I love Jason Segal, so I was very excited for a Muppets project to follow up his excellent Forgetting Sarah Marshall work. However, there's a simple, undeniable problem with any Muppets project since 1990: Jim Henson is dead. Kermit has never been the same.
Not much to discuss for plot, as it's the same plot as Muppets Take Manhattan and probably the same as The Muppet Movie, which I don't remember. I know it was a road movie that ended in Hollywood. Anyway, the Muppets need to reunite to save their studio from demolition by the evil Tex Richman.
15 minutes into the movie and I feel like Segal is in touch with the Muppets. The style of humor is spot on. But I can't get past Kermit. He doesn't sounds right, he doesn't act right. What happened to the Kermit full of manic movement and excitement in his voice. I know there's the whole "downtrodden" Muppets angle, but there is not even a hint that Kermit was once excited. This bothered me throughout the movie. Ms. Piggy felt slightly off too.
The other big disappointment, as far as characters go, was Stadler and Waldorf. Incredibly underused and when they were used, not funny. Were they always not funny? I need to go back and watch the Muppet Show again.
I always enjoy Amy Adams, nothing more needs to be said there. Jason Segal didn't wow me with his role.
Overall, the movie is pretty good. I say that because most of the good stuff is at the end, during the telethon. They start working in the superstar cameos, cracking jokes, and referencing the old show. This may have left me with a false sense of goodness, as I wasn't particularly impressed with anything prior to the telethon. Except for Gonzo self-destructing his toilet business. And Rowlf. Classic Rowlf.
I feel like The Muppets need a reboot. Rebuild from the ground up. Get some new blood. Retire Kermit and the old cast. Do more with the evil henchman that turns out good in the end. There's some good comedy available with that guy.
I can really hear Flight of the Chonchords in the music. Especially the Tex Richman number.
First Viewing: 2+2+2+2+2 = 10