The Muppets in a need of modern day touch
Red carpet premier of the 8th Dubai International Film Festival, The Muppets is an old-charm big screen return for the lovable creations, who have delighted long-time devotees for generations. It has been roughly 65 years since the Muppets first appeared, giving Jim Henson’s collaborators and artistic descendants plenty of time to learn their strengths.
In 2011, the latest film from the company is seen as a revival for the aging franchise. Therefore, it squeezes in every musical number, celebrity cameo, and poignant moment necessary before coming to a happy ending. One could have expected that the old classics will return with rap music, hip hop dancing or at least sporting iPads, Blackberry or other latest tech gadgets. But, old is gold! They just came back to capture new audiences with old performances.
The plot is ordinary and fails to fascinate or provide real excitement. On vacation in Los Angeles, the world’s biggest Muppet fan, Walter and his friends Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) from Smalltown in USA, discover the plan of big businessman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to buy the Muppet Theater and drill for the oil, recently discovered beneath the Muppets’ former stomping grounds. Walter storms to the rescue and proposes to stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever in order to raise the $10 million needed to save the theater. Mary and Gary, lead by Walter help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways. Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets. Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, modeling after Miranda Pristly of “The Devil wears Prada” and the cameo appearance of Emily Blunt as her absolutely in charge secretary is very convincing. Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate, while Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management.
The true star of the film is Walter, an orange Muppet with dark hair and a powder blue suit, who is inexplicably the brother of the very human Gary.
The human performances are well-cast and full of cameos including Whoopi Goldberg and Selena Gomez. Amy Adams gives the true standout performance as Gary’s neglected girlfriend Mary. Her singing, dancing, and comedy chops are first class, and well above those of most Hollywood starlets into musicals.
Lightening the save-the-day plot is a show-stopping power ballad “Am I A Man, Or Am I A Muppet?” featuring Walter struggling to find his place in the world and Gary realizing that he risks losing Mary if he doesn’t prioritize rationally.
Many big budget movies desperately need real emotional stories, but in The Muppets the strong moments are a bit too much and roll in on fast speed. All-tough Kermit didn’t age and change his looks, he seems sad and weak.
Overall, the movie wins with a mix of child-friendly antics and few smart jokes for grown-ups. In Dubai’s box office you could see a sign saying that only 6+ are allowed, but actually 36 plus may find it more satisfying.
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