Pop Alert: The Muppets Are Back
November 22, 2011, By Whit Honea 1 comment
Jason Segel, of Jason Segel fame, once told me that making a Muppets movie was a childhood dream of his. Spoiler alert: Dreams come true.
Segel and his writing partner, Nick Stoller, wrote Disney's "The Muppets" (Segel also co-stars in the film). But they didn't write it just to fulfill Segel's career bucket list—they did it for all of us, the Muppet lovers, the dreamers and me. (For the record, I am also a Muppet lover and a dreamer, but I didn't want to take too much creative license with something as perfect as "Rainbow Connection".)
Speaking of Muppets music, the original songs in "The Muppets" were penned by Bret McKenzie from Flight of the Conchords. If you think that the combination of Muppets and Conchords is an awesome one, well, congratulations, you are right. The fit is fantastic.
The movie follows Walter, the world's biggest Muppets fan, as he travels with his brother Gary (Segel) and Gary's girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) from Smalltown, USA to Los Angeles (not small) and discovers an evil plot by oil baron Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to tear down the abandoned Muppets Studio. The trio of heroes track down Kermit and the gang to work their magic to try to save the studio. Hilarity ensues.
Seriously, it's really, really funny. Also, sweet.
"The Muppets" does something that many movies strive for, but few actually accomplish, and that is provide a thoroughly enjoyable experience for the entire family (and even people you aren't related to). Whether it is a banjo-laden trip down memory lane, a barbershop quartet covering Nirvana, or chickens clucking Cee Lo, there is plenty for the original generation of Muppets fans to enjoy. The new generation will be created scene by scene. The kids will love it (actual kids may vary).
The Muppets are back, and they are on good hands.
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