'Muppets Most Wanted' is the 2014 sequel to the 2010 franchise soft reboot 'The Muppets', or as the lyrics of one of the films multiple and catchy songs reminds us, actually the 7th sequel to the their original 1979 motion picture 'The Muppet Movie'. I thought this worked quite well, better then I expected it would. As the Muppets originated basically as sketch comedy plot has always been a problem with their movies, they tend to repeat themselves and to some extent they do that here. Latching the Muppets on to some pre existing public domain property like 'A Christmas Carol' or 'Treasure Island' has worked for them in the past, looking for literary antecedents to the story in this movie I would have to go with 'The Prince and the Pauper' mixed with 'The Count of Monte Cristo' and perhaps some Russian lit.
Kermit ends up in a gulag when he is mistaken for Constantine, the most dangerous frog in the world, who arranged to switch places in an effort to use the Muppets world tour as cover while he and his assistant (a game Ricky Gervais) commit various robberies while in Europe. Ty Burrell and Tina Fey have the other major human roles, and as per Muppet tradition the film is full of celebrity cameos, sometimes playing them selves.
A nicely relaxed film that's lose and doesn't try too hard, which is largely why it works. Again I was particularly impressed with the songs, and have returned to many of them since first watching this movie the other week. A fun, non demanding film that delivers on the good time one wants from the Muppets. ***
No comments:
Post a Comment