The Muppets Mostly Spoiler Free Review

By Nick

I've written on this blog about how I grew up watching the Muppets, both the show and all of their movies and of course I also love Muppet*Vision 3-D.

There has been a lot of talk about the new television show The Muppets, on ABC Tuesday's at 8PM, somehow ruining the Muppets by making them too adult.

Having watched the 1st episode this past Tuesday night, I have to say I disagree. 

The new show is a mockumentary-style series that follows the personal and professional lives of the gang as they work on a late night show hosted by Miss Piggy.

There are some jokes that some may find questionable, some of which that may even be over the heads of grown ups, nevermind kids.

But I've always felt the Muppets were edgier than their relatives on Sesame Street, and feel the new show is a natural next step. Let's put it this way. I view the Muppets as actors and actresses and think of this as a TV show about the Muppets playing a more adult version of the Muppets.They are still THE MUPPETS.

Another complaint was The Muppets lacked any sweetness. I disagree with this as well. Without giving too much away, a certain couple has broken up, and the plot addresses this in a way that perhaps comes off as flippant, but as the show goes on, you realize a certain pig really was upset about this turn of events.

As my fellow blogger, Disney Exchange Podcast co-host and friend Lisa Green said "I grew up with the Muppets and now they've finally grown up too!"
I  couldn't agree more. 

Did you see The Muppets and what did you think?

Muppets Most Wanted : Mostly Spoiler Free Review

by: Nick

I grew up with The Muppet Show and the Muppet Movies in the 1970s and 1980s.

2011's The Muppets was a wonderful return. So I was really excited to see Muppets Most Wanted, which opened Friday, despite the fact it was not going to star Jason Segel, who was instrumental in making The Muppets so great. I've been purposely avoiding reading too much about Muppets Most Wanted, so as not to be spoiled, but did catch a snippet or two of reviews stating that the newest Muppets fell short of The Muppets. In a nod to the high expectations of this follow up to that instant classic, Most Wanted, which literally begins immediately where The Muppets ends, acknowledges the fact that sequels rarely live up to the original in it's own opening musical number, aptly named "We're Doing a Sequel." By the way, if you are keeping track, this is actually the 7th sequel to the original original, The Muppet Movie.

Most Wanted doesn't have the heart that Muppets had, and the songs are not as memorable, though, upon listening to the soundtrack, which I bought on iTunes as soon as I got home, they are starting to be.

Not once did I shed a tear (several, actually) like I did in Muppets. But what both Barbie and I did do was laugh. A lot. I actually think that Most Wanted is a funnier film than Muppets. It's more along the lines of one of the Muppets earlier caper type movies, and I look forward to seeing it again, as I was laughing over some of the dialogue.

My one complaint, I'd like to have seen more of Ty Burrell, who stars as Phil, my favorite character on one of my favorite sitcoms, Modern Family, as French Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon, who teams up with my favorite Muppet, Sam Eagle, to solve a crime spree.

Is Muppets Most Wanted better the The Muppets? No. But it's just as good, in it's own way, in my humble opinion.

As a bonus, there is an animated short before Muppets Most Wanted  titled Party Central, featuring the characters of Monsters University, that manages to pack in more laughs in a few minutes than all 1 hour and 42 minutes of the Monsters University feature film. It alone is worth the ticket price.

by: Barbie

Ty Burrell starring as an Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon with Sam Eagle.

A match made in heaven! These two should be be in multiple buddy movies!  

I was amazed to hear that many people who saw this movie before us were panning it. Maybe that was why I was so happy with it. This movie had me laughing out loud in the movie theater with the anonymous people sitting all around me. We were all having a great time, and I was so happy we were.

The Muppets Most Wanted reminded me of the classic Pink Panther, Abbott and Costello and Dirty Dozen type movies my Dad and I would watch when I was younger. People mention an emotional connection, but really, it's not necessary. It was fine to have a fun slapstick comedy without any tears!

Thank you Muppets. I had a great time laughing with you again!

Are You a Man or a Muppet? (From 12/13/11)

By: Barbie

Have you seen "The Muppets"? As soon as I saw Walter I fell in love. The movie is a great "return to the big-screen" for the Muppets. There are big singing numbers, all the favorite characters and some new ones to boot! I hope we will be seeing a lot of Walter in the future.

Walter is a "Smalltown" boy who dreams of meeting the Muppets. He also struggles with his identity, not really fitting in with the world around him. He believes that he may fit in better with the Muppets. When his twin brother Gary and his girlfriend plan a trip out to California, Walter is invited to join along to tour the Muppet Studios.

Walter, the Muppets biggest fan, is a character who is sweet, sincere and pure of heart. The relationship between Gary and Walter is a heartwarming one, they truly look out for each other. Gary, his girlfriend and Walter eventually help to save the run down and abandoned Muppet Studios, but the movie is about the relationships people and Muppets have with themselves and each other, and the love for their families. That love never ends.