Muppets Most Wanted is the sequel to the popular 2011 film The Muppets. Many claim the first film is a near perfect film, which brought new life and energy back into the franchise. Can the Muppets strike gold again with a sequel? Almost.
Muppets Most Wanted follow the Muppets as they embark on a World Tour after their successful revival. Unfortunately, they are hoodwinked by their new manager Dominic Badguy (Ricky Gervais), who is just using the Muppets as a means to steal the Crown Jewels of England. When Dominic’s counterpart–the world’s number one criminal Constantine–escapes from jail, he disguises himself as Kermit unbeknownst to the rest of the Muppets gang. Constantine slaps a fake mole on poor Kermit, which makes him a spitting image of Constantine, resulting in him getting thrown in a Siberian jail under the control of the warden Nadya (Tina Fey). Will the Muppets save Kermit before it’s too late?
The movie literally picks up where the first movie left off, with “The End” twinkling in the sky above the Muppets gang. Right away, they start musing about a sequel and we get our first song of the film, which is fun, self referential and filled with star-studded cameos.
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As expected in a Muppets film, the songs were incredibly catchy. I found myself humming and singing them long after I had left the theatre. I really enjoyed “We’re Doing a Sequel” and “I’m Number One.” We even are treated to an over-the-top duet by Miss Piggy and Celine Dion in all its foggy, wind-blowing glory. While perhaps not a good as the songs in its predecessor, I still enjoyed myself every time a song came on screen. If you want, you can purchase or preview the soundtrack here.
The pace of the film was just about right. At times I felt that there was a little too much time spent on the prison scenes. That being said, those scenes are hilarious, especially towards the end and Tina Fey does such a brilliantly hilarious job as the Russian warden. It makes me want to see a spin off with just her. Overall, the three main humans–Fey, Gervais and Ty Burrell–were well casted and balanced the zaniness of the Muppets, while each contributing their own over-the-top quirkiness.
Audiences young and old will enjoy Muppets Most Wanted. It doesn’t quite reach the level of 2011’s The Muppets, but you would have to be a grinch to not have a good time. Muppets Most Wanted is a fun, family-friendly film that will leave you smiling, laughing and tapping your toes at all their crazy antics.
