SCORE: B+
The 8th theatrical Muppets movie is good. A funny film that is good for all ages.
I’m not sure which of the new Muppet movies I like better. Probably the 2011 one, but this one is still pretty good (my favorite will always be 1992’s “The Muppet Christmas Carol”). They go a bit over the top in the first 5 minutes with a whole song-and-dance number about the fact the this film is a sequel. It’s funny, but unnecessary.
My favorite thing about the flick was watching Sam Eagle do his investigator thing with Ty Burrell, who I’d never heard of before, so I didn’t know that he was a known actor. They’re scenes are pretty funny. Ricky Gervais and Tina Fey are also both great.
“Muppets Most Wanted” is more globe-trotting than any of its predecessors, which I liked a lot.
One of the most fun things about Muppets films is trying to pick out which actors show up, from singers Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, and Sean Combs, to Zach Galifianakis, Josh Groban, Salma Hyek, Ray Liotta, James McAvoy Stanley Tucci, and Danny Trejo (as Danny Trejo) among many others. Here’s a list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muppets_Most_Wanted
I was raised in the early ‘80s, during the decline of the Muppet’s original popularity, so it’s interesting to me to see the emergence of the Muppet’s popularity again. It’s kind of like watching the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles show. I was raised during the TMNT’s original popularity, I was pleased to see them come back again in the early 2000s, and now they’re really coming back strong with the new Nickelodean show. It’s a fun process to witness.