Muppets Most Wanted (C+ or 2.5/4 stars)
I wasn't the biggest 'Muppet' fan growing up as a child. I didn't dislike them. I just wasn't brought up on 'Sesame Street' or the various Muppet films. I watched Muppet Babies on TV, haha. But I've caught up with many of those Muppet films over the years. I enjoyed 2011's The Muppets with Jason Segel & Amy Adams. And though I'll never "love" them, I can now "appreciate" the Muppets. 2011's film was successful enough to warrant this sequel, 'Muppets Most Wanted' (directed by James Bobin, who did the 2011 film). The plot here is one big who-the-hell-cares mess. But the Muppets are fun & the tone is light & enjoyable.
'Muppets Most Wanted' is a spy caper/prison escape/Pink Panther/musical comedy hybrid. The plot kicks off where the 2011 film ended, jumps into a sng about 'sequels', then segues into the main narrative which features the Muppet troupe preparing for a heralded world tour managed by the smarmy, oily Dominic Badguy (Ricky Gervais). Meanwhile, up in Siberia, master criminal Constantine the frog has managed to escape from a maximum security Gulag. He makes it to America, kidnaps, & then replaces poor Kermit. Constantine then reunites with Dominic (his #2), & sets into motion a ridiculous plan to steal England's Crown Jewels.
This movie features only 3 main human actors: Ricky Gervais as the oily henchman, Tina Fey as the strong Russian woman who runs the Siberian Gulag, & Modern Family's Ty Burell as Jean Pierre Napoleon, a humorous French Interpol agent {with thick accent in tow}. Gervais is okay. Tina Fey is actually very enjoyable; delivering her Russian-accented dialogue/songs with relish. And Ty Burrell made me smile an awful lot, as well. As is customary for a Muppet flick, there's an array of celebrity cameos. They include Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, Christophe Waltz, Celine Dion, P. Diddy, Salma Hayek, Ray Liotta, Danny Trejo, Chloe Grace Moretz, Tom Hiddleston (Loki in Thor), & Frank Langella, among others. Playing 'spot the star' is fun, but most are only onscreen for a few seconds. Boo.
This Muppet sequel is not as giddily entertaining nor as surprising as the 2011 film before it. Still, a lot of the charm remains. 'Muppets Most Wanted' contains all the elements that make these loveable Muppets as popular as they are with children & adults alike. I mean, who doesn't love furry puppets, overproduced musical numbers, silly humor, a fast-paced - if admittedly unremarkable - story, and an abundance of nostalgia for the good 'ole days when The Muppets first hit their stride. This film is not as successful as either 2014's 'The Lego Movie' or 'Mr. Peabody & Sherman' when it comes to original family entertainment. It's a bit too tired; too generic. That said, the aforementioned 'weaker' story does not negatively impact overall effect. I'm glad to have spent 105 minutes with these goofy Muppets & co.
'Muppets Most Wanted' is a spy caper/prison escape/Pink Panther/musical comedy hybrid. The plot kicks off where the 2011 film ended, jumps into a sng about 'sequels', then segues into the main narrative which features the Muppet troupe preparing for a heralded world tour managed by the smarmy, oily Dominic Badguy (Ricky Gervais). Meanwhile, up in Siberia, master criminal Constantine the frog has managed to escape from a maximum security Gulag. He makes it to America, kidnaps, & then replaces poor Kermit. Constantine then reunites with Dominic (his #2), & sets into motion a ridiculous plan to steal England's Crown Jewels.
This movie features only 3 main human actors: Ricky Gervais as the oily henchman, Tina Fey as the strong Russian woman who runs the Siberian Gulag, & Modern Family's Ty Burell as Jean Pierre Napoleon, a humorous French Interpol agent {with thick accent in tow}. Gervais is okay. Tina Fey is actually very enjoyable; delivering her Russian-accented dialogue/songs with relish. And Ty Burrell made me smile an awful lot, as well. As is customary for a Muppet flick, there's an array of celebrity cameos. They include Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, Christophe Waltz, Celine Dion, P. Diddy, Salma Hayek, Ray Liotta, Danny Trejo, Chloe Grace Moretz, Tom Hiddleston (Loki in Thor), & Frank Langella, among others. Playing 'spot the star' is fun, but most are only onscreen for a few seconds. Boo.
This Muppet sequel is not as giddily entertaining nor as surprising as the 2011 film before it. Still, a lot of the charm remains. 'Muppets Most Wanted' contains all the elements that make these loveable Muppets as popular as they are with children & adults alike. I mean, who doesn't love furry puppets, overproduced musical numbers, silly humor, a fast-paced - if admittedly unremarkable - story, and an abundance of nostalgia for the good 'ole days when The Muppets first hit their stride. This film is not as successful as either 2014's 'The Lego Movie' or 'Mr. Peabody & Sherman' when it comes to original family entertainment. It's a bit too tired; too generic. That said, the aforementioned 'weaker' story does not negatively impact overall effect. I'm glad to have spent 105 minutes with these goofy Muppets & co.