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After the Muppets made their big-screen comeback in 2011’s The Muppets, it became clear that audiences still loved Jim Henson’s singing, dancing, death-defying performing puppets. Now they’re back in Muppets Most Wanted, defying the laws of Hollywood with an adventure that’s even better than its predecessor.
Muppets Most Wanted picks up where the last movie left off. Now that the gang is back together, they need to decide what to do next. And that’s when they’re approached by Dominic Badguy (Ricky Gervais), a tour manager who convinces them to go on an international tour.
Of course, the tour is all just a part of the evil plan that Dominic is managing for his boss, Constantine, the most dangerous frog in the world. And when Constantine breaks out of a Siberian Gulag and trades places with Kermit, the Muppets’ fearless leader ends up behind bars while Constantine uses the Muppets’ tour as a diversion in his quest to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London.
Though the opening song of Muppets Most Wanted openly proclaims that the sequel is never as good as the original, this follow-up manages to top the Muppets’ 2011 comeback with more action, more laughs, and more fun in general. While the previous film was a bit melancholy, sometimes putting a little too much focus on characters’ loneliness and old hurts, this one is much more playful, focusing instead on the music, the gags, and the Muppets’ comic capers. There’s rarely a break in this wildly funny adventure, as Dominic and Constantine thieve their way across Europe, Kermit helps direct the Gulag’s prison revue, and the Muppets’ performances begin to spin wildly out of control.
But it’s more than just action-packed; it’s also hilariously clever. As is often the case with the Muppets, the dialogue is smarter than the average kids’ movie. The writing—both spoken and sung—is loaded with witty puns and subtle references meant just for older members of the audience. And those gags rarely fall flat.
Meanwhile, Muppets Most Wanted is once again loaded with celebrity cameos. While Gervais, Ty Burrell, and Tina Fey have meatier roles, the film plays out like an Easter egg hunt of celebrities, with wacky blink-and-you’ll-miss-‘em appearances by everyone from Tom Hiddleston to Stanley Tucci. There’s even a waltzing Christoph Waltz—and a singing, dancing Danny Trejo. And while most kids won’t probably won’t recognize Tony Bennett or Ray Liotta, grown-ups will enjoy picking the famous faces out of the crowd.
With its action-packed story, its celebrity cameos, and its catchy musical numbers, Muppets Most Wanted is a fun-filled adventure that’s perfect for the whole family. Be sure to catch these felt fugitives at your local theater—before they get away.
Blu-ray Review:
Fans of Muppets Most Wanted may have some pretty high expectations for the Blu-ray release of this clever Muppets caper. But apart from three versions of the film (including the Statler & Waldorf Cut and the Unnecessarily Extended Cut), you’ll find just a few extras.
The Longer Longest Blooper Reel in Muppets History is, in fact, pretty long. Almost 10 minutes long. It features some goofs, plenty of Muppets wackiness, and a whole lot of Ricky Gervais giggling. Rizzo’s Biggest Fan is a short clip in which Rizzo the Rat sends the filmmakers an anonymous letter, petitioning to see more of Rizzo in the film. But perhaps the most amusing extra is the appropriately cheesy music video for “I’ll Get You What You Want (Cockatoo in Malibu),” performed by music supervisor / songwriter Bret McKenzie (whose Flight of the Conchords partner, Jemaine Clement, also has a part in the film).
Unfortunately, the Unnecessarily Extended Edition Blu-ray release is surprisingly (and perhaps unnecessarily) light on special features—but that just means that you have no excuse for skipping them. So once you finish re-watching this hilarious Muppets adventure, be sure to check out the extras, too.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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