BadAss Movies of BadAssness: The Muppets

 In 2011, The Muppets were pretty much a dead property. In the 70s, 80s and early 90s The Muppets were on top of everything. Chart topping songs, a hit TV show, tons of merchandise, and a bunch of movies. The Muppets were everywhere until...they weren't. Disney has a Midas Touch so to speak, unfortunately, it's the Midas Touch of Death as most properties they get their hands on they amusement park the hell out of it. Most of their scripts were (and arguably still are) half-assed garbage that they could just toss on DVD and call it a day. Most parents don't give a shit what it is. It says Disney, it says Moana 45, it'll shut at least 1 child up for 90 minutes...that's a blessing. So the market was there (arguably still is) and Disney just screwed up the muppets. They tried to modernize the TV show; several direct to dvd bullshit Kermit movies; and really bad made for TV movies. 

Then, in 2011, Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller helped write a new Muppets movie. They got James Bobin to direct. Amy Adams, Jason Segel, and Chris Cooper all starred in it, and they got a slew of great cameos. Basically, they made The Muppets badass again. The Muppets is the story of Walter, a muppet of a man, who has grown up his whole life with his brother Gary in small town, USA. They fell in love with The Muppets at an early age, and when they got older, they decided to go to the Muppets Stage Tour in L.A. (coinciding of course with Gary's 10th anniversary to his girlfriend). 

When Walter finds out that Tex Richman, the new owner of the Muppets Stage, decides to tear it all down and dig for oil beneath the ruins, it's up to Walter and company to gather The Muppets, and save the stage from total annihilation...by of course throwing a Muppet Telethon where they'll totally raise 10 million dollars, lol. 

It's a ridiculous plot, but do you expect anything different from The Muppets? I remember when I first saw this movie, I thought it was hysterical. Watching it now, 14 years later, I still enjoy it but, it's not as funny as some of the older Muppet films. There are still some truly great moments in the movie, and I do still enjoy it. I'm not laughing at every joke, but there are still some gags that get me. Hobo Joe this time around really struck me. Zach Galifinakis is hilarious. The songs in the film are still really fun. I love, "Me Party," by Amy Adams. I also really enjoy "Man or Muppet?" It's such a silly song about finding out, who you are, and choosing who you want to be. Looking at yourself in the mirror are you Muppet of a Man? Or are you a very manly Muppet? After that song, I feel like I'm a Muppet of a Man. 

You can tell everyone on set really enjoyed making the movie. It translates onto the screen. Everyone making this movie, loved The Muppets and wanted to make something special and it really shows. There are some flicks that just feel like joyless cash grabs. This is not one of those films. The Muppets is colorful, whimsical, nonsensical, and at times quite moving as it's about a family that, over the years, fell apart for one reason or another and, it's tough, to hear Kermit singing about, can we do it all again? Can we forgive the things we said? Can we come back together again, and make something special once more? It's the heart of this movie, that I feel is what makes it work. 

Is this the best Muppet movie? No. Is it a good addition to the family? Hell yeah! The Muppets is badass because it's a film that fucking tries, and it's a film, about just that: trying. Making an attempt. Getting a bunch of weirdo friends together and just fucking trying to make something awesome. Putting your heart and soul into something, and whether it fails or not, standing by what you've done. The Muppets is a badass family film that I think audiences young and old can enjoy.