The Muppets

Directed by James Bobin

Produced by David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman

Written by Jason Segel, Nicholas Stoller

Starring Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones

Music by Christophe Beck

Cinematography Don Burgess

Editing by James M. Thomas

Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures

Release date November 23, 2011

Running time 98 minutes

About the movie:  The Muppets is the first Muppets theatrical release in 12 years, as well as the first Disney-produced Muppets film since 1996's Muppet Treasure Island. The film features six new musical numbers and three classic Muppet songs which are "The Muppet Show Theme", "Rainbow Connection" and "Mah Nà Mah Nà."



On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world's biggest Muppet fan (also a Muppet himself), his brother Gary and his brother's girlfriend Mary, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman to raze Muppet Theater and drill for oil!  To save the theatre, Walter, Gary and Mary have to track down the Muppets to stage a telethon (they need $10 million to save the theatre).



The cast:

Jason Segel as Gary
Amy Adams as Mary
Chris Cooper as Tex Richman
Rashida Jones as Veronica Martin
Alan Arkin as a tour guide
Jack Black as himself
Emily Blunt as Miss Piggy's receptionist
Bill Cobbs as Grandfather
Zach Galifianakis as Hobo Joe
Donald Glover as a Junior CDE executive


The cameos:


James Carville
Leslie Feist as herself
Whoopi Goldberg as herself
Selena Gomez as herself
Katy Perry as herself
Dave Grohl as Animool
Zach Galifianakis as "Hobo Joe"
Neil Patrick Harris as himself
Judd Hirsch as himself
John Krasinski as himself
Jim Parsons as Walter's human form
Rico Rodriguez as himself
Mickey Rooney as a Smalltown USA resident
Kristen Schaal as an Anger Management group moderator
Sarah Silverman as a greeter

My take:  This movie might have been described as "the most cameos ever in a movie."  It seemed like there was yet another cameo around every corner of the script, which only added to the delightfulness of the return of our beloved Muppets to the theatre.   Now, many of you know I was not allowed to watch T.V. growing up, but even I know who the Muppets are.  Miss Piggy, Kermit, Gonzo, Rowlf the Dog, The Swedish Chef, Fozzie the Bear and so many more are beloved parts of my childhood.  And now I was able to introduce them to my own daughter when Disney sent me and her good friend (with his mom) to watch the movie before it came out.

Hard to believe, but Jason Segel (of some definitely R rated movies) has written a touching and believable movie about getting the whole gang back together again. Some of the funniest scenes were finding where they had all ended up: Fozzie Bear was performing with a group of Muppet impersonators, the Moopets, in Reno, Nevada; Gonzo was become a powerful plumbing magnate; Animal was in a celebrity anger-management clinic (with his anger sponsor - Jack Black!); and Miss Piggy was in Paris working for Vogue magazine as the plus size editor.  They all go back to the Muppets Theatre to run a telethon to save it. Hilarity ensues and of course, many new Muppets songs (it is a musical after all).  My daughter's favorite part was Kermit's "Rainbow Connection" (my all time favorite Muppets song).  This is a movie you will want to see again and again, and have a blast sharing your favorite Muppets with a new generation.

This post was written for Walt Disney Studios and Allied-THA [Allied Integrated Marketing (Allied) and Terry Hines and Associates (THA)] PR. I was not compensated in any way except for a complimentary preview viewing of the movie (4 seats).