Muppets Most Wanted (2014)

This is How Movies Should Be Made

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Totally lacks the originality of the original Muppets Movies that our family grew up with. I own all of the first six movies plus more than one season of The Muppet Show, a few TV specials and other Jim Henson films. "Together Again" is apparently their new theme song as it is used as the movie finale for the third time? I still wish I could get a real copy of the John Denver Muppet Christmas Special. I "cling" to the old VHS tape of it that still plays! Yes, many good "humans" in the movie. Tina Fey is terrific. Many singers including Celine, Lady G., Josh, and Tony Bennett . Many cameos in the film, but you and the kids may not recognize them all. Hardly anything else original to speak off which means it plays like a cliché-sequel. A "rip-off" of "The Great Muppet Caper", "The Muppet Show" and "The Man in the Iron Mask". Good grief! I thought Miss Piggy and Kermit got married when The Muppets took Manhattan? Enjoyable of course, but hardly collectible. I have other favorite Muppet films that I like much more.

We have 2 yo twins and got this to keep them entertained. They (and we) have watched it pretty well every other day for the last 6 months, and have never got tired of it.Each time I watch it I pick something else up. Strongly recommended.Also, it's _very_ PG. We got Mulan for them, but it frightened them, but this was perfect.Perfect for parents of younger children, and older children.It's a perfect Muppets movie. It has everyone in it. Even Kermits nephew, Robin!! Uncle Deadly, Coco the bear. Pepe the Prawn.Love it. Stringly recommend.

Version I saw: UK cinema release Actors: 6/10 Plot/script: 6/10 Photography/visual style: 6/10 Music/score: 7/10 Overall: 6/10 The record of Muppet movies is a highly variable one. Some of them, such as the Muppet Movie and The Muppet Christmas Carol, are rightly considered classics of family entertainment, while others fall flat.Muppets Most Wanted in particular comes off the back of a very strong competitor, 2011's comeback hit The Muppets. Most of the behind-camera team are the same, including the director, the writer and the Oscar-winning composer of the songs, Bret McKenzie. In fact, there is actually a strong Flight of the Conchords connection running through the film.In front of the camera, the Muppets are of course the same, but the human cast have been completely turned around. Muppet productions have always been big on celebrities in large and small roles. Why do they seem to punch above their weight so consistently? I suppose it's just that stars feel the same affection for these characters as we do. Muppets Most Wanted really takes it to the limit though, with so many recognizable names and faces that some get more time in the end credits than within the film.There are several good songs in there too. Songs haven't always been part of the Muppet formula, but when they have, they usually go down well. I have a lot of time for McKenzie, and it seems he hasn't lost his touch. The comedy is good too: I am always amazed at their ability to deliver a bad joke, tell you it's a bad joke, and make it funnier than a good joke.So why didn't I enjoy it more? The plot is not great, but Muppet plots are generally not up to much, generally existing as little more than a hook to hang those gags and celebrity cameos on, with a bit of lesson-learning and heart-warming reconciliation at the end.I think, when it comes down to it, MMW's failure is that it could not live up to it's predecessor. The Muppets was funnier, had better songs... and above all, had real heart. The relationship between Gary (Jason Segel), Mary (Amy Adams) and Walter (Peter Linz) had real life and affection to it, but without the other two, Walter just isn't that interesting a character.The film is really not bad at all, and way better than its critics would have you believe, but there is really not much I can say about it that can't be followed by "but The Muppets was better". It doesn't just sound like damning with faint praise, it is the very textbook definition of damning with faint praise.For my full review, see my independent film review blog on Blogger, Cinema Inferno: http://cinemainferno-blog.blogspot.co.uk

Kermit and friends are given a sequel right after finishing the last movie. Dominic Badguy (Ricky Gervais) convinces the Muppets to go on a world tour. Meanwhile evil frog Constantine escapes from a Russian gulag run by Nadya (Tina Fey). Badguy is actually Constantine's second and he sets Kermit up to get arrested while Constantine takes over Kermit's place. Badguy and Constantine break into a museum during a show to steal paintings. Sam the Eagle and Inspector Jean Pierre Napoleon (Ty Burrell) investigate. Napoleon suspects the second most dangerous criminal The Lemur. However, the painting is only a map for Constantine to do an even bigger heist down the road.This starts well with the movie breaking down the 4th wall and singing about the sequel. It's fun and then Kermit is separated from the other Muppets. It's still fun but it loses the chemistry of Kemit leading the group. It doesn't happen all at once but eventually the separation takes a toll on the film. The group needs a leader and Walter can't be it. Kemit needs to escape much earlier. He spends too much time in the gulag which is not the funniest place. Also the gulag doesn't introduce any new friends for Kemit.