I have no real personal connection to the Muppets, which is mostly why I didn’t rush out to see the movie in theaters like many of those pining for Muppet nostalgia. I certainly didn’t grow up with them and, because of that, I didn’t understand the appeal of this reboot of sorts. Now I get it. If you’ve already seen the film, you know it’s a delightful piece of family entertainment for Muppet fans both old and new. And whether you loved the film in theaters or have held out like I did, Disney has done their best to make this “Wocka Wocka Value Pack” worth your hard-earned dollar.
The film tracks Gary (Jason Segel, who also co-wrote the film) and Mary (Amy Adams from Cruel Intentions 2, as Segel refers to her in the hugely entertaining commentary track) as they make a romantic getaway to California. Out of courtesy they also invite Walter, Gary’s inexplicably Muppet brother and a lifelong Muppet fan, who can’t wait to visit the legendary Muppet Studios. But when they get there, Walter overhears evil oil tycoon Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) devising a plan to destroy the now-rundown tourist trap and drill for the oil beneath it.
The threesome find Kermit the Frog and convince him the only way to make the $10 million they need to stop Richman is to get the old gang back together and put on a telethon. Cue the “where are they now?” montages, as just one of the many self-reflexive gags used to move the plot along smoothly. I don’t even typically enjoy musicals as I find the musical numbers can pull me out of the reality of the story, but these songs are exceptionally entertaining and actually make sense in the Muppets’ fun-loving world.
The film gets away from the Segel/Adams romance angle for a bit too long at one point, almost to the extent that I thought they had abandoned it completely. It ultimately redeems itself as she begins feeling lonely that he’s spending so much time with the Muppets, prompting Segel to question whether is a “Man or Muppet” by bursting into the Oscar-winning song. The celebrity cameos, with Jack Black as the most prominent, are all over the board, but that just echoes the randomness of a real telethon.
In terms of extras, the aforementioned commentary track with Segel, co-writer Nicholas Stoller and director James Bobin is a great mix of goofy banter and informative anecdotes about the filmmaking process and working with puppets, without ever getting too technical. Other bonuses include a 9-minute blooper reel, eight deleted scenes, an extended version of Cooper’s Tex Richman rap, a pretty funny making-of mockumentary, and all of those popular internet spoof trailers you might have seen leading up to the film’s theatrical release, plus a few new ones. Throw in top-notch audio and video transfers and a code to download the film’s fantastic soundtrack, and this is the perfect way to meet the Muppets.
Segal calls The Muppets a “kids’ movie” a number of times in the commentary. I didn’t really see it that way. Kids will love it, to be sure. But I never once felt like I was watching a movie made for kids. The film deals with both internal and external conflicts that face people (and Muppets?) of all ages, and the Muppets’ clever brand of humor is timeless, ageless, and it certainly won me over. Now I’m interested in learning more of their story. Is 1979’s The Muppet Movie the best place to start?
