MUPPETS MOST WANTED (2014)

Genre: Comedy/Family
Director: James Bobin
Cast: Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Animal, Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, Tina Fey
RunTime: 1 hr 47 mins
Rating: PG
Released By: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Official Website: http://muppets.disney.com/

Opening Day: 24 April 2014

Synopsis: Disney’s “The Muppets Most Wanted” takes the entire Muppets gang on a global tour, selling out grand theaters in some of Europe’s most exciting destinations, including Berlin, Madrid and London. But mayhem follows the Muppets overseas, as they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper headed by Constantine—the World’s Number One Criminal and a dead ringer for Kermit—and his dastardly sidekick Dominic, aka Number Two.

Movie Review:

If Kermit and Miss Piggy got married, what would their kids look like? You’ll find out in this sequel to the brilliant The Muppets (2011). Oh, before we move on, we are also reminded that this also the seventh sequel to the original motion picture in 1979. For the record, this was sung to us in the movie’s opening number “We’re Doing a Sequel”.

Okay, back to the beloved screen couple’s offsprings. To be honest, the little pink frog and the little green piggy as seen in the power ballad performed by Miss Piggy and Celine Dion (more about that later) are a little freaky. But when you see the couple growing old together in what seemed like a dream sequence, you’ll get a warm fuzzy feeling that leaves you smiling. And that is something we wished there are more of in this musical comedy caper movie.

Not that this James Bobin directed production is a dull affair, but it would have been nice to have more heartwarming moments that made the last movie so well loved. Other than that, this 107 minute Disney picture is a guaranteed hit with viewers young and old.

If you’ve been following the movie’s hilarious series of online trailers, the story isn’t much of a surprise. Straight after the last movie (we see the backs of Jason Segel and Amy Adams in the opening shot – probably body doubles), The Muppets embark on a grand world tour. What they don’t know is how they will be involved in a European jewel heist caper headed by a Kermit lookalike and his dastardly sidekick Dominic Badguy (Richard Gervais in a riotously funny role).

Yup, you’ve read it right. The sidekick’s (affectionately known as Number Two) last name is Badguy. However, when he tells The Muppets it’s actually pronounced as “Bad Gee” in French, our loveable friends actually believe him and move on with the plot. Hey, that’s old school humour for you – no scepticism and cynicism. Everyone just wants to have a laughing good time in the cinema.

And that’s what the filmmakers have prepared for viewers. Expect illogical and laugh out loud antics – one of the best gags have to be singer songwriter Usher playing an… usher. Yup, this is the kind of humour you can expect from this recommended movie. There are clever gags (The Muppets make the headlines on a slow news day, Christoph Waltz doing a waltz, and many more), catchy songs (relive the plague that was Macarena in a Bayside Boys remix version), side splitting performances by Tina fey (as a Siberian prison guard who has the hots for Kermit) and Ty Burrell (as a French Interpol inspector who knows how to enjoy a long lunch and early knock off), and celebrity cameos to entertain you from start to finish.

Ah, celebrity cameos – who would turn down an offer to be in a Muppets movie? Without giving away too much, watch out for appearances by familiar faces like Puff Daddy, Lady Gaga, Saoirse Ronan, Chloe Grace Moretz and many others. Celine Dion’s performance as a fairy godmother is wonderfully spot on. Listen to her powerful vocals as she backs up Miss Piggy in an unforgettable song sequence.

There are lots more to talk about, but the fun is to sit through the movie without knowing what joke or cameo appearance is in store. When the movie ends with “Together Again” from The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984), you’d wish more comedies would be this satisfying.  

Movie Rating:

(It’s good ol’ fun as The Muppets come together to bring you this very funny and joyous movie)

Review by John Li