that feel-good Muppet charm. And that to me is how you go about it, it's like remaking a song: you don't change the song to suit you because the song may not work in that style and it shows arrogance. But you can't change yourself to suit the song because you compromise your own beliefs. Rather, you meet the middle ground and stay in spirit with the original work while adding that touch that makes it stand out. And that's exactly what has happened here, it's got the family-friendly charm while referencing the changing of times and the absence of the Muppets and the effect its had in entertainment as a whole.
Staying with the family-friendly charm, its so good to see that the Muppets can still be funny and keep it clean. A lot of the humor comes from the constant fourth-well breaking (“If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were reciting some sort of important plot point”) and just the general madcap world that the Muppets inhabit (like Gonzo having a remote with one button, whose only function is to blow up his plumbing business. It's even labeled Automatic Destroy Plumbing Business Button!)
Now, one of the best aspects of this film is how it wants to connect with its new audience, the young ones who have never seen or barely know the Muppets. Through Walter, they learn the basics of the Muppets but he also represents the lifelong fans as well, since he and Gary have been watching since they were kids. Walter, in a sense, is the gateway between the old and the new. He has the fan mentality of someone who grew up with the show (fan mentality in a good way, not a toll or stalker kind) but he's also possibly the first Muppet for many youngsters, and with this being his debut, he's new to all of us.
Walter is extremely likable and never comes off as a creepy fan, which also heightens the idea that the Muppet world leans toward the positive. Kermit never dismisses him, he's never looked down upon or treated as inferior. In fact, Kermit seems very eager to have him be a part of the show, which is also something I praise this movie for. While he's always been nice and non-confrontational, seeing that Kermit hasn't changed, regardless of the way things have turned out. He's still as humble and dedicated as always. And the fact the so willingly becomes the mentor to Walter, even when Walter wasn't expecting anything, just reinforces why he's so beloved.
And that's actually my favourite aspect of Walter, too. He didn't get the Muppets back together just to perform with them, and he didn't come with some big talent to show off, he just wanted to save something he loved. He didn't even think he should be a part of the show, he just wanted to help. Now, everyone's going to have their own opinions on what make a true fan for any franchise but I believe Walter displays one of the signs of true fandom, in that he doesn't want to join, at first, for fear of ruining something he loved. Much like his mentor, Walter is humble through and through.
While the humans (rightfully) take the backseat to the Muppets, they are far from useless. Both Jason and Amy are positively wonderful and their relationship is so sweet and innocent. While we're cheering Jason on in his attempts to help the Muppets, we're still sympathetic to Mary's desire to get Gary to pay more attention to her and maybe settle down. And displaying their feelings through song, it makes them even more sympathetic.
Speaking of the songs, oh my stars and garters are they fantastic! Life's A Happy Song is so cheery you can't help but bop along, Pictures In My Head is soulful and introspective, with glimmers of hope, Party Of One has Amy show off the best dancing I've seen in ages and Man Or Muppet is both deep and hilarious (also, Jason Segel's puppet double is awesome).
However, some of the songs also contribute to a couple of the gripes I have with this movie. OK, one song: Bad To The Bone. Yes, it's used to establish that one of the minor antagonists is bad and they don't play it long but really, that song is overused and I hate it. Whenever the song gets to the “B-b-b-bad” part, it always makes me think of a helicopter for some reason, or someone imitating one and for the life of me, I don't know why but I hate the song regardless. True bad boys don't boast about being bad, they let their actions speak for themselves. So piss off with your song.
Another thing: what the Hell is Selena Gomez doing in this movie? Does she even know who the Muppets are? She's part of the generation that thinks “old sucks, new is kewl, lolzor!!1” Hell, the first (maybe only line, can't quite remember) mentions that her agent told her to be there, all with a look of disdain on her face. Selena Gomez, leave the entertainment industry. NOW.
Also, fart shoes. This movie has Fozzie wearing fart shoes. That's just not funny. The Muppets are better than that.
On the flip side, here's my favourite joke from the movie: Rowlf's asking why, during the montage of getting the Muppets back together, they skipped over his story. We cut to that: it's Rowlf sleeping in a hammock, with Kermit coming up and saying “You wanna get back together?” Rowlf says “OK” and then it cuts back to the car with the rest of the Muppets, with Rowlf giving a chuckle and saying “Classic”.
To say this is the ultimate love letter to any fanbase is an understatement. If you are a Muppet fan, I'm sure your favourite is there (mine were, and incidentally, mine are Statler, Waldorf, Beeker and the Swedish Chef). If you're not, but only because you know little of them, I urge you to see it. It's fun and heartwarming. 4/5
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