Only three years after the theatrical debut of The Muppets and we’re already into sequel territory. We’ll it isn’t so much a sequel as it is a whole new story with the Muppets in the middle of it all.
Jim Henson manages to improve on his previous effort by not only focusing the story by keeping the – while enjoyable at times – unnecessary cameos to a minimum but also by making sure that the film feels like what it ought to. Good old fashion family fun.
What makes The Muppets different, other than being a glorified puppet show, is that it never apologizes for its at times blatantly obvious plot lines or ridiculously cheesy resolutions. We know going in that the story is going to centre around Kermit, Fozzie and maybe Gonzo (as it does this time around). We know that Kermit and Ms. Piggy are going meet each other for the very first time and fall in love, and we know that the people are the bad guys.
I wonder what someone seeing the 70s and 80s Muppets content (I wonder how updated they are in the soon to be released film) would interpret it? Would they dismiss or embrace its insane reality that is Kermit and the gang someone solving the mystery, getting to the place in time or even just magically getting a yes out of an important person just because he said a heart warming speech about being friends.
The main plot of this film follows Kermit, Fozzie and Gonzo as reporters who head off to England to follow-up on the story of Lady Holiday and the theft of her prized diamonds. The crime becomes a recurring one as she has more and more diamonds stolen right off her neck at times and the gang must get to the bottom of it all.
As stated above, the goal of a Muppets film isn’t to wow us with suspense (since most times we as the audience already know the answer to all the questions you’d need to ask) or to bring us in with engaging characters, but rather to just let us enjoy the ride along that is a Muppets film. Does this film allow for that? I believe it does.
There are few scenes as beautiful that break the fourth wall as Kermit stopping Ms. Piggy from over-acting and starting to direct the film from in front of the camera, or as hilarious as Fozzie having to get the gang all excited to go out and save their friend by calling “shame on them” in one of the greatest on screen speeches of all time.
The Muppets is a film that never apologizes and asks only for acceptance and I’m here to give it to it.
On the side note, great cameo moment from Peter Falk, John Cleese and The Grouch from Sesame Street.