Culture

Rating: A+

After securing their studio back in The Muppets (2011), the loveable Muppet crew are back for another whirlwind musical adventure. Kermit (as himself, obviously) and the gang start their world tour with new manager Dominic Badguy (Ricky Gervais). Alas, Dominic is revealed to be a “bad guy” who is using the Muppets as a cover for his criminal activity with the villain Constantine. Constantine happens to look a heck of a lot like Kermit, being a frog and all, and when they are unceremoniously swapped, the movie really takes off. Poor Kermit is sent to The Gulag, a Siberian prison full of musically talented inmates and a Kermit-infatuated prison guard, Nadya (Tina Fey). Meanwhile, Constantine takes over the Muppet Show, bringing it to terrible ruin and leaving the audience wondering if the balance of good and evil will ever be restored.

Now, I don’t want to judge this film as a sequel, especially considering the Muppets have been around since 1955 and I’ve grown up with them (although obviously not all the way from 1955). That being said, this film has everything that one would hope for from the talented Muppet gang. Firstly, the music is simply fantastic (shout out to “Big House,” sung primarily by Fey). The performances were also outstanding, particularly the skits with Interpol officer Jean Pierre Napoleon (Ty Burrell) and Sam the Eagle. However, what makes this film great is the cameo buffet. There are so many stars scattered throughout that one can’t help making it a competition to spot them all (I got 18).

However, astonishingly, not everyone likes the Muppets! I can’t put my finger on why … it is just one of life’s unanswerable questions. While lengthy for a kids’ movie (nearly two hours) and having themes perhaps too “childlike” for the more “mature” folk out there, this movie stole my heart. I didn’t even look at my watch (“mobile phone”) to check the time. I was clearly impressed.

If you’re wanting to enjoy a fun-filled adventure, become a Muppets junkie and settle down for this musical comedy like no other (apart from all the other Muppet movies, of course). But why change what works, right?