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For the first time in approximately 12 years, we are given another theatrically released film based on The Muppets created by Jim Henson, but this was one of the few that were not based on any particular play or novel like we have seen in the past. The Muppets could have renovating many people’s childhoods from the original The Muppets Movie in 1977. However, making a new version of a classic set of characters was not a wise idea as it could either abolish them completely or totally misuse the story. Nevertheless, The Muppets manages to succeed and, therefore, becomes a fresh and very simple family film that will satisfy all ages and is enjoyable for its audience to just sit down and enjoy.
Any director would have a lot on their shoulders for making new films based on legendary characters from the past. After he already had directed a few short films and episodes from TV shows, James Bobin directs his first ever feature film. Surprisingly, Bobin nailed it and started his directorial feature career well. The strongest aspect of The Muppets in terms of production and development was its originality and just how simple the film as a whole turned out, as opposed to The Smurfs. It successfully manages to grasp the humour and wackiness of the Muppets that we saw many years ago. In addition, like literally every other Muppet film, this latest instalment was not necessarily a film to take seriously. The songs were a delight and this being a Disney film; they made the film even more magical to watch. Therefore, Bobin and screenwriters Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller create a surprisingly interesting and colourful film.
Segel himself took the leading role in The Muppets as Gary, who is an ordinary young man in love with his girlfriend but has been raised beside Walter, a puppet and avid fan of The Muppets. It is perhaps odd seeing a man growing up alongside a puppet but for the film’s target audience (kids), it does not necessarily matter. It is meant to just make children laugh and expand on their imagination, which is what we have with The Muppets and the relationship between Gary and Walter. Furthermore, Amy Adams, who had already starred in Enchanted - a magical, colourful and lively family-musical by Disney, was the icing on the cake when it comes to the casting of the film. Adams takes a break from her recent serious Oscar nominated roles and stars in a film full of delight, colour and pure entertainment. Fellow actors Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones and Jack Black make appearances in The Muppets too.
Unfortunately, Muppets creator Jim Henson died in 1990 and had provided the voices of the majority of the gang, but Steve Whitmire took over the role of Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat and amongst others. Furthermore, Eric Jacobson, Dave Goelz, Bill Barreta etc, who had provided performances in Muppet feature films after Henson’s death, all return in their respective roles as various characters. Being able to replace what someone else had some so famously is a very difficult task. A bit like recent Disney animated feature Winnie The Pooh and other Muppet features, such as The Muppet Christmas Carol and The Muppet Treasure Island, the substituted actors expressed The Muppets as an entire franchise a success in this new generation.
Overall, The Muppets is a fresh and colourful delight that is enjoyable for kids and adults to enjoy. It is a splendid trip down memory lane and surpasses the majority of Muppet films from the past. Furthermore, it, mysteriously, became neither a reboot nor continues Jim Henson’s franchise of The Muppets, but it was a restoration of how wacky and fun the gang still are after so many years. Thus, the film may have been a risk initially but it became a pleasure to witness them return once again on the big screen.
8/10
