#5 - The Muppets

As a youngster, 'The Muppet Show' often graced the Edwards family screen, almost by accident when there was nothing else on; 'The Muppet Babies' were a Saturday morning staple, and 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' came out at least once a year, normally, coincidentally, in December. It's been 12 years since the Muppets last graced the big screen, in the moderately well-received 'Muppets in Space', so understandably, it was with some trepidation that I attended the new movie, wondering whether or not this was going to destroy those memories.

The trailer that leaked a good few months ago was pure genius and gave a strong indication of what was to come. Everything has been thought out and planned meticulously for this comeback and it is clear that the cast and crew really cared about making this movie something worth doing.

The story centres around Walter, his brother Gary (Jason Segel) and Gary's girlfriend, Mary (Amy Adams) who go to Hollywood, primarily for Gary and Mary's anniversary. Walter is a huge fan of the Muppets and is distraught to discover their old studios are now long forgotten by the public. He also discovers in a knowingly contrived twist, with one wink to the audience, that oil tycoon Tex Richman (played by a gloriously evil Chris Cooper) is going to destroy the Muppet theatre to drill for oil. Walter, along with Gary and Mary, need to get the Muppets back together to raise the money to prevent Richman from carrying out his evil plan.

NOT an advert for safe driving.

Wonderfully ridiculous as it sounds, it is a movie full of heart, humour and most of all, nostalgia. It has to be said, the parents will probably enjoy this more than their kids. Each character is reintroduced well, to help the new audiences, but keeping all the quirks and personalities built up over the last 35 years to keep the oldies happy. We see Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Animal, Fozzie Bear - and learn all about what has happened to them in the interim.

The cast attack the movie with aplomb and right from the start, Segel and Adams win us over, with fun songs and dance routines. Adams is never better than when she's playing the naive and innocent leading lady (see 'Enchanted') and Segel, who co-wrote the movie, is endearing and loveable. But from the start, it is Walter that we warm to, in all his Muppet wonder. As he realises throughout the movie that he has more in common with the Muppets than he does with his brother, and starts to understand why he didn't ever feel he fit in before, the story is tinged with an element of sadness, but ultimately hope and happiness.

Everything is quite predictable once the set up has begun but this doesn't take away from the fun and by the end a grin should by finding its way onto your face. From Chris Cooper's ridiculous rap to a couple of cute cameos, including Whoopi Goldberg and Selena Gomez, the film continues to throw up some nice little surprises. When the Muppets play out their exit song, and the whole cast get involved with the 'Me na me nas', you surely cannot help but feel overwhelmed with how wonderful a world that contains Muppets is.

Lowdown: By no means perfect, but a fun, entertaining and joyful ride, and a lovely way to reintroduce some old friends to a 21st century world.

Score: 8/10