It’s not easy being…mean? A new frog named Constantine is in town and he is the #1 antagonist in Muppets Most Wanted. The Muppets wrapped up a successful reunion show in Hollywood when all of a sudden they realize that they’re together again for a sequel. What’s next for the Muppet gang? Well, the unsuspecting group fall into the hands of Dominic Badguy (Ricky Gervais of Invention of Lying) who works for Constantine. Dominic becomes the Muppet’s manager who then persuades them to go on an international tour. The eager group have no idea of Dominic’s trickery and become tangled in a dangerous jewel heist!
The Muppets meet Dominic Badguy. Photo Courtesy of Disney.
Our villian, Constantine, joins his side kick Dominic in Berlin after his escape from prison. He carries out his plan by swapping identifies with Kermit. How? First, he’s a Kermit look-alike excluding a few differences: he has a Russian accident, he’s self-centered and he has a huge mole! Second, Kermit feels misunderstood and unappreciated by his friends. He decides to take a walk to clear his head after a disagreement with the other Muppets. This is when Constantine strikes and slaps a mole on Kermit’s face. Life changes for the Muppets in the blink of a mole! The group travel across Europe, without Kermit while he spends time teaching broadway songs to inmates at the Goulag, and Constantine, doing his best Kermit, and Dominic plan heist after heist!
Constantine is #1. Photo Courtesy of Disney.
The music is definitely a highlight of every Muppets production. I promise that you will have ear worms after listening to songs, “I’ll Get You What You Want” crooned by Constantine when he seduces Miss Piggy with Unicorns and Cockatoos and Ty Burrell and Sam The Eagle’s “Interrogation” song. I read that Songwriter Bret McKenzie refers to the song as “a conversation put to music,” and it actually started out as dialogue from the film.
Speaking of Ty and Sam, the pair were my favorites in the movie. Their interactions were hysterical and their banter reminded me of Abbott and Costello comedy routines, like “Who’s On First”.
Sam and Jean during their “Interrogation” of The Muppets. Photo Courtesy of Disney.
The Muppets sing the line, “And everyone knows the sequel’s not quite as good.” in the opening song. I have to admit that I was a little nervous that those words would seal the movie’s fate but instead I was pleasantly surprised! The lead human actors of the film Tina Fey (Nadaya, Russian prison guard), Ricky Gervais and Ty Burrell (Jean Pierre Napoleon) are perfect for this movie! Nadaya has a mad crush on Kermit and just wait for her historical licking scene (don’t worry it’s a PG film).
Muppets Most Wanted is the perfect film for your family movie night. There’s something for everyone- quirky jokes, cameos and pure nostalgia. Parents can relive their favorite Muppets childhood TV program with their kids as they get aquatinted with all of the Muppets stars! Cameos are a big part of the Muppets as well. Actors Tom Hiddleston, Christoph Waltz, Tony Bennett (to name a few) make appearances. My daughter even recognized a popular Disney Junior star in the film! Keep your eyes peeled for another cute frog in the film.
* We attended a screening of the film to facilitate this review.
