April 7, 2014

 

Though it’s a sequel to the 2011 The Muppets, it’s really the eighth in the Muppets franchise. I have to admit I was leery of this one, as I’m not a big fan of Ricky Gervais, but I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy it. But, I can’t be that surprised, as it is the Muppets, and the Muppets are awesome.

 

The film picks up where The Muppets left off. Straight off the success of their comeback, the muppets find themselves at a loss of what to do next. Dominic Badguy (Gervais), an agent, suggests the crew tour Europe. However, he has an alternate agenda. He works for Constantine, the world’s most dangerous criminal and a dead ringer for Kermit. The two devise a plan that involves Constantine breaking out of prison – run by Nayda (Tina Fey) and then a switch-er-roo with Kermit in the streets of Berlin. Kermit is captured and send to the prison Gulag. He insists that it’s been a big mistake and tries to escape several times, each time thwarted by Nayda. She then puts him in charge of the prison’s talent show.

 

Meanwhile, Constantine infiltrates the Muppets impersonating Kermit and pretty poorly at that. He even convinces Miss Piggy that he finally wants to get married, with a pretty hysterical song “I’ll Get You What You Want (A Cockatoo in Malibu).” Everyone falls for it, except Animal. Together with Badguy, Constantine manages to book all the shows at places where they will steal art. As the shows go on, the two disappear to break in. Close on their trail is Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon (Ty Burrell) and CIA Agent Sam Eagle. Constantine and Badguy’s ultimate goal – the Crown Jewels.

 

As the two get closer to the prize, Walter overhears Badguy paying a local paper for a good review. Together with Fozzie Bear and Animal, they confront Constantine. He attacks them, but they manage to escape and form a plan to break Kermit out of prison. As they go off to save Kermit, Constantine tells Miss Piggy he wants to get married at their show in London.

 

As in all Muppet films, everything works out. The crew breaks Kermit out of prison during the talent show. They bring down Badguy and Constantine and the gang is all back together again. The film had its ups and downs. The songs really made it though, as each one was unique and pretty funny. A lot of the scenes and dialogue went right over the heads of the kids in the audience, but I guess that’s just the way the Muppets always were, we just never noticed because we were kids.

 

Since it’s one of a handful of kids’ films out there, I recommend catching it.