Customer Reviews

The Muppets (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

At the end of the day, the underlying subject of this movie is: "We are The Muppets: If modern society decides we are no longer funny and popular, we're ok with that. We are just here to entertain for those who will appreciate."

I'm not a professional critic, so there's no need for me to bore everyone with an over-analyzed, granular review. What I can say is I (like many folks) have been a die hard Muppet fan since I was a kid in the early 80's. Jim Henson was a genius and the world became a slightly darker place when we lost him. I lost touch with The Muppets over the years as they tried to re-envision themselves and relate to a new generation. Though still popular, it wasn't the same to me. This new film is the closest thing that I have seen in attempting to return to their truly zany days when you had Henson, Oz, Hunt, and Nelson leading the charge.

Jason Segel (who co-wrote the screenplay) didn't have to do his research. It's obvious he has been a fan of the Muppet-brand of humor for a long time. There were so many subtle homages to the classic essence of Henson and The Muppets that will fly under the radar of many, and yet they still managed to write a genuinely, caring story that will hold the attention of a new generation. Also, in the tradition of classic Muppet movies, keep your eyes peeled for "blink and you'll miss them" cameos by movie stars of all generations.

Additionally, I would like to point out that it was refreshing to see a plethora of classic, overlooked Muppets from the past getting their time in the spotlight in this movie: Lew Zealand, The News Anchor, Marvin Suggs, Uncle Deadly, along with the ALWAYS hip Electric Mayhem just to name a few.

I will close this review by saying, the absolute best part of seeing this movie was NOT looking around and seeing adults and kids in the theater laughing together at the same moments, but sitting next to a woman about my age with her two kids. (**Very minor spoiler) - - During a scene in which Kermit is looking around the old Muppet theater, old pictures on the wall featuring Jim Henson and other Muppet history came into view. I heard the mom next to me sniffle, and I too wiped a few tears away. Her daughter leaned over and whispered, "....why are you crying?". Her mother turned to her and said, "...you wouldn't understand." I couldn't have said it better.

As someone who is a huge fan of film(many would say im a film snob). I have seen all the classics, I see all the indie films, all the blockbusters, and foreign films. Movies are my passion. So if you told me, that a Muppet movie would end up being my movie of the year, I simply would not believe it. But this film simply works. Its a perfect movie, and their are very few movies i can say that about. Do i think its one of the best movies of all time? No, but it set out to do be a happy, fun and simple movie, and it did it succeeded one hundred percent. Never have i walked out of a movie, feeling so utterly happy about it. I saw this with my girlfriend and she agreed, it just makes you feel happy. The songs are great, the writing is great, the pacing is perfect, it never ceased to entertain me. This is a must see.

On Saturday (11/19), my son and I attended an advance screening of the new movie "The Muppets". From the moment I received the invitation, I started going back in time to when my entire family would gather in the family room to watch The Muppets on TV.

I remember the show format being similar to "Laugh In" and 'Sonny and Cher" (if you are old enough to remember back that far). I was in love with Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog and Fozzie's silly jokes cracked me up. Everyone was rooting for Gonzo to finally do one of his hair brained stunts right and the dancing chickens were the hit of the evening. And each show was always hosted by one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. When I told my son that I was a few years older that he is now when the show first came on TV, he said "Dang! The Muppets are that old?" Don't you just love kids...

The movie "The Muppets" starts out back in the day when the TV show was still a major hit. A little boy (well, more puppet than boy) named Walter who doesn't fit in with the rest of the kids in the neighborhood discovers The Muppets Show on TV and lives and breathes everything Muppets related all the way into adulthood. His brother Gary (played by Jason Segel) it very protective of Walter, much to the chagrin of his very, very long time girlfriend Mary (played by Amy Adams). What was suppose to be romantic getaway to LA for Mary and Gary, turns into a trip to the old Muppets studios by the threesome.

The Muppet Theater is now in major disrepair because the gang has all gone their separate ways. Kermit is in seclusion. Miss Piggy is now a Vogue editor in Paris. Fonzie Bear is living foul doing bad theater in Reno and Animal is in a mental institution with actor Jack Black. When a evil oilman plans to take over the Muppet Studios and tear it down, Gary talks the Muppet gang into getting back together to raise enough money to save the studio from ruin.

The movie is a totally cute vehicle for introducing a new audience to The Muppets while also taking the people who grew up watching the show in the 1970's back down memory lane. My son thought all the silly gags and fart jokes were great and I was singing The Muppets song and totally enjoying getting re-acquitted with all the characters from my youth.

My favorite character is still Miss Piggy and she was adorable with all her clothing and hair changes throughout the movie. My son was rolling when Miss Piggy started karate chopping everyone. And when Kermit started singing "The Rainbow Connection" I was singing right along with him.

Just like in the original series, his movie had cameo appearances from major Hollywood stars like Mickey Rooney, Alan Arkin, Selena Gomez, Whoopi Goldberg, and Neil Patrick Harris.

If you were not a Muppets fan before, you will be after seeing this cute movie. And don't say I did not warn you when you start singing "The Rainbow Connection" and "Mahna Mahna" on your way home :)

"The Muppets" opens in theaters Wednesday November 23, 2011 and is rated PG due to signature Muppets fantasy violence.

When I was really little some of my earliest memories were of my whole family, and sometimes our friends, gathering in front of the TV with some popcorn and Kool Aid to watch The Muppet Show. I remember being four years old jostling around in the back seat of my dad's Ford Fiesta as he raced us down a bumpy road in order to get us home so we wouldn't miss the opening credits to a TV broadcast of The Muppet Movie. Unlike the rest of America, we didn't have a VCR in 1984.

I remember being at Grandma's and my cousins introducing me to Fraggle Rock which I couldn't see at home because we didn't have cable. Consequently it is only been in the last year or so that I finally saw that whole series.

Most of those memories of the Muppets involve laughter and surprisingly-- my family. As we got older, around the time I was eight or so, my sister and I didn't agree on much. She was the one who gave me the news on May 16th 1990. I remember crying until I thought my head would explode.

The Muppets films after that- which I didn't like at the time but I found grew on me when I gave them more of a fair shot-- were not quite the same. Okay, not Muppets from Space. Let's forget that one. I accepted you could do a good Muppets story without Jim Henson and Frank Oz. What I worried about was what would the loss of Jerry Juhl mean for the Muppets?

I went to The Muppets expecting a middle grade Muppets film that my niece and nephew would probably enjoy more than I would. Only there was an omen. My brother in law had to race to get us to the theater on time. I wobbled in my seat a few times. When the movie started-- I felt the years evaporate and I became almost the same age as my nephew. I enjoyed as much as they did. Okay, I lied. Probably more than they did. I went home convinced I was a very manly muppet.

As much as I love Jason Segel, I wasn't entirely sure how he would do with "The Muppets" given that he usually works in more adult territory. After seeing the movie in theaters, my apologies to Mr. Segel, because he did an absolutely amazing job bringing "The Muppets" back to the big screen!

You can tell how much of a labor of love this movie was for Segel. "The Muppets" are treated with a reverance that most "re-launches" of franchises don't have. All of the characters have the same characteristics and features (both physically and emotionally) that they did in the original "Muppet Show". Even the situations that they find themselves in now are believable, from Fozzy performing in Reno to Gonzo owning a plumbing company to Miss Piggy editing a fashion magazine. Even the minor characters are the same as they once were.

The best part about this movie is that the Muppets really are the centerpiece. While there's the backstory about Segel's "brother" (who is a Muppet) and the relationship between Segel and Amy Adams, the focus is on how the Muppets are going to save their theater. Even with all of the celebrity cameos (and there are a ton), you never get the feeling that Segel wanted to make a blockbuster with an all-star cast. He knows that the Muppets are big enough stars in their own right.

The movie isn't perfect, with Chris Cooper's villain being just a little too over-the-top (the "maniacal laugh" joke falls flat the first time out, and doesn't get any funnier the next five) and Segel's brother being just a little too obsessed at times. But these are all minor flaws in what really is an excellent movie.

"The Muppets" isn't so much a movie as a tribute to a group of characters that we all grew up with. There's a great feeling of nostalgia throughout the whole movie that adults will appreciate, with more than enough laughs to satisfy young and old alike. Segel's homage is a very moving tribute to characters he obviously adores and also a nice way to introduce an entire new generation to the magic of the Muppets.

I went with my husband 2 preteen sons. We all loved it. As the movie was beginning to end I was trying to come up with people that I could go see it with again that hadn't gone yet.

Kermit and Co. are a part of my childhood. It was like meeting up with an old friend. I laughed and cried. I wanted more when it was done. With that being said, if you did not grow up with the Muppets you're probably not going to fall in love with the movie like those of us that watched The Muppet Show on TV. The movie alone does stand on it's own even without prior introduction Kermit and cast.

The actors in this movie...WoW! Did not expect so many big names. Granted that some appearances were minimal but from the interviews I've seen or read, the actors/actresses wanted to be involved. They, too, had grown up with the Muppets and considered it an honor and a true pleasure.

I love the movie to get the DVD. I've never pre-ordered a movie...ever. I promise you that I will be watching it the evening it arrives at my doorstep.

This movie was Amazing!! For a moment in time I was taken back to my childhood. I laughed, I cried, I sang along and still find myself singing the ending song driving my kids crazy! Having seen EVERY Muppet movie, cartoon and even the TV show put out there I sometimes find myself disappointed with post Jim Henson Death movies where they just don't capture the true Muppets but Jason Segel hit it right on the nose and I was transformed back in time to my childhood.

Side Note: My children loved this movie too so I highly recommend it for all ages! If you don't lie this movie there is something seriously wrong with you!

"The Muppets" is a wonderful movie that manages effortlessly to appeal to both the younger adult and mid-life crowd who watched them on TV years ago (and saw their previous films in theaters) as well as young kids who laugh at Fozzie's jokes (sometimes so bad that they're funny anyway) including the one about "fart shoes." The plot moves along at a good rate, never too fast or too slow; and the song and dance numbers kept me very entertained. The cameos by Mickey Rooney, Alan Arkin, Zach Galifianakis, Whoopi Goldberg and many more add to the movie's charm and excitement. I also liked the numerous references to days gone by: Kermit has a Rolodex for his contacts and no computer; there's an "80's" robot with that awfully annoying screeching "handshake" when the modem starts up; and the old posters from the days of "The Muppet Show" are great to see in this film, too.

When the action starts, we quickly meet two sweethearts Mary (Amy Adams) and Gary (Jason Segel, who also co-wrote the script) as well as Gary's brother Walter (voiced by Peter Linz). Gary is rather close and sometimes too protective of his brother Walter; this sometimes irks Mary because she wants romantic time alone with Gary--not to mention a marriage proposal from him. Walter soon realizes that he has a lot in common with the Muppets--in fact, it turns out that he is actually one of them himself! (That may seem like a spoiler but when you see the film it's immediately obvious as Walter looks very, very much like a Muppet.)

When their coveted vacation to Los Angeles finally comes, Gary and Mary take Walter along with them to Los Angeles where Walter wants to tour the Muppet Studios and see everything that has to do with Muppets. Much to Walter's horror, they discover that the old Muppet Studios is barely alive save for a few brief tours by a burnt-out guide (Alan Arkin). Walter steals away to secretly explore Kermit's old office but has to hide under the table when people enter--and that's when Walter discovers that bad guy Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) and his flunkies plan to tear down Muppet Studios to drill for oil and incredible wealth. Walter, with the help of his brother and Mary, must then try to find Kermit or at least one other Muppet to let them know what danger their old studio is in--and what the Muppets must do to save the studio provides the rest of the plot. Needless to say, there's plenty of problems just finding and recruiting the old gang of Muppets; Fozzie is doing a really bad tribute act in Reno with the not so pleasant "Moopets;" Miss Piggy is working at a Vogue magazine office in Paris and Rowlf has retired quite happily.

Watch "The Muppets" for the nostalgia; and let your children experience the wonder of this fine troupe of puppets and actors. The plot is somewhat predictable although there is an unexpected twist or two near the very end; but through it all the film retains its heartwarming qualities and that's terrific.

The Muppet's last movie, "Muppet's from Space" was released in 1999 and "The Muppet Show" finished its television run in 1981 and this is the premise of the "Muppets 2011" revival movie. After years of absence, the Muppet's are back. For many people who grew up in the late 70's and early 80's, this isn't just a children's movie, this is a return to their childhood. Those who remember "The Muppet Show" will be reminded how a collection of felt characters with all different personalities, would attempt to put on a variety show every week.

"The Muppets" 2011 is an absolute delight for a child who hasn't been exposed to the characters yet, as well as the child at heart who was longing for their return and didn't even realize it. The spirit of the Muppets is quickly established with a lighthearted delivery, song and dance and doing what the Muppets have always done by making puppets made of felt and cloth come to life. We are introduced to a Muppet named Walter who's brother, a human, changed and grew over time, while he stayed his same old Muppet self. Ever since the television show left the air in 1981, Walter had longed to be a part of a television show that was put on by people, or Muppets, like him. Out of place and never having his dream fulfilled, he finally gets his chance.

The new movie is a collage of real life and movie. In the movie, we watch as the Muppets who have had a 12-year hiatus and are leading private sector lives, come together to bring back their television show and that is exactly what is happening in real life. The Muppets are back! There are moments in the movie too that made me feel how much I missed them. There are also moments that made me think of how the creators, Jim Hensen and Frank Oz are also gone and can't see how much the Muppets meant to us growing up.

"The Muppets" is quite simply a joy worthy of repeat viewing. There are people who break out into song and dance at the most inappropriate times, like sitting at a diner or chickens clucking to C-Lo Green's "Forget You". The songs are catchy. The story is fun. The Muppets personalities are just like we remembered them. It was like dusting off an old record and letting yourself go. I had almost forgot how long it had been since a movie had done that to me.

The only thing I can say negatively about "The Muppets" is that it will leave you with a sense of disappointment. It is inevitable, especially for those who remember the show. Although it is disappointment in a good way because you know how much there is to the Muppets and you can't help but want more. Hopefully there will be more and hopefully they will continue to bring the Muppets back into our lives on a regular basis.

I have to admit, I only went to see this movie for one reason: to see Jim Parsons' cameo. I didn't really expect to enjoy the rest of the movie as much as I did.

I've not watched the Muppets in years, so really wasn't expecting much, but what I ended up with was a wonderfully entertaining movie where those involved weren't afraid to make fun of themselves and the industry in general.

The three new characters worked well alongside Kermit and co. and the villain was a very apt one for the times.

I laughed a lot, groaned some (well, Fozzie is in it after all *g*) and even found myself a bit misty-eyed on occasion.