At the conclusion of the last film, 2011’s ingeniously titled The Muppets, everyone’s favourite gang of fuzzy puppets found themselves abandoned by fickle Hollywood producers and didn’t quite know what to do next.
Before Kermit could develop a plan, he is mistaken for his green doppelganger, world famous criminal mastermind Constantine, who looks exactly like Kermit, except he has a big mole on his face. Before you can say switcheroo, Kermit is being dragged off to a Siberian prison and Constantine is trying to hide his Russian accent as he pretends to know how to run the Muppet theatre. The rest of the Muppets are just happy to be touring Europe, playing fancy theatres that are always beside museums that house priceless treasures that go missing.
We say, “It’s fun, funny and well worth a watch.”
TAYLOR: I’m a Muppet fan, always have been, always will be. I don’t so much want to watch The Muppets on TV, or even in films, simply because they sing too much for my liking, or because I’m not a child and the bulk of their material is for children. However, I’m glad they’re there. They deserve a place in the imaginations of kids these days, much like when I was kid. They’re wholesome, fun and genuinely funny, not just relying on pratfalls and fart jokes. Having said all that, Muppets: Most Wanted shouldn’t disappoint Muppet fans and may even help make new converts.
HOWE: I get what the Muppets are trying to do and I enjoy some of it, but some of it just bores the bottom off me. Gonzo is my favourite, coming up with his hair-brained ideas for the show makes me laugh every time. Beaker is another one that I enjoy watching; his facial expressions are priceless. The thing that disappoints me is Miss Piggy. Her voice grates me and the whole Kermit/ Miss Piggy love story is getting a little long in the tooth now. And don’t get me started on Fozzie bear.
FENIN: Dad, I was so sad that Kermit got put in prison. He didn’t even do anything.
HOWE: Did you enjoy the movie? What made you laugh?
FENIN: I really liked it when they tried to steal the jewels. That was soooooo funny.
TAYLOR: You’re supposed to groan at Fozzie; that’s his sole purpose. I agree with you that some of the Muppet shtick seems never ending, but at least we were given a glimpse into what a possible future Mr. and Mrs. The Frog might be like (think green pigs and pink frogs.) There was probably also one too many songs in the film. My favourite part of the film was seeing Constantine act in very un-Kermit, even un-puppet ways, jumping around like a Ninja, being sneaky. All in all it’s worth taking your family to.
– Taylor gives the Muppets: Most Wanted 4 beaker bombs out of 5.
– Fenin gives it 5 Kermits out of 5.
– Howe gives it 3 sing-a-longs out of 5.
The film is currently showing at the Galaxy Cinemas in Vernon.
– Brian Taylor and Peter Howe are film critics based in Vernon, B.C. Their column, Reel Reviews, runs in The Morning Star Fridays and Sundays.
