Poster for the Muppets.

Bottom Line: If you’re buying a ticket to go see The Muppets, you’re treating yourself to a Kid’s film. If you’re expecting the film to be life affirming and/or soul changing, you may want to look elsewhere (though it might do that, in some ways). It’s not a knock on the film by any means, but walking into The Muppets with any expectations other than to just enjoy yourself, you might be asking too much. How can you not like this film? It’s got Muppets in it.

Growing up with the Muppets as kid was a weird thing. When I think back on it, I only remember 3 distinct things: I remember the Muppet Intro which I always sung along to, I remember the blue eagle, and I remember Gonzo and his Chickens. I have to admit I spent a lot of time laughing out loud on this one, though everyone’s tastes are different. That’s just me.

The Muppets must have been a really hard sell. Imagine taking something that was popular in the 70’s and trying to present it in such a way that both the original audiences could appreciate it along with those who only knew of the Muppets from Muppet Babies (or worse, never ever even heard of them). The fact that it’s a movie about Muppets and that it really doesn’t take itself seriously makes it work so well. I haven’t any “I wish they had” or “it would have been if they” moments for this. The film has a simple premise and does what it needs to.

Looking at it, I don’t know if I can call it a Kid’s film or a Muppets Fan Film. I have a tough time classifying it, I just know I really, really loved it.

The Muppets is the tale of two brothers, Gary (Jason Segel) and his Muppet brother, Walter. While Walter had his problems growing up, one of his biggest joys was watching The Muppets on TV. His lifelong dream is to visit Muppet Studios and meet his idols. Gary loves his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams), but he’s so caught up with Walter’s happiness that he hasn’t asked Mary to marry him. She hopes with their trip to Hollywood, they’ll spend a romantic time and he’ll finally do so. Bringing Walter along with them doesn’t help things.

When they visit the Muppet Studios, Walter discovers that an oil magnate (played by Chris Cooper) wants to acquire the unused Muppet Studios for his own, the decision is made to try to reach the rest of the Muppets and raise enough money to save the Studios. It’s essentially the same premise as The Blues Brothers, but with Muppets. Only here, the Muppets have to deal with an audience where they’re really no longer relevant. Can they really be fun in this day and age? That’s one of the questions that come up in the film.

The film happily pokes fun at itself, breaking the 4^th wall a number of times and coming up with some pretty cute ways to move the story along. The musical numbers are plenty (I picked up the Soundtrack when I got home and am listening to it while writing this) and I think only one was worthy of a “Oh wow, they really went there?” with Amy Adams’ & Miss Piggy’s “Me Party”, but again, it’s not trying to be super serious.

For anyone who’s watched The Muppet Show in their lifetime, the movie is a real treat. That my audience actually sung along to some of the songs was a fun feeling. For anyone grown up and new to the Muppets, it might all go over their heads. Kids (young ones at least), should have a lot of fun with the movie.

Here’s hoping that Jason Segel finally gets to do that Dracula Musical from Forgetting Sarah Marshall.