The Muppets is a nostalgic treat
Film
THE MUPPETS
Cert: U
*****
Whether you loved it first time around, or never got the whole “fuzzy-animals-singing” thing, now’s your chance to catch up with the Muppets. When the young, Muppet-obsessed Walter (voiced by Peter Linz) visits Los Angeles, he not only finds the Muppet Studios in disrepair but overhears evil business tycoon Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) plotting to tear it down. The only way to stop him is to convince Kermit to do one last show and raise £10m in two days.
Jim Henson, Jason Segal and Nicholas Stoller have scripted a heartfelt but hilarious comeback for the much-loved puppets. Miss Piggy is now editing plus-size Vogue; Gonzo owns a plumbing empire; Fozzie bear sings in Reno-based tribute act The Moopets and Animal is, of course, taking anger management classes with Jack Black.
It’s impossible not to be charmed by the car journeys from America to Paris, the OTT explosions and Chris Cooper responding to a humble plea from Kermit to give back their studios with a full-on rap. It’s not just the puppets providing the giggles – Jason Segal as Walter’s brother Gary and Amy Adams as Gary’s girlfriend turn the cheese factor up to eleven. It could be cloying if they weren’t having such a ball; be it ineptly fronting a 400-strong professional dance troupe or going hell for leather with the vibrato during the emotional musical numbers. Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Silverman, Ricky Gervais, Dave Grohl and Emily Blunt are just a few of the human-shaped cameos. It goes to show what an impact these fuzzy singing animals still have after all these years.