"Muppets Most Wanted" Review

Muppets Most Wanted

2.5 out of 5 stars

Rated PG: 

A few uses of the word "God" as an expletive
Mild action sequences
Family friendly








The beginning of "Muppets Most Wanted" features a self-fulfilling prophesy when one of the characters says that the sequel is never as good as the first.

If that line sounds familiar, it is because the opening scene was released on the Internet a few weeks before the film's release. While funny, it highlight's the main problem with the film: most of what gets laughs is already in the commercials.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXppfX-mBsE

The story takes place right after the first movie. The Muppets just got done with a really big show, and a man named Dominic Badguy (Ricky Gervais) wants to take them on a world tour. Despite Kermit's reservations, they decide to go.

What they do not know is Badguy's last name describes his character. He works under the world's most evil frog, Constantine, who looks like Kermit in every way except for a mole on his face. Having escaped from a Russian prison, the amphibian super villain kidnaps Kermit and makes him look like Constantine by putting a mole on his face. This makes the police think the beloved hero is an escaped convict, and they throw him in the Siberian prison.

Constantine takes Kermit's place by putting some green cream over his mole and convincing everyone that his Russian accent is there because he's sick. He and Badguy plot to use the world tour to steal various artifacts that go together.

Most of what makes this film comical are the silly songs. There is one in which Constantine talks about how he is above Badguy. Several others occur in the prison. One recurring bit involves a very good singer in the solitary confinement box, who ends up being a celebrity cameo in the end.

There is also a very funny subplot in which Sam the Eagle, who is part of the CIA in this film, and a French intelligence agent, Jean Pierre Napoleon (Ty Burrell), investigate robberies that occur around the venues in which the Muppets perform. It makes fun of the differences between the ways Europeans and Americans do things.

Though there are some funny moments, a lot of the jokes either fall flat or they are already in the advertisements. In fact, I had already seen most of what was funny before going in. There are some good moments, but a majority of the time, it feels like it is trying too hard to get a laugh out.

I also did not like the way it the film sets itself up. Kermit feels sad because he does not think the Muppets respect his feelings. This feels a little forced to me.

I would not recommend seeing it in theatres, but it could be something to check out on Redbox or Netflix, especially for fans of the Muppets.