Muppets Most Wanted

It’s difficult to regard Muppets Most Wanted as anything other than a significant disappointment, as the movie is simply unable to replicate the easygoing magic of its immediate predecessor – with an overlong running time and emphasis on tiresome subplots ultimately confirming the film’s place as a lesser Muppet adventure. The needlessly convoluted storyline details the chaos that ensues after Kermit is replaced by an evil doppelganger, with said doppelganger embarking on a quest to steal a valuable jewel alongside his nefarious partner (Ricky Gervais’ Dominic Badguy) – while Kermit himself is sent to a tough Russian gulag guarded by a tough-as-nails guard named Nadya (Tina Fey). Before it runs out of steam, Muppets Most Wanted admittedly does hold a fair deal of promise – with the charm of the title characters compensating for what’s clearly a second-tier narrative. It doesn’t hurt, either, that the movie boasts an expectedly impressive assortment of cameo appearances, and there’s little doubt that the movie, in its early stages, possesses an easygoing feel that’s impossible to resist. (The songs, on the other hand, run the gamut from decent to utterly forgettable.) The affable atmosphere does begin to noticeably deflate past the halfway mark, however, as director and co-writer James Bobin attempts to prolong the proceedings far beyond its breaking point – which he and fellow scripter Nicholas Stoller accomplish by stressing a series of padded-out and unnecessary story threads. By the time the expectedly frenetic finale rolls around, Muppets Most Wanted has established itself as a passable yet underwhelming entry within the Muppets filmography – although, to be fair, it’s clear that the movie will leave small children entertained to a far greater degree than adults.

**1/2 out of ****