Release date: November 23, 2011 

I for one, welcome BACK our Muppet overlords.

I’m not gonna hide it. If you read my review of The Muppet Christmas Carole you know just how much I love The Muppets. I grew up on reruns of The Muppet Show. Fozzie Bear is my bro. The Muppets have always transcended generations with their cheeky antics. Kids love them for their heart-felt stories; while adults love the double-sensed jokes and celebrity hosts. So when I heard The effin Muppets were coming back, I tried doing a backflip. Did it work? No. Did it take away from my excitement? Nope. I was amped. I had already started the site, but alas it was not meant to be. By the time I could go see The Muppets it was too late. Then it just fell off to the side. That is, UNTIL NOW.

I sat back to watch the grandest reunion of all time. I know what you’re saying, “But The Brady Bunch Reunion was HUGE!” But I’m telling you to f–k off! The Muppets reunion is the biggest thing since Pauly-D’s ego.

Our gang of intrepid puppets are joined by humans Gary (Jason Segel,) Mary (Amy Adams) and muppet Walter. As they must get the band back together and raise a poop-ton of money to save their beloved Muppet Studios which has gone to the dogs before it gets bought by rich oil-tycoon Tex Richman (Chris Cooper.) Awesome is sure to ensue. Right?

Directing this Muppets shindig is James Bobin who’s elbow deep in TV cred with Da Ali G Show and Flight of The Concords. The Muppets was written by Jason Segel and Nicolas Stoller who both have Forgetting Sarah Marshal as proof of their writing talent.

However, it’s the fact that Jason Segel had a hand in the story of The Muppets that had me sceptical at first. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a huge (in weight and emotion) fan of Segel. But most of his films are self-revolving. I really wouldn’t have liked a Jason Segel, featuring The Muppets movie.

THANK Flying Spaghetti Monster that’s not what we got!

What we got was a beautiful trip of nostalgia with pitstops around Awesomeville. This film is filled with songs, that started in just under six minutes of the opening credits, and jokes with heart. We got a self-aware film that didn’t try to recreate the past, but acknowledge it while staying hip with the times.

WHAT WORKED:

– Jason Segel. Writer and actor. This guy did alright and all right. With The Muppets there’s a certain level of cheesiness that must be maintained. He gracefully straddled that line while warming our hearts and pushing the story forward. Unlike a certain former WCW World Heavyweight Champion. *coughDavidArquettecoughcough*

– Walter. Every once and a while we get a new Muppet. This little guy is born in a “normal” world and get’s willfully pulled in. He brings a fresh “human” perspective to The Muppets crew. The fact that if he were human, he’d by Jim Parsons is awesome too.

– The pacing/editing. This film keeps coming at you. Hell, they even say aloud when they push the plot further along. Being open about music montages to avoid redundancies.

WHAT DIDN’T WORK:

– Tex Richman. This isn’t a knock at Chris Cooper. Just the money hungry oil-tycoon out to get The Muppets is the only part of this film that will make any lactose intolerant person a little gassy. Been there, done that.

EDITOR’S NOTE: It has been brought up in the comments of my Facebook page that I “overlooked” the music. I did so because I had nothing to say either way. The music wasn’t incredibly great nor horribly bad. Nothing memorable. Yes it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song with “Man of Muppet,” but it had no competition that year. It would be like Michael Jordan beating me in a free-throw contest.

THE LOWDOWN:

The Muppets is a heartwarming good time that will slap a smile on the face of even the coldest hearted bastard out there. Filled with familiar faces from The Muppets past and a bunch of faces from today’s Hollywood. Even the now Bieber-less Selena Gomez shows up next to Whoopie Goldberg. Come for your childhood friend The Muppets but stay for their up-to-date relevance because The Muppets is Verified Awesome!