The Muppets Review

There is a simple fact that I believe with utmost sincerity: The world is a better place with Muppets in it. Thankfully, Jason Segel realizes this as well, hence Disney finally doing right by the characters – nearly a decade after they gained ownership of them – with The Muppets, a truly triumphant big screen return for Jim Henson's beloved characters.

Why The Muppet Show Ruled
Let me get a couple of things out of the way. For kids who may have never been exposed to the Muppets, this film should be highly entertaining – it's bright, colorful, filled with catchy songs and very funny. And for adults who were either too old or too young to have really been at the center of the Muppets biggest moment of fame (from the late-'70s to mid-'80s) or didn't get into the Muppets at another point, this movie is charming enough on its own to entertain. But the rest of this review is for those of you who, like me, grew up loving the Muppets, because man oh man, is this movie something special for us.

Check out what the Muppets themselves told IGN about...
The Muppets!

The Muppets stars Segel (who wrote the film with his Forgetting Sarah Marshall partner, Nicholas Stoller) as Gary, a small town guy who spends all his time with his gal, Mary (Amy Adams) and his brother, Walter. The thing is, Walter just so happens to be a Muppet, and the two brothers both have a lifelong love of The Muppet Show, which they grew up watching on old VHS tapes.

On a trip to L.A., Walter is overjoyed to visit the old Muppets studio, despite it being in pretty decrepit shape. Wouldn't you know it, but Walter overhears the evil Tex Richman's (Chris Cooper) dastardly plan to tear down the studio and the Muppet Show Theater. Can Walter, Gary and Mary track down Kermit the Frog and the rest of the Muppets, and rally them to put on a show to raise the $10 Million needed to save the theater? Well, can they?!

Start to finish, The Muppets is simply a joy to behold. It's a risky tactic having the film begin with these new characters, particularly a new Muppet, given the territorial nature of any fandom – I'll admit to going in wondering if I would like this new guy. But Walter (performed by Peter Linz) is a wonderful creation; lovable and good-hearted and easy to root for. And it was inspired making Walter a Muppet fan, because that makes him one of us.

Watch our video review of The Muppet Movie.

Meanwhile, Segel is so in the zone himself and so completely immerses himself in this world that you quickly buy into this very tall man and his very little Muppet brother. His genuine love for this series shines through in his character and you can tell he's 100% invested in having a conversation with a Muppet.

And while she has a bit less to do than Segel, Adams is, not surprisingly, exactly the right open and sunny actress to be a part of a Muppet movie and goes for broke in a couple of big song and dance numbers. Cooper looks to be having a ball getting to do a very silly version of the kind of heavies he can play in his sleep and his big musical number is… Well, I don't want to give it away, but it's an inspired choice to go in the direction they do and Cooper completely goes for it.