The big-screen revival of The Muppets, cleverly titled "The Muppets," is a generally charming exercise in nostalgia. The musical comedy whimsically and often cleverly revisits the characters, their shtick and the TV show and movies that made them most famous.
British TV director James Bobin, a veteran of the wonderfully dry musical comedy series "Flight of the Conchords," and world's biggest Muppet fan Jason Segel have concocted a wistful walk down memory lane that's about, well, a walk down memory lane for The Muppets.
Times have changed, character after character says in the film: "You're relics."
But they're getting The Muppets back together for one last show, a telethon to save their tatty old theater and their old movie studio from a rapacious Texas oilman named Tex Richman, played without the requisite glee by Oscar winner Chris Cooper.
What's cute here is the frame that Segel (who co-wrote the script) built for it. He plays Gary, a goofy guy who grew up with a Muppet brother. Walter (voiced by Peter Linz) never really fit in, couldn't figure out why he wasn't growing like his brother, until the day when he saw his first "Muppets Show."
Here were his people. Here was his kind of entertainment – corny, dated, self-aware.
Cut to their adult years, and Walter comes along with Gary and Gary's longtime bestest gal Mary (Amy Adams) as they sing and dance their way to Hollywood for a visit to Muppet history.
THE MUPPETS
three stars
CAST: Jason Segel, Amy Adams, The Muppets, Jack Black, Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin
DIRECTOR: James Bobin
99 minutes
Rated: PG (some mild rude humor)
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