There's a Whole Lot to Love in "The Muppets"

If you have ever wondered what Jason Segel would look like as a Muppet, how Cee Lo Green’s hit song, “Forget You,” would sound like performed by by chickens, or really just like “Mahna Mahna” and want to see it on the big screen, then “The Muppets” may be the perfect movie for you.

Written by and starring Segel, most famously known for his work in more adult faire like “How I Met Your Mother,” and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” “The Muppets” manages to accomplish something that few movies can do: it appeals to all age groups and stays PG, despite having a multitude of jokes and 80’s references that will make adults laugh and reminisce.

The movie centers around Walter, a Muppet-like human and fan of The Muppets along with his brother Gary (Segel) and Gary’s girlfriend, Mary (Amy Adams). When Gary invites Walter along to go with him and Mary to Los Angeles, Walter jumps on the chance; after all, Los Angeles is home to Muppet Studios.

Once in Los Angeles, the crew heads to The Muppet Theatre, home to “The Muppet Show,” which ended its run in the 1980s and, unbeknownst to the Muppets, is about to be bought by evil oil tycoon, Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) who plans to tear it down and drill for oil under it.

When Walter finds this out he decides to go find Kermit the Frog, who has been in hiding since “The Muppet Show” ended and try to round up the rest of the Muppets so they can save the Muppet Theatre.

Along the way they round up old friends, including a reluctant Miss Piggy, who had her heart broken by Kermit, and do some singing and dancing.

Like Muppet movies of the past, the movie is full of songs both classic to the Muppets franchise, like “Rainbow Connection” and new songs like “Life’s a Happy Song,” and a cover of “Forget You” by Camilla and the Chickens. It is also full of hilarious cameos, including Neil Patrick Harris, Ken Jeong from “The Hangover,” Jim Parsons, Zach Galifianakis as a hobo, and Emily Blunt who strangely enough nearly reprises her role from “The Devil Wears Prada.”

Although the movie itself is short, clocking in at a mere hour and 38 minutes, “The Muppets” is proceeded in theaters by “Small Fry,” a hilarious new short from Pixar, featuring characters from “Toy Story.”

If you are looking for a film this holiday season that is not in 3-D and that your whole family can enjoy, go see “The Muppets,” you will leave the theatre smiling, regardless of age.

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