When I was a kid I dearly loved the Muppets. First there was the Muppet show, which we religiously watched every single week. Even when we lived in Germany in the 80’s and had only three channels, we were able to get the Muppet Show, and we never missed one. As I got older the Muppet movies became favorites — especially “The Great Muppet Caper,” which to this day I can practically recite.Given the opportunity to go and see the newest Disney Muppets movie, “Muppets Most Wanted,” I jumped at the chance. My son Charlie and I attended a preview and what a great time we had! From beginning to end, “Muppets Most Wanted” is a comedy with humor for everyone, big and little. For us bigs, there can never be enough cameo’s by well known entertainers who pop up for minutes or mere seconds. Half the time the littles don’t even realize what they’re missing, but that’s just fine because they’re too busy loving the Muppets and their antics. (Which by the way, so was I!)
Right from the start this movie held our attention. We see our favorite Muppets pick up where they left off in the last movie, when suddenly they’re approached by an agent who wants to help them get to the top. Enter Ricky Gervais, aka Dominic Badguy — that’s pronounced “bad-gee” of course. “It means really good guy.” Ha! Shortly after you’re introduced to the worlds most evil frog, Constantine, who mysteriously looks a great deal like our own Kermit the Frog. Coincidence??Naturally there’s a lot of craziness and mix-ups to follow once the two frogs are switched, making “Kermit” suddenly sound Russian and “Constantine” help the gulag prison put on a variety show. Hijinks and hilarity ensue as we follow each storyline play out and reach a perfect climactic ending.
Some highlights for me included the power play between Ty Burrell’s Interpol character and Sam the Eagle’s CIA agent. Sam’s deadpan look and voice crack me up every time. Another favorite moment was when Constantine the evil frog said, “It’s not easy being mean.” Ha! Another laugh came from realizing that the Muppets took their train from New York to…Berlin. Um, I don’t know about you, but how does a train cross the ocean? Oh never mind — it’s the Muppets! Lastly, in the few shots through the movie where they performed their show, I was feeling so happy and nostalgic to see them perform their opening act and hear, “It’s time start the music, it’s time to light the lights!” Ah, pure joy.I don’t want to give much away because I want you to go out and see it for yourself and feel like a kid again doing so. After the movie ended, I asked Charlie (my 12 year old) if he felt like the movie was better for me as a long time Muppets fan, or if it was just as good for him even if there’s little history for him. He mulled it over and decided that the best way to explain it was that it was both! He might not have appreciated all the cameo’s that I did, but he certainly enjoyed the humor and the acting and the story. That sounds like a good balance to me.
And does life get any better than seeing Sweetums dance with Christoph Waltz? I really don’t think so.
Merrie is a writer for the Jen is on a Journey and you can also find her at her blog, Sleepless Mornings: Merrie is the mother of two beautiful children, newly engaged–planning a June wedding, a scrapbooker, a baker, and always fun to be around!
Screening was offered to facilitate review, all opinions my own.
