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Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones, Steve Whitmire ... see more see more... , Eric Jacobson , Dave Goelz , Bill Barretta , Peter Linz , Alan Arkin , Bill Cobbs , Zach Galifianakis , Ken Jeong , Jim Parsons , Ed Pepitone , Kristen Schaal , Sarah Silverman , Eddie "Piolin" Sotelo , Raymond Ma , Tuan Shu Lan , Donald Glover , Dahlia Waingort , Jonathan Palmer , Don Yanan , Michael Albala , Julia Marie Franzese , Gunnar Smith , Connor Gallagher , Justin Marco , Cameron Kasal , Justin Tinucci , Alex Jackson Long , Aria Noelle Curzon , David Rudman , Matt Vogel

On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world's biggest Muppet fan, and his friends Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chri... read more read more...s Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets' former stomping grounds. To stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate. -- (C) Walt Disney

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81% liked it

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96% liked it

203 critics

PG, 1 hr. 42 min.

Directed by: James Bobin

Release Date: November 23, 2011

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DVD Release Date: March 20, 2012

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Flixster Reviews (8,644)

  • hunterjt13
    May 14, 2013
    hunterjt13
    The Muppets must reunite to put on a show and save their theater.
    Like The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle a few years ago, The Muppets cashes in on its nostalgia, supposing that the audience misses their bygone days. And while I vaguely remember enjoying the show as a child,... read more there isn't much about the original that this film brings back. Whereas The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle had some remarkably funny puns, there isn't much to laugh at here. I chuckled a couple times, mostly at the remarks by the two curmudgeonly spectators, but there weren't any guffaws. Most disappointing were the musical numbers with the exception of Chris Cooper's rap; during her songs it seemed that Amy Adams was forcing a grin, knowing she should look happy. The plot unfolds just as anyone knows it would.
    Overall, I wasn't impressed by this film, but Muppets fans might find something worth liking if only for the nostalgia.
  • FrizzDrop
    October 23, 2012
    FrizzDrop
    Not the gross disaster I was led to believe by some passionate friends, The Muppets is an ode to the begotten ways of the muppets (Marinette-puppets) that have been with with us for nearly fifty years. Originally created by puppeteer Jim Henson, the world of Henson studios has br... read moreanched out into Sesame Street, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and films such as The Dark Crystal, and Labyrinth. The Muppets references many of these facets and has a tone that respects the ways of the old gang while also making them fresh for an entirely new generation of fans. The muppets really needed a reboot, and after twelve years without a theatrical release they won big time with a script by uber fans Jason Segel and Nicolas Stoller. The film warrants comparisons to the first film entitled The Muppet Movie (1979), as this as well is studded with a plethora of guest cameos, contains many songs, and makes in-jokes, references, and stays true to the original vision of these now remembered childhood icons. The take on this is that the muppets have been forgotten by society, and the group has to reform in order to keep their studio from the evil clutches of Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) who wants to drill there for oil. It's a kitschy premise, but one that is mocked throughout. The tone is surprisingly dark for a children's film, which I generally liked, because it wasn't as waylaid as previous films which didn't have the same care and effort. Segel truly is a fan boy, and it's clear he's having a ball while shooting every scene. He and the cast did a bang up job of letting most of the screen time be dominated by the legends themselves, which I found refreshing. His and Amy Adams' performances were a bit hollow in spite of their forced enthusiasm, and though they remained cheery focal points, they didn't add much to the story. (That hurts me to say with Segel's appreciation and love so obvious and abundant.) The songs weren't all great, as evidenced by an evil villain rap from Chris Cooper, but I think they will mostly hold up in the future. It was sincerely enchanting throughout and a great way to introduce kids to a set of performers that haven't truly held the hearts of America since their groundbreaking show in the seventies. I'm glad to see the muppets looking fresh and unyielding to cop outs, thank God.
  • skeletonking101
    August 13, 2012
    skeletonking101
    After the Muppets have been invisible in the cinemas for over 10 years now, so having a new muppet movie come out was a big surprise to me. But now that I've seen it, is my verdict that I think its a fantastic movie that is well worth your time, or do I think that it is a movie t... read morehat you should definitely avoid at all costs? I actually think, it wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be, and it was kind of a disappointment. The film does very good at pulling at your heart strings and make you feel sorry for what happens to the characters, even if there are moments that are a bit iffy in the feelings. The pace of the film is very slow at some parts and it doesn't entertain as much as the past Muppet movies. I don't think it is a bad movie, but it doesn't give as much payoff as it could've been, especially for another Muppet film that I've been waiting to see in the theaters for over 10 years. Its good for kids, and you might be entertained by it, but overall it isn't the best Muppet movie, but it is good, but it isn't the best film I've seen this year.

    2.5*s out of 5
    Review originally written 12/4/11
  • blkbomb
    July 22, 2012
    blkbomb
    Walter: Kermit, you're my hero. You're on my watch. 

    "Muppet Domination"

    I have to admit that I have never been a big fan of the Muppets. It wasn't a big thing when I was growing up, so I never got that into it. With that said, I liked this movie to the extent that I could. Obv... read moreiously, I'm not the target audience for this one. This is for lovers of the Muppets, young and old. People who grew up on these guys will absolutely love the film, but for me, I felt out of the loop. There's a lot of self-referencing jokes and of course I'm not going to get most of them. So, I wasn't able to get everything out of the movie that big fans were. 

    The Muppets follow two brothers, one a puppet, Walter, and the other a human, Gary. They take a trip to LA to see the Muppet studio, which is decrepit. They also learn that an oil tycoon plans to tear it down and drill for oil. So, the two and Gary's longtime girlfriend find and tell Kermit. In order to save the place, they must raise $10 million. In order to do that, Kermit, with the help of the three fans, gets all the Muppets back together to put on a telethon to raise the money. 

    The Muppets was actually a pretty fun time, even for someone like me who isn't familiar with them. There's a huge cast and endless cameos. Jason Segel and Amy Adams are front and stage along with The Muppets themselves. Also making appearances are Emily Blunt, Rashida Jones, Neil Patrick Harris, Jim Parsons, Mickey Rooney, Jack Black and countless more. The movie is pretty big for a children's feature and there's a lot of in-jokes. To the extent that I got the humor, it was actually quite funny.

    I wasn't able to love it to the extent that many others did, but I still feel comfortable saying this is a good film. I'm sure it was a nice piece of nostalgia for all the adults that grew up on it and I'm sure they were happy to shoe it to their kids to maybe get them interested in it. It's a joyous film that the whole family can enjoy and who knows, maybe this is a new start for the Muppet franchise.
  • fb573414556
    July 7, 2012
    fb573414556
    Rarely do I get to say a fim filled me with so much joy it made me feel like a child again, ' The Muppets' does just that, for me it was like an emotional ride through sadness and happiness, I had complete empathy for all the characters and found myself smiling uncontrollably whe... read moren they were and going through all the pain they were.

    There's a wide rnge of cameo apperances that further enhance this film's enjoyability, my favourite of wich was either Neil Patrick Harris or Jim Parsons. If you want to watch something this week in the cinema make it 'The Muppets' because you might just fall in love.
  • samoriley
    July 2, 2012
    samoriley
    It may not live up to the standards of Jim Henson's work before his death. However, it may be a treat for most, espescially for fans of 'The Muppet Show', as it will give quite a strong dose of nostalgia.
  • cosmo313
    June 24, 2012
    cosmo313
    Well, this movie pretty much played out like I exected...and that's maybe the best possible thing I could ask for. Both the film itself, and it's plot are all about how the Muppets WERE great, and how it's a shame no one really remembers or seems to care about them much anymore. ... read moreLike the other Muppet films, there's plenty of meta and self referential humor, a lot of it based on the above mentioned statement about their decline in prominence and popularity.

    The plot follows a guy named Gary and his muppet brother Walter (who doesn't really seem to get that he is indeed a muppet), who are big fans of Jim Henson's creations. Gary has a lovely lady named Mary, who really questions if Gary really cares about her more than he lets on, as he seems to prefer sppending time with Walter to taking their relationship to the next step.

    On a vacation to Hollywood (one that's supposed to celebrate Gary and Mary's 10 year anniversary), Gary and Walter find out that an evil oil tycoon named Tex Richman wants ot buy the old dilapidated Muppet studios so he can demolish it and drill for oil that's supposed to be buried underneath. What follows then is baically a "getting the band back together" quest where they try to reunite the Muppets to put on a telethon to raise the money to keep the studio.

    All in all, I did really like this nostalgic romp. In a few ways, it reminded me of Toy Story 3, except this one wasn't so heavy on the theme of mortality, had a more lighter tone overall, and didn't make me bawl my eyes out, though I did of course tear up a few times. I mean, who can make it through "The Rainbow Connection" and not be moved?


    It's very clear that Jason Segel truly does love The Muppets, and the film is full of all sosrts of references, in jokes, and his deep appreciation, which is why it sucks that his vision ultimately prevented Frank Oz from being involved in any way, mostly do to disagreements about the script and direction of the story. Even without Frank, this is still a nice piece of work, even if it does have some issues, at least for me.

    I know the film is supposed to be fun and campy, but awkward villain songs, especially rap ones, are just really embarassing, painful, and something I'd prefer not to watch. Sorry Chris Cooper. I love you, but never rap again. At least it's a short song, but still. Also, I really loved the direction this film started to take in the last oh, 10 minutes or so, especially when it really started to get mature, bittersweet, and be somewhat of a downer. That was brilliant, and it sucks becuase they didn't go all the way through with it, instead copping out during the END CREDITS! Come on! I hate bringing this up again, but Toy Story 3 had more guts than this, even if I knew that in that film they probably wouldn't totally go through with it either, they at least didn't do a complete 180 degree turnaroiund with the tone. Although, to be fair, the slap in the face that this film does to the audience is kind of funny in retrospect, even if it is a bit disappointing.

    The performance are fine, and I loved seeing the old gang back together. As good as the human character are though, I couldn't help but notice that the humans seemed more artificial and wooden in their performances than the Muppets. I can understand being in on the joke, and acting like it, but this is a bit much. However, I didn't hate their work, cuz it's Amy Adams and Jason Segel- two of the msot likeable people ever. Plus, there's some obviously great cameos too, as per tradition.

    Yeah, I've been a bit hard on this film, but it's hard not to be. That's just how much of an impact and legacy the Muppets have, I don't know what the future holds for the gang, but if nothing happens after this, I can be satisfied with this little return, as it is better than nothing. Plus, my gripes are really just a ton of nitpicking anyway.
  • pingsley
    June 22, 2012
    pingsley
    Mostly met my expectations. My eyes welled up when they sang Rainbow Connection. I'm looking forward to a new generation of muppet films.
  • spielberg00
    June 13, 2012
    spielberg00
    It's interesting that 2011?s THE MUPPETS sets up with a plot about bringing the Muppets back to fame, whilst the film itself is also a marvelous attempt to do the same. Yes, Jim Henson was the creator of Sesame Street as well as The Muppet Show. There is certainly a difference be... read moretween the two franchises. Sesame Street was his attempt to teach younger kids in an appealing way, with friendly monsters. You won't be finding anyone like Elmo or Big Bird in THE MUPPETS, for those who aren't familiar with that separate universe. Henson created the Muppet universe to entertain more, educate less, appeal to kids as well as adults. This is a nice throwback to the wholesome humor Jim Henson loved to deliver to us. There's a distinct divide between silly, frivolous quips that will make those under the age of seven giggle, as well as more poetic humor and pop culture references that only older kids and adults would get.

    It's been quite a long time since I've seen such a joyous family movie. The songs, better yet, helped this film to succeed as a great musical. It even looked like a Broadway musical at many points (and believe me, it pokes fun at these qualities, as well), with ensembles breaking out singing the same thing for an unexplained reason; someone posing sprightly front and center, a bright light shining on them, whilst no one else in the room is paying any attention; et cetera. The Oscar-winning duo "Man or Muppet" between Jason Segel and Peter Linz is astonishing, if nothing else, and the initially obscure appearances of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (in barbershop quartet style) and Cee-Lo Green's "Forget You" (in chicken-clucked style) are both two I would go back and watch the film again for. What am I saying? I might go watch this film again just to feel like a nice, innocent little child for an hour and a half. A pleasant experience.

    Read the rest of the review at themoviefreakblog.com
  • fb100001048934982
    May 15, 2012
    fb100001048934982
    I mean, come on its 'The Muppets'. Its Jason Segel. There are a bunch of celebrity cameos. There is only so much you can complain about with material like this, although there is very little. Kick back and breathe in the nostalgia.

View All The Muppets Reviews

Critic Reviews

Tom Huddleston
February 7, 2012
Tom Huddleston, Time Out

A film bursting at the seams with sheer, unadulterated joy: watch it, and the world seems just that little bit brighter... Full Review

Bilge Ebiri
January 3, 2012
Bilge Ebiri, New York Magazine

It may not entirely work as a movie, but The Muppets shines as a piece of touching pop nostalgia. Full Review

Bruce Diones
December 5, 2011
Bruce Diones, New Yorker

The purity of the nostalgia turns this franchise film into a love letter to childhood. Full Review

Laremy Legel
November 24, 2011
Laremy Legel, Film.com

You can rest easy - if you have previously loved the Muppets, you will likely currently love The Muppets. Full Review

Christopher Orr
November 24, 2011
Christopher Orr, The Atlantic

The chorus of one of the songs declares, 'I've got everything that I need, right in front of me.' For 120 minutes, that's precisely how I felt. Full Review

Glenn Kenny
November 23, 2011
Glenn Kenny, MSN Movies

[Filmmakers] hew close to the essential innocence informing the Muppets' silliness. Full Review

Amy Biancolli
November 23, 2011
Amy Biancolli, San Francisco Chronicle

The Muppets is a triumph of simplicity, innocence and goofy jokes. It's a triumph of felt. Full Review

Tom Charity
November 23, 2011
Tom Charity, CNN.com

A mixed bag then: The Muppets isn't the best or the worst of Kermit's big-screen capers. At least it's a reminder that here's one frog who isn't about to croak. Full Review

Rafer Guzman
November 23, 2011
Rafer Guzman, Newsday

It's nice to see the band back together. And when Kermit busts out the banjo for "Rainbow Connection," you might even go for your lighter. Full Review

Dana Stevens
November 23, 2011
Dana Stevens, Slate

Like Statler and Waldorf, older viewers may kvetch and cavil about the details, but when that red velvet curtain goes up, we wouldn't give up our balcony seats for the world. Full Review

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    • Walter: Wow Gary, I think it's so cool you're taking Mary to Los Angeles! I can't believe you guys have been dating for ten years!
    • Gary: Well, yeah, Mary wanted to do something really special for our 10th anniversary, and she's always wanted to go to Los Angeles!
    • Walter: Make sure and send me a postcard from the muppet studios!
    • Elderly Aisan Woman: Is this Universal studios?
    • Tour Guide: Yes it is.
    • Walter: September? That's almost six months from now!
    • Fozzie Bear: That's nothing. Once, I waited a whole year for September.
    • Mary: Not now eighties robot.
    • Hobo Joe: Why does everybody forget about Hobo Joe?
    • Mary: Gary I've gone home, I love you but you need to decide, are you a man, or a muppet?
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  • Who played Charles Dickens in The Muppets Christmas Carol?  Answer »
  • What 80's musical includes the songs "Together Again", "Saying Goodbye", and "He'll Make Me Happy"?  Answer »
  • Which 1984 Muppets movie featured appearances by Gregory Hines, Brooke Shields, Dabney Coleman, Liza Minnelli and Joan Rivers as a perfume saleswoman?  Answer »
  • In the muppets, little miss piggy's hair is brown  Answer »
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