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**M-A-G** · 01-30-2023, 06:04 AM

The Muppets/Muppets Most Wanted - 3 stars out of 4

Watched them both back-to-back and I think they both deserve the same rating, however, for completely different reasons.

Speaking as someone who wasn't really raised on the Muppets, having missed out on the original show and a lot of the major motion pictures, I can honestly say that the first movie of this bunch still managed to pluck at the right strings. There's this air of innocence to it. Like the town from the beginning is something out of Norman Rockwell, but at the same time, as with everything else, you're also supposed to laugh at the level of absurdity it reaches. The story hits the right beats as it cleverly tackles the real-life journey that the Muppets property has taken over the years. They kind of were forgotten relics and the film knows how to play with your emotions. The movie also makes me wish that other properties that try to meld human actors with fictional characters take more of a page from the Muppets as the human cast is equally enjoyable. It's nostalgia done right and I feel bad that I didn't watch it sooner.

Now with the follow up, Muppets Most Wanted, the filmmakers say, "OK, enough with the mushy stuff. Let's go nuts!" A criminal doppelganger of Kermit the Frog? Yes. Tina Fey as a Russian gulag warden? Sure, why not? It's basically The Great Muppet Caper but with better focus and snappier exchanges and gags. And like Caper benefitted from the phenomenal Charles Grodin, this film also earns points with the comedically villainous Constantine. Everything about him is just ridiculously gold. Like blowing up a payphone right after using it; did he have to do that? No, of course not, but just the fact that he would do something like that is funny. Other visual gags also hit bullseyes, like the battle of the badges with Sam the Eagle, the small INTERPOL car, the Vaseline on the camera lens, or the fact that it's obviously not Jason Segal and Amy Adams in the beginning number. The more over-the-top, the better. Like I love the warden saying, "Good night, Danny Trejo" as if it's not just him playing a character in prison. It's actually THE Danny Trejo locked up. The plot is absolutely cliche but they have fun with it, so as a result, we have fun with it. Both of these movies are excellent returns to form.

01-30-2023, 06:04 AM	#14451
M-A-G Higher. Further. Faster. Posts: 21,080	This post is sponsored by the football that hit Marcia in the nose The Muppets/Muppets Most Wanted - 3 stars out of 4 Watched them both back-to-back and I think they both deserve the same rating, however, for completely different reasons. Speaking as someone who wasn't really raised on the Muppets, having missed out on the original show and a lot of the major motion pictures, I can honestly say that the first movie of this bunch still managed to pluck at the right strings. There's this air of innocence to it. Like the town from the beginning is something out of Norman Rockwell, but at the same time, as with everything else, you're also supposed to laugh at the level of absurdity it reaches. The story hits the right beats as it cleverly tackles the real-life journey that the Muppets property has taken over the years. They kind of were forgotten relics and the film knows how to play with your emotions. The movie also makes me wish that other properties that try to meld human actors with fictional characters take more of a page from the Muppets as the human cast is equally enjoyable. It's nostalgia done right and I feel bad that I didn't watch it sooner. Now with the follow up, Muppets Most Wanted, the filmmakers say, "OK, enough with the mushy stuff. Let's go nuts!" A criminal doppelganger of Kermit the Frog? Yes. Tina Fey as a Russian gulag warden? Sure, why not? It's basically The Great Muppet Caper but with better focus and snappier exchanges and gags. And like Caper benefitted from the phenomenal Charles Grodin, this film also earns points with the comedically villainous Constantine. Everything about him is just ridiculously gold. Like blowing up a payphone right after using it; did he have to do that? No, of course not, but just the fact that he would do something like that is funny. Other visual gags also hit bullseyes, like the battle of the badges with Sam the Eagle, the small INTERPOL car, the Vaseline on the camera lens, or the fact that it's obviously not Jason Segal and Amy Adams in the beginning number. The more over-the-top, the better. Like I love the warden saying, "Good night, Danny Trejo" as if it's not just him playing a character in prison. It's actually THE Danny Trejo locked up. The plot is absolutely cliche but they have fun with it, so as a result, we have fun with it. Both of these movies are excellent returns to form.