The Muppets

If you could only watch one Muppets film, this is the one to watch. It's focused on all the great references from the first movie, "Takes Manhatten", and the original show while leaving out all the so-so stuff. There's just so much incredible charm, nostalgia, musical numbers and celebrity cameos in this film. I couldn't see anyone having anything but a great time watching this film and is fine for ages 1 to 110.

Quite a dissapointment. There was so much praise for this movie I had high hopes. Jason Stegl and Amy Whatsherface were awkward as the grinned fakely at the camera. Half of the Muppet voices were pretty cringe worthy especially Kermits. Most of the movie Kermit's face was over acting and he just seemed like a wishy washy push over. There was only really one good original song in the film and that was only just okay. Surprisingly (or unsurprisingly I suppose) this movie felt like a rehash of the old movies. This seems to be Disney's MO with aquired franchises, create a passable reproduction of an original and try to get both old fans exited as well as hook in a new audience.

This movie shows an undeniable love for The Muppets. When making a movie full of nostalgia, you gotta be careful, because it's easy to cross a bad line where the references feel like the point. I don't think this movie does that. There are lots of callbacks to be sure, but there's so many tiny little details and new elements that it feels more like a love letter than a cash grab. And ultimately, it's a movie about embracing who you've become, not what you were. That's more than hollow nostalgia.