Simple fun for all big kids

The Muppet Movie
Starring: Jason Segal, Amy Adams and the Muppets
THIS year’s revisit to an old favourite in The Muppet Movie could be said to combine two maxims – ‘the simple things in life are often the best’ and the KISS principle – ‘Keep it Simple Stupid’.
As a diehard Muppet fan, I entered the theatre with some trepidation, concerned that the winning formula of human and puppet interaction would have been sullied with modern special effects and animations.
To my tremendous relief, the mix remained unchanged, and the humour and characters as funny and slightly fuddy duddy as always.
Cameos by Mickey Rooney and Whoopi Goldberg among a host of other lesser names made playing “spot the celeb” an interesting sideline, and Jack Black as the reluctant celebrity host was an inspired piece of casting.
In the (admittedly somewhat weak) plot, Jason Segal (playing Gary) takes his girlfriend Mary (played by a very “girl next door” Amy Adams) to Los Angeles for their anniversary.
Tagging along is Gary’s brother, Walter, a vertically challenged sibling who seems joined to Gary by the hip, somewhat to Mary’s annoyance.
Over the years, as Gary and Walter have indulged in their love of the Muppets , and while Mary wants to visit all the sights of Lalaland, Walter only wants to visit the Muppets Studio and bask in the presence of his heroes.
Sadly, the studios prove to be rundown and while exploring Kermit’s office, Walter overhears an evil scheme to demolish them and drill for oil.
In a predictable plot line, Walter, Gary and Mary set out to find the Muppets wherever they are and bring them back together to save the studios.
From finding Kermit living hermit-like in his dilapidated mansion, to Gonzo, who has become a plumbing magnate (still with a fascination with explosives) and Miss Piggy, plus size editor for European Vogue, there was nothing startling about this movie, and that was part of its charm.
It was simple, old fashioned good fun. The characters don’t need to be believable, and it is still possible to bask in the love story (still blossoming after four decades) between the pig and the frog.
I took my 14-year-old son with me, as I have been indoctrinating him in the way of the Muppets since he was old enough to laugh.
However, to my surprise, many audience members did not bother borrowing a child as an excuse. My neighbours in their 40s, and one man was there alone.
And we both agreed. It was simple, it was harmless, it was entertaining and funny in that special Muppets way, and I would go to see it again.
Childish, yes, but enchantingly so. 7/10 for me.
– Fiona Berkholz