Fraudulent Friend: A Movie Review of "Muppets Most Wanted"

In 1976, the Muppets made a big name in pop culture with their television show. Then in 1979 The Muppets Movie was released. Thirty-five years later, the 12^th Muppet film was released in 2014, marking a big milestone in Muppet history.

Muppets Most Wanted, the sequel to 2011's The Muppets, had mostly positive reviews. It did well at the box office during the first week of opening, but steadily dropped afterwards. Apart from Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, and all of the Muppets, the film stars Ricky Gervais as Dominic Badguy (pronounced "Badgee," as he clearly states in the movie), Tina Fey as prison guard Nadya, and Ty Burrell as Interpol agent Napoleon.

SUMMARY

   Muppets Most Wanted begins right after the end of The Muppets. The gang sings a song about doing a sequel, but they have no good ideas. That is, until a man named Dominic Badguy suggests them doing a world tour, with himself as tour manager. Kermit is reluctant, but the other Muppets are excited, so he agrees. 

   The Muppets travel to Europe, beginning in Germany. But while they head for Berlin, the world's most dangerous criminal, Constantine the frog, breaks out of a prison in Siberia. What is most astounding about him is that he is almost an exact look-alike to Kermit the Frog.

   While planning their Berlin show, Kermit is frustrated with Miss Piggy's constant assumptions of marriage, as well as ridiculous requests for acts from the other Muppets. Dominic suggests that Kermit goes on a walk, and he hands the frog a map of a route to take.

   In a smog-filled part of the city, he is attacked by Constantine. The evil frog attaches a mole to Kermit's face, making the two look identical. Kermit is taken for Constantine and arrested. He is sent to Siberia.

    Constantine disguises himself as Kermit and impersonates him, effectively taking over the Muppets. During their Berlin show, he and Dominic Badguy use the loud sound effects to mask their attempts to break down a brick wall. They then steal a painting of a Col. Thomas Blood. 

   Later, Interpol agent Napoleon and CIA agent Sam Eagle must work together to discover who stole the painting. Napoleon suspects the "#2 Most Wanted" criminal (The Lemur) as having something to do with the heist. 

   In a Siberian Gulag, Kermit attempts to escape, but he is stopped at every turn by Nadya, the prison guard. He realizes that there is no way out (at least, none that he has thought of), and so, for the time being, he helps her organize a talent show for the inmates.

   Dominic and Constantine meanwhile guide the Muppets' tour to different locations where they plan to steal valuable items, each part of their master plan. The Muppets go to Madrid, Spain, and then head for Dublin, Ireland. 

   In Dublin, the Muppet Walter finds out that Dominic is no such a good guy. And Fozzie Bear, another Muppet, discovers that "Kermit" is not really Kermit. The two, accompanied by drummer Animal, journey to Siberia, in hopes of rescuing Kermit.

   After escaping, Kermit, Walter, Fozzie, and Animal must get to London, where the Muppets are—and where Dominic and Constantine plan to go through with their master robbery!

CONTENT

   The violence in the film is minor, as it is mostly slapstick, and usually directed towards puppets. Towards the beginning, Constantine knocks out some prison guards and blows up a building when he escapes. There are a few punches and smashes, but nothing too graphic. There are a few explosions, but no one is shown dead or injured. 

   There is no outright sexual content. However, Constantine as "Kermit" sings a song to Miss Piggy ("Stick With Me"). He calls her "baby" once or twice. A female prison guard is shown to be in love with Kermit, as she has lots of pictures of him in her locker. She kisses one and passes out. The Muppets are interrogated, and when Miss Piggy is called in for questions, agent Napoleon smiles and flips the table over, creating a romantic table-setting, complete with wine. Some prisoners do a dance number for their talent show in long underwear (but this is like Little House on the Prairie, and not meant to be sensual, I think).  

   There is no bad language. One character says an unfinished, "What the...?"

   During one song, Miss Piggy asks herself, "How can something so right feel so wrong?" It is dangerous when we trust our feelings as our guides, rather than Jesus Christ. God gave us feelings and emotions to use them for good, so there is a right purpose to them. But when they become the thing that leads us, things can get very messy, very fast.

   Muppets Most Wanted has a good moral about friendship. The Muppets mistreat and ignore Kermit, which leads to problems with Dominic, Constantine, and Interpol. When three Muppets discover the truth about Constantine, they take a perilous journey to Siberia to save him (risking their own freedom in the process). 

   The movie has some clean comedy and some catchy songs ("We're Doing a Sequel," "I'm Number One," "The Big House," and "Together Again" are the catchier ones, in my opinion). Tina Fey was hilarious, especially with her Russian accent, and Ty Burrell was great as the Interpol agent.

   Muppets Most Wanted is appropriate for all ages. It wouldn't be my top choice for a family film, but it is a clean comedy, so it is worth watching in that respect. 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Length: 107 minutes

Rating: PG (for some mild action)

Director: James Bobin

Producers: David Hoberman, Todd Hoberman

Music: Christophe Beck (score), Bret McKenzie (music & lyrics)

Year of release: 2014
Primary audience: Kids, Family