“We're trying to get the old gang back again!” croaks Kermit the Frog, setting the stage for an endearing revival of the beloved franchise started by Jim Henson. Now, in idyllic Smalltown, USA, Gary (Jason Segel) and his sweetheart, Mary (Amy Adams), take Gary's younger brother, Walter (voiced by Peter Linz)—who doesn't realize he's a Muppet—to L.A. to visit Muppet Studios. Discovering that tycoon Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) intends to tear down the dilapidated facility to dig for oil, Gary and Walter are determined to find Kermit and round up his crew for a $10 million fundraiser. Kermit has retired to the cavernous Bel Air mansion he once shared with Miss Piggy, who's in Paris editing French Vogue; Fozzie Bear's cracking bad jokes with a Muppets tribute band in Reno; Gonzo's a plumbing magnate; and Animal's learning anger management. “In this market, you guys are no longer relevant,” declares a TV executive (Rashida Jones); but when a programming emergency occurs, it's “show time” as the Muppets kidnap Jack Black for their telethon. And, conquering stage fright, Walter discovers his special talent as an operatic whistler. This family-friendly film is an upbeat reboot offering nostalgic moments, high-spirited musical numbers, and fun cameos. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include “The Longest Blooper Reel Ever Made (In Muppet History**) **We Think…” (9 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are audio commentary by writer-star Jason Segel, director James Bobin, and co-writer Nicholas Stoller, a “Scratching the Surface: A Hasty Examination” making-of featurette (16 min.), deleted scenes (10 min.), spoof trailers (9 min.), “A Little Screen Test on the Way to the Read-Through” character featurette (3 min.), “Explaining Evil: The Full Tex Richman Song” (3 min.), and bonus DVD and digital copies of the film. Bottom line: a fine extras package on the Blu-ray release for this winning family film.] (S. Granger)
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