Movie Review: 'Muppets Most Wanted'

I'd never been a fan of the Muppets, nor did I have much knowledge about them because I spent my childhood watching Doordarshan.

Muppets Most Wanted
U; Comedy
Dir: James Bobbin
Cast: Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey
 

I’d never been a fan of the Muppets, nor did I have much knowledge about them because I spent my childhood watching Doordarshan.

'Muppets Most Wanted' is a lot of fun for kids, and there are a few jokes for adults to cherish as well

When the Muppets movie was announced, I didn’t feel any excitement as such. So the fact that the Muppets Movie entertained me despite having never watched the show bears testimony to how good that film was. It starred Jason Segel and Amy Adams, and it had a series of hilarious skits and loveable lines, and it was one of the most fun movies of that year (2011). Since it was a big hit, it was inevitable that a sequel would follow soon.

So does Muppets Most Wanted live up to its predecessor, or is it just a cash grab by the studio? It’s a bit of both. The sequel doesn’t have Segel and Adams, but it does have the incredible Tina Fey and Rick Gervais in lead roles, who more or less make up for diminishing returns. All of the muppets from the original movie are back, and they’re once again given quirky lines and amusing sub-plots. Director James Bobbin returns as well, and is aware of the pitfalls of a sequel. He balances commercial targets and genuine love for the material with style, and the end result is not at all disappointing, to say the least.

This time around, the plot shifts to Europe after a Russian doppelganger of Kermit the Frog does some mysterious stuff. The sequel is way more action-packed than its charming and slow paced predecessor, and that can be a double-edged sword for the movie.

On the one hand, there’s constantly something funny or interesting happening in the film, and on the other hand, you miss the simple nostalgic tone of the first film. It doesn’t matter much because there is Gervais with his dry deadpan humour that make your sides hurt. He keeps a tight leash on the movie swinging wildly from pop culture gnawing to kiddie humour.

There are plenty of cameos from folks like Tom Hiddleston and Danny Trejo thrown in as a bonus.

It’s a lot of fun for kids, and there are a few jokes for adults to cherish as well. In short, it’s for everyone, and only someone without a functioning heart would dislike the film. So go watch it.

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