LAMORINDA WEEKLY | 'Muppets Most Wanted'


Photo provided

Thus far 2014 looks like the year for kids' films: "Lego," which broke box office numbers, then "Mr. Sherman & Peabody" and now Hollywood has released "Muppets Most Wanted."

The previous Muppets movie, "The Muppets" released in 2011, grossed over $86 million at the U.S. box office and was made on a $45 million budget. What does that mean? Sequel! "Muppets Most Wanted" revolves around the Muppets themselves instead of the humans as was the case in "The Muppets" - Jason Segel and Amy Adams do not return in this sequel.

In "Muppets Most Wanted" the tone is set quickly in the opening musical number, as they poke fun at themselves with the music line "Everyone knows that the sequel's never quite as good" - classic Jim Henson humor. The line probably refers to the 1999 Muppet flop, "Muppets From Space." From that musical number on, I knew I was in for an enjoyable 1 hour and 52 minutes.

The Muppets are on a world tour and get caught up in an international jewelry heist as they deal with a Kermit the Frog look-a-like, the impostor, Constantine. The 40-plus year olds in the audience will appreciate the return of a more classic Jim Henson style dialogue and screenplay. Some of the children will not get the humor but neither did we as kids, which is okay. They will love the vibrant colors and the loveable puppet characters they see on the big screen that were created over 40 years ago on PBS.

The human supporting roles in the film include Ty Burrell ("Modern Family"), as a very funny Clouseau-like Interpol agent; Ricky Gervais ("The Office" (UK), "Extras") as Dominic Badguy, Constantine's criminal sidekick; and Tina Fey ("30 Rock") as a Russian prison guard. Also, as with the classic Muppets shows, the movies have several cameo appearances - Celine Dion, Lady Gaga, Salma Hayek, and Usher, to name a few.

Some may say they miss the humans as the leads, but I say it's the Muppets' movie and I'm glad the focus has returned to be on them. "Muppets Most Wanted" is rated PG.

Derek Zemrak is a film critic, film producer and founder of the California Independent Film Festival. You can follow Derek on Twitter @zemrak for the latest Hollywood news. Derek can be heard every Friday on KAHI 950AM on the Poppoff Show.