Like many in my age group, I grew up watching The Muppets. Last week when I saw the film for the first time, it brought back childhood memories of watching the show with my father. Most who grew up with The Muppets would admit that what’s endearing and enduring about them is their optimistic outlook on the world. We’re just 10 days until the Thanksgiving opening, and over the next 2 weeks, I’ll be sharing interviews, special features, my review, and more.
Last week, I attended a very special LA press junket for the film, and had the opportunity to participate in a roundtable discussion with the director (James Bobin), producers (David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman), music supervisor (Bret McKenzie), and writers (Jason Segel and Nick Stoller). Also joining us were Amy Adams who plays Mary in the film, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and Walter (the new Muppet).
After a 12 year hiatus from the big screen, The Muppets are back! In their latest film, new Muppet Walter, the world’s biggest Muppet fan, his brother Gary (played by Jason Segel) and his girlfriend Mary (played by Amy Adams) are on vacation in LA when they discover the plan of oilman Tex Richman to demolish the Muppet Theater and drill for oil. Walter, Mary, and Gary find Kermit to help reunite the Muppets in order to stage a telethon to raise the money needed to save the theater.
As I mentioned above, the Muppets bring me back to my childhood. Their appeal is in the fact that they’re “a group of people hoping for the best” (director James Bobin). What makes them so inherently loveable is the fact that “we see a bit of ourselves in the Muppets…they are what we were in our childhood.”
The question many of us who grew up with the Muppets have is why they went away. The easy answer is that they went on holiday (Bret Mckenzie). However, producer Todd Lieberman stated that “it’s less about them having gone away as it is that they scaled back.” While the last film, Muppets from Space, was released in 1999, there were several television series, specials, and telefilms released in the interim.
As you may know, Jason Segel and Nick Stoller co-wrote the storyline. Thinking back to the question of where the Muppets have been, they used that as inspiration for the film. A comeback film seemed appropriate to answer that question and others like “what makes a group break up and the bittersweet things that happen when they reunite.” Ultimately, they thought about what the Muppets do best, which is put on a show, and thus the film was born. The story is actually quite simplistic and remains true to Jim Henson and the Muppets experience.
The film closes as grand as it opens, complete with dancing on Hollywood Boulevard. You can likely imagine the logistical challenges of closing such a street to film the scene. Interestingly enough during filming, there was a banner celebrating Jim Henson that is visible during this scene. This was not placed by the creative/production team and producer Todd Lieberman stated that this confirmed how appropriate the timing was for this film and this scene on Hollywood Boulevard.
I can’t imagine a world without the Muppets, yet my children will have their first Muppets encounter this Thanksgiving. The Muppets were really groundbreaking because they set the foundation for much of the comedy you see today. They broke the 4th wall and initiated the type of comedy that is not only slapstick but heartfelt.
The Muppets hit the big screen November 23rd.
No compensation was received for this post. I attended a press junket which helped facilitate this post.
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I remember watching the Muppets growing up, too. I love them and can’t wait to see the movie.
I love the photo of you, Kermit and Miss Piggy.