The Muppets (2011)
December 15, 2020 8:42 PM - Subscribe
When Walter, a puppet who is the world's most devoted Muppet fan, learns that the Muppet Theater is slated for demolition, he urges Kermit to gather all the Muppets together again to put on a Muppet telethon in order raise the $10 million they need to save the day.
The Muppets premiered at the Savannah Film Festival and was released theatrically in North America on November 23, 2011, by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing $165 million worldwide on a budget of $45 million and garnering praise for its humor, screenplay, and music. The film won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for McKenzie's song "Man or Muppet", as well as garnering BAFTA and Critic's Choice Awards nominations.
The movie stars Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones, Jack Black (though under duress), Zach Galifianakis, Jim Parsons, Ken Jeong, Alan Arkin, Bill Cobbs, Eddie Pepitone, Kristen Schaal, Eddie "Piolín" Sotelo, Donald Glover, Sarah Silverman, Dahlia Wangort, Michael Albala, Aria Noelle Curzon, and features cameos by Emily Blunt, James Carville, Leslie Feist, Whoopi Goldberg, Selena Gomez, Dave Grohl, Neil Patrick Harris, Judd Hirsch, John Krasinski, Rico Rodriguez, Mickey Rooney, and David Bobin.
The Muppets premiered at the Savannah Film Festival and was released theatrically in North America on November 23, 2011, by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing $165 million worldwide on a budget of $45 million and garnering praise for its humor, screenplay, and music. The film won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for McKenzie's song "Man or Muppet", as well as garnering BAFTA and Critic's Choice Awards nominations.
The movie stars Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones, Jack Black (though under duress), Zach Galifianakis, Jim Parsons, Ken Jeong, Alan Arkin, Bill Cobbs, Eddie Pepitone, Kristen Schaal, Eddie "Piolín" Sotelo, Donald Glover, Sarah Silverman, Dahlia Wangort, Michael Albala, Aria Noelle Curzon, and features cameos by Emily Blunt, James Carville, Leslie Feist, Whoopi Goldberg, Selena Gomez, Dave Grohl, Neil Patrick Harris, Judd Hirsch, John Krasinski, Rico Rodriguez, Mickey Rooney, and David Bobin.
My second favorite Muppet film after the original Muppet Movie. I wish Jason Segel would do another one.
posted by Clustercuss at 7:25 AM on December 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Clustercuss at 7:25 AM on December 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
As someone who can never decide if I am a Muppet of a man or a very manly Muppet, this movie speaks to me. I also note that Walter has become a permanent part of the gang in subsequent Muppet outings.
posted by briank at 8:17 AM on December 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by briank at 8:17 AM on December 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
I have a semi-clear memory of watching this in a theatre with my sister (we grew up on the muppets! Thanks Mom, for those scratchy VHS copies taped off of 80's TV, commercials mostly intact!) and being filled with utter, pure joy. A classic.
posted by kalimac at 9:27 AM on December 16, 2020
posted by kalimac at 9:27 AM on December 16, 2020
We recently watched this one and Muppets Most Wanted with my 5 year old. A good time was had by all!
posted by Lawn Beaver at 9:30 AM on December 16, 2020
posted by Lawn Beaver at 9:30 AM on December 16, 2020
Kermit the Frog: [to a nervous Scooter] Do what I do... imagine the audience naked.
Neil Patrick Harris: [to a caller during the telethon] How come I'm not hosting this?
Jack Black, who is about to be abducted by the Muppets: Animal, what are you doing here?
Animal: ...acting... naturaaaal.
During an interview with Terry Gross on her National Public Radio program "Fresh Air," Jason Segel said that during filming, he observed the choreographer, Michael Rooney, giving instructions to the classic movie star Mickey Rooney (who had a cameo in the movie) and calling him "Dad." Segel went up to Michael and reprimanded him, saying "you can't just call any old man 'Dad,'" and Michael told Segel, "no, he's my actual Dad."
Though I wish they hadn't reused the whole "evil financier tries to take away the Muppet Theater" plot, this is one of the best Muppet movies. I'd say it's just about as good as the first one. The "going montage", "travelling by map", Miss Piggy's important work being her choosing between doughnuts, and Pepe and Miss Piggy trying to do lifts to "I've Had the Time of My Life" -- heh! Walter's such a cute new character, and his whistling is flat out beautiful. The music was especially strong in this film. I loved "Having a Me Party".
I must admit I sang along with the Muppet opening theme and "Mahna Mahna", and that I almost coveted Walter's Kermit watch.
posted by orange swan at 10:31 AM on December 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
Neil Patrick Harris: [to a caller during the telethon] How come I'm not hosting this?
Jack Black, who is about to be abducted by the Muppets: Animal, what are you doing here?
Animal: ...acting... naturaaaal.
During an interview with Terry Gross on her National Public Radio program "Fresh Air," Jason Segel said that during filming, he observed the choreographer, Michael Rooney, giving instructions to the classic movie star Mickey Rooney (who had a cameo in the movie) and calling him "Dad." Segel went up to Michael and reprimanded him, saying "you can't just call any old man 'Dad,'" and Michael told Segel, "no, he's my actual Dad."
Though I wish they hadn't reused the whole "evil financier tries to take away the Muppet Theater" plot, this is one of the best Muppet movies. I'd say it's just about as good as the first one. The "going montage", "travelling by map", Miss Piggy's important work being her choosing between doughnuts, and Pepe and Miss Piggy trying to do lifts to "I've Had the Time of My Life" -- heh! Walter's such a cute new character, and his whistling is flat out beautiful. The music was especially strong in this film. I loved "Having a Me Party".
I must admit I sang along with the Muppet opening theme and "Mahna Mahna", and that I almost coveted Walter's Kermit watch.
posted by orange swan at 10:31 AM on December 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
I love this movie and I love that it had Mickey Rooney in it.
posted by bq at 11:35 AM on December 16, 2020
posted by bq at 11:35 AM on December 16, 2020
It needed more Clifford.
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 6:31 AM on December 17, 2020
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 6:31 AM on December 17, 2020
Maniacal laaaaaugh! Maniacal laaaaaugh!
posted by schoolgirl report at 3:29 PM on December 17, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by schoolgirl report at 3:29 PM on December 17, 2020 [2 favorites]
At the end of "I'm Tex Richman" the backup dancers go back into a tiny side room, visibly bored, and just as the door closes, you see one of them start to eat some SunChips. My spouse finds SunChips very boring and thinks this detail is perfect and hilarious. I love it because he loves it.
posted by brainwane at 8:50 PM on December 17, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by brainwane at 8:50 PM on December 17, 2020 [2 favorites]
Yes, I loved the concept that they were employed just to sit around all day until Tex wanted to sing his song for 60 seconds.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:21 AM on December 18, 2020
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:21 AM on December 18, 2020
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posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:18 AM on December 16, 2020