Muppets Most Wanted
Director: James Bubin
Cast: Steve Whitmire, Eric Jacobson, Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta, David Rudman, Matt Vogel, Peter Linz, Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, Tina Fey, Jemaine Clement, Celine Dion, Tom Huddleston, Ray Liotta, Danny Trejo, Stanley Tucci
Rating: (PG)
3 stars (out of 5)
The Muppets have not been on our televisions for some time, but they have enough residual affection that parents are happy take their children along to any Muppet movie.
Muppets Most Wanted (Rialto), a sequel to the 2011 reboot film The Muppets, starts where the last one left off and quickly leads into a song pondering what to do in the sequel, although the song is quick to point out that this is technically not a sequel as it is the 10th Muppet movie, and thus the template is set with Bret McKenzie's songs being sharper and wittier than the lumbering script.
The Muppets decide to capitalise on their rejuvenated fame by going on an European tour.
They hire tour manager Dominic Badguy (Ricky Gervais), who urges them to dream big.
While the Muppets take Badguy at face value, we find out all is not as it seems: Badguy (the name is a pretty big clue) is actually Number Two to Constantine, the world's most evil frog.
With Badguy's help, Constantine manages to swap identities with Kermit, and Kermit ends up in a Russian gulag.
Can Kermit get out of the gulag?
Will Miss Piggy marry Constantine, thinking he is Kermit? You will just have to go see the movie.
Best thing: Celine Dion battling it out with Miss Piggy for dominance of a Celine Dion-style power ballad.
Worst thing: It takes ages to get going and never really establishes a rhythm as it chops between locations.
See it with: People who grew up with The Muppet Show.
