Muppets return!

AS a child, there was nothing I loved more than waking up early on a Saturday morning to watch the Muppet Show.

Those zany little puppets taught me a lot of valuable life lessons about sharing, teamwork and friendship … not bad for a Velcro frog and creatures of unexplained origins.

So, when I heard they were making a movie I got really excited and, momentarily, I was transported back in time to a simpler period of my life when all that mattered was how much fun I could have in a day.

For me, it’s always hit or miss with movies of this sort because I take people messing with my nostalgia very seriously. Thankfully, this was a great effort and an ideal film for children and grown-ups of all ages.

The Muppet resurrection was made possible thanks to the genius of Jason Segel, who also stars in the film and co-wrote the script. He pitched the idea to Disney and suggested following the theme of the original Muppets Movie.

The plot has been updated and revised to keep it fresh and, thanks to a well cast staring lineup, this film delivers the laughs perfectly.

The movie follows two Muppet-adoring brothers, Gary (Segel) and Walter. Walter is a puppet but Gary is a human and there is never any question about their very obvious differences.

The pair live happily together in Smalltown and while Walter just loves to have fun, Gary is in love with the incredible Mary (Adams), his long-standing girlfriend.

For their 10th anniversary, Gary plans to take Mary to LA to celebrate and (thoughtful guy that he is) invites his brother along so he can see the legendary Muppet Theatre where the seminal 1970s show was made.
 
Walter is such a happy puppet and relishes spending time with both of them, but Mary can’t help but feel that Gary’s relationship with him is getting in the way of their love.

Once in LA they get to the theatre only to discover that the Muppets have separated and a greedy businessman is planning to knock down the almost derelict theatre to drill for oil unless the Muppets can raise $10 million in a few days and buy it back.

When Walter gets wind of the cunning scheme, he rushes to tell Gary and they head to Kermit’s mansion to tell him about it. Obviously distressed at the news, Kermit realises that the only way to raise the money to save his beloved theatre is to put on a show that the Muppets haven’t performed in years.

After Walter convinces the ambivalent amphibian to try, the gang set about trying to recruit the rest of the Muppets; no easy task since they’ve all moved on with their lives. 

Some of the highlights include Fozzie Bear performing with a group of Muppet impersonators, Gonzo has become a successful plumber and Animal is in an anger management clinic ... no surprise there!

After a little work, all the former Muppets are on board and practice the show to give fans the best Muppets performance of their lives. 

The movie also features cameos from comedic superstars Jack Black and Neil Patrick Harris. What more would you want from a film?!
 
There are several fantastic melodies in this movie that will surely have you singing along, even if you don’t know the words.

The thing which really impressed me was that the same characters that have been around since the 1970s are still just as funny, loveable and endearing as they were in their heyday. Yes, some of the voices have changed but their essence remains the same.

With gags and sensational songs galore, this movie delivered everything I could hope for from a movie starring a bunch of puppets!

Yes, it’s safe to say, Kermit the frog and the rest of the Muppets in this franchise haven’t croaked yet.
 
Showing in Cineco, Seef I and Saar Cineplex