Somehow the world is just a better place with The Muppets in it. “Muppets Most Wanted” marks the eighth Muppet theatrical movie and the second since their successful 2011 reboot “The Muppets.”
Gone is Jason Segel the driving force behind the Muppets reunion, but most of the creative team from “The Muppets” is back, including his writing partner Nicholas Stoller and director James Bobin. Oh right, and don’t forget Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzy, Gonzo, and the rest of the iconic crew.
The plot involves an evil Kermit doppelganger who takes over the Muppets in order to perpetrate several jewel heists across Europe while Kermit rots away in a Siberian gulag. Confusion and mayhem ensue.
With all the pieces in place, there are a few key things that are important to a good Muppet movie. First, in addition to the requisite slew of celebrity cameos, you need some solid human actors, and “Muppets Most Wanted” comes through with the fantastic trio of Ricky Gervais as Evil Kermit’s right-hand man, Ty Burrell as an INTERPOL detective, and Tina Fey as the warden of the gulag.
Next, you need some quality musical numbers, which this movie has in spades, mixed with some classic Muppet self-awareness (the movie begins with a song about making a sequel) and you’re set.
What’s great about the Muppets is that you know you are in good hands and whether it’s puns about pigs or hardened criminals performing “A Chorus Line,” all the jokes land or at least elicit a smile for the effort.
The Muppets are so ingrained into our pop culture that everyone knows what to expect when they deliver the goods (and if you don’t I want to give you a hug and tell you we’re all very sorry about your clearly terrible childhood).
When the Muppets do their thing and do it well, like they do in “Muppets Most Wanted,” it’s like mixing chocolate with peanut butter. I don’t have to tell you how good it is because you already know.
Just go see the thing already; you know you’re going to love it. And while you’re at it, maybe buy a ticket for any Muppet neophytes you come across, their life has been hard enough as it is.
“Muppets Most Wanted” is rated PG for some mild action.
