“It’s time to play the music, it’s time to light the lights.” For 5 years and 120 episodes between Sunday Sept 5, 1976 and Sunday Mar 15, 1981, those words announced arguably the most popular family entertainment programme on British television, Created by Jim Henson, and featuring a collection of puppets and weekly celebrity guest star, this was The Muppets Show.
Starring Kermit (voiced by Henson until his death), the world’s most famous frog, and porcine diva Miss Piggy (Frank Oz), alongside such characters as Fozzie Bear with his terrible jokes, stunt performer Gonzo the Great, wisecracking pianist Rowlf the Dog, gofer Scooter, the unintelligible Swedish Chef, and the manic Animal, drummer with house band Dr Teeth and The Electric Mayhem, the show would take place in The Muppets Theatre and feature sketches, send-ups and songs. Generally heckled from the gallery by resident grumpy old men Statler and Waldorf.
Internationally famous, the Muppets were a phenomenal hit with children with their slapstick and silliness although much of the show’s satirical and risqué humour was very much aimed at adult audiences.
The Muppets made their big screen debut in 1979 with The Muppet Movie, a huge box office hit that produced a sequel, The Great Muppets Caper in 1981. Aimed much more at younger viewers, he films continued even after the television show ended with The Muppets Take Manhattan, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Muppet Treasure Island and Muppets From Space.
However, that was in 1999, and although Kermit and co have never really been forgotten, especially by the generation which grew up with them, they’ve long since been replaced in children’s affections by CGI creations. But now it’s time for the big comeback.
Directed by James Bobin, who made cult TV comedy series The Flight of the Conchords, the film’s co-written by and stars Jason Segal, an actor usually known for raunchier stuff like Forgetting Sarah Marshall, who, a Muppets fan himself, was the driving force in bringing them back to the screen.
He plays Gary, a naive manchild who lives in small town Smalltown with his ‘brother ‘ Walter, who, although nobody seems to notice, is three foot and made out of orange felt. Having seen them on TV, Walter has become their biggest fan. So, when Gary arranges to take sweetheart Mary (Amy Adams at her sweetest best), to celebrate their 10 years of chaste dating, he invites Walter along too so they can visit The Muppet Theatre.
However, when they get there and are met by the tour guide (Alan Arkin), they discover time has not been kind, The place is a run down ruin that nobody cares about. Well. nobody but Tex Richman (Chris Cooper), a real estate tycoon who Walter, hiding under the table in Kermit’s old office, overhears talking about taking advantage of a clause in the contract to buy up the land, tear down the theatre and dig for oil. Worse, he’ll own the Muppets name, too.
Revealing the terrible news to Gary and Mary, there’s obviously only one thing to do. Get the Muppets back together and try and raise the $10million they need to save the day.
However, Kermit’s become a recluse since the show ended and he and Miss Piggy split up, she’s now Plus Size editor of Paris Vogue, Fozzie’s working at a sleazy dive with untalented tribute act The Moopets, Animal’s in anger management therapy and has had to give up drumming and Gonzo runs a plumbing company.
But with their beloved theatre in danger, they’re all soon pitching in to work together again and put on one last show. Even Miss Piggy puts her pride behind her to return from France and lend a trotter.
Not that it’s going to be easy. They need to put on a live televised telethon show, but, as they’re told in no uncertain terms, ‘you guys are no longer relevant.’ However, as they – and this wonderful film – prove, the Muppets are as fresh, funny and entertaining now as they ever were.
When a slot opens up on network TV, they have just two days to get everything ready. So, while Richman schemes to stop the show going on and Mary finds herself having to see L.A. on her own, the Muppets, Walter and Gary pull out all the stops to get the theatre back into shape, polish up their rusty acts and find the celebrity guest star the TV station demands. This, turns out to be Animal’s rehab sponsor, Jack Black who, kidnapped, finds himself bound (though unfortunately not gagged) as the butt of several of the sketches. Meanwhile, invited by Kermit to join them on stage, Walter has to try and find his own hidden special talent.
It’s all huge fun with plenty of physical comedy for the kids and loads of self-aware jokes for the adults, like the big mock musical number in Smalltown (where, if you’re quick you might catch a two seconds appearance by singer Willie Nelson), Cooper ‘s panto villain repeating the line ’Maniacal laugh! Maniacal laugh!’ or, to shorten the journey collecting the various Muppets, the suggestion that they ‘do it in a montage’!
In traditional Muppets fashion, there’s plenty of celebrity cameos, including Emily Blunt as Miss Pigg’s secretary and Selena Gomez and John Krasinski as themselves , though whether the kids will recognise the likes of Whoopi Goldberg, Zach Galifianakis, or Mickey Rooney is another matter.
The other staple of any Muppets Show is the songs. And the film doesn’t disappoint here either. Aside from big musical number Life’s A Happy Song and the familiar theme tune, Camilla and her fellow chickens cluck a version of Cee Lo Green’s Forget You, there’s a barbershop quartet Smells Like Teen Spirit and Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons appears as Walter’s human self in the poignant Gary/Walter number Man Or Muppet. Plus, of course, Mah Na Mah Na.
The showstopper though is Muppets classic The Rainbow Connection, a romantic duet ballad between Kermit and Miss Piggy that, I guarantee you, will have a green glove puppet bringing tears to your eyes.
And maybe that’s the heart and soul of The Muppets. The film is preceded by a new Toy Story short that has Buzz sitting in on a group therapy session with a bunch of abandoned old burger bar promotional toys. It’s smart and very funny, but those CGI figures lack something a bunch of felt, cloth and foam hand and stick puppets have in abundance – the way they make you believe they’re very real.
BBFC Guidance: Contains mild comic violence, brief rude humour & one use of mild language
LGWTC Guidance: According to Walter, the third best gift of all time, after children and ice cream, is laughter. The Muppets Movie is the gift that keeps on giving.