The Muppets
2/4
Starring: Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones, and the voices of Peter Linz, Steve Whitmire, Eric Jacobson, David Goelz
Rated PG for Some Mild Rude Humor
"Seasame Street." "Barney and Friends." "The Muppets." These are the three most beloved shows in children's entertainment. Although not the longest lasting (that distinction goes to "Sesame Street"), the Muppets have the most crossover appeal with older viewers and it has a number of theatrically released movies. But for the first time in 12 years, the Muppets are back on the big screen (well, small screen in my case).
Walter (Linz) is the world's biggest Muppet fan (although he is a Muppet himself, he's not a "real" Muppet). They brought him comfort on bad days and when his older brother Gary (Segel) is going to Los Angeles with his girlfriend Mary (Adams), he is invited to come along to see the Muppet Studio. Unfortunately, it's completely run down and about to be bought up by a greedy oil barron named Tex Richman (Cooper). Now it's up to Walter, Gary and Amy to get the Muppets back together in order to raise $10 million dollars to save the studio.
Maybe it's because I'm not a die-hard Muppets fan and don't really have any memories of them, but I found this movie to be surprisingly bland. As often the case, it's easy to see what the movie is trying to be, but it doesn't make it there. It wants to be a heartwarming family comedy, but it's surprisingly lifeless. No one's heart seems to be in it. Maybe it's because the script, credited to raunch kings Segel and Nicholas Stoller (who created the overrated "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Get Him to the Greek"), is weak. Writing an R-rated comedy is different than writing a family comedy. Or maybe it's because the direction by James Bobin is pedestrian.
The actors lack enthusiasm. Jason Segel appears to be coasting his way through the role, but there are moments when he's effective. Ditto for Amy Adams, but she's more successful. Peter Linz is surprisingly good as Walter; he tugged at my heart a little. Frank Oz, who voiced a number of the Muppets, declined to appear because of disagreements over the script. His replacements are nowhere near as good; Whitmire and Jacobsen feel like imposters.
"The Muppets" isn't completely devoid of value; there are a number of amusing sequences here and there, and kids might enjoy it, but on the whole I didn't particularly like it.
Starring: Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones, and the voices of Peter Linz, Steve Whitmire, Eric Jacobson, David Goelz
Rated PG for Some Mild Rude Humor
"Seasame Street." "Barney and Friends." "The Muppets." These are the three most beloved shows in children's entertainment. Although not the longest lasting (that distinction goes to "Sesame Street"), the Muppets have the most crossover appeal with older viewers and it has a number of theatrically released movies. But for the first time in 12 years, the Muppets are back on the big screen (well, small screen in my case).
Walter (Linz) is the world's biggest Muppet fan (although he is a Muppet himself, he's not a "real" Muppet). They brought him comfort on bad days and when his older brother Gary (Segel) is going to Los Angeles with his girlfriend Mary (Adams), he is invited to come along to see the Muppet Studio. Unfortunately, it's completely run down and about to be bought up by a greedy oil barron named Tex Richman (Cooper). Now it's up to Walter, Gary and Amy to get the Muppets back together in order to raise $10 million dollars to save the studio.
Maybe it's because I'm not a die-hard Muppets fan and don't really have any memories of them, but I found this movie to be surprisingly bland. As often the case, it's easy to see what the movie is trying to be, but it doesn't make it there. It wants to be a heartwarming family comedy, but it's surprisingly lifeless. No one's heart seems to be in it. Maybe it's because the script, credited to raunch kings Segel and Nicholas Stoller (who created the overrated "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Get Him to the Greek"), is weak. Writing an R-rated comedy is different than writing a family comedy. Or maybe it's because the direction by James Bobin is pedestrian.
The actors lack enthusiasm. Jason Segel appears to be coasting his way through the role, but there are moments when he's effective. Ditto for Amy Adams, but she's more successful. Peter Linz is surprisingly good as Walter; he tugged at my heart a little. Frank Oz, who voiced a number of the Muppets, declined to appear because of disagreements over the script. His replacements are nowhere near as good; Whitmire and Jacobsen feel like imposters.
"The Muppets" isn't completely devoid of value; there are a number of amusing sequences here and there, and kids might enjoy it, but on the whole I didn't particularly like it.
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