Muppets Most Wanted

A prophetic opening musical number—We're Doing a Sequel (“everyone knows the sequel's never quite as good”)—kicks off this globe-trotting crime caper featuring Jim Henson's fuzzy fellows, beginning with the Muppets on Hollywood Boulevard celebrating their reunion. Across the globe, however, nefarious forces are at work. An evil Kermit lookalike named Constantine (voiced by Matt Vogel) has concocted a diabolical scheme with Dominic Badguy (Ricky Gervais), a talent manager whose surname is pronounced “Bad-jee.” Dominic convinces the Muppets to go on an international tour in which—coincidentally—every European theater they're booked into just happens to be near a bank or museum that can be robbed. When the Muppets arrive in Berlin, Kermit (Steve Whitmire) is kidnapped and shipped to Siberia, where his Gulag is commanded by musical comedy-obsessed Nadya (Tina Fey). Disguised as Kermit, Constantine woos Miss Piggy, fostering her fantasy of a lavish wedding at the Tower of London. On their trail are bumbling Interpol agent Jean-Pierre Napoleon (Ty Burrell) and Sam Eagle. Will the real Kermit be able to save the day? Co-scripted by Nicholas Stoller and director James Bobin, Muppets Most Wanted is reminiscent of 1981's The Great Muppet Caper, as the felt-covered friends frolic with numerous celebrities, including Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, Sean Combs, and Salma Hayek. Most memorably, Ray Liotta, Danny Trejo, and Jemaine Clement sing, while Christoph Waltz waltzes. While not “quite as good” as the last Muppets movie, this is a swift-paced, smart, and fun spoof. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include the “I'll Get You What You Want” music video by composer Bret McKenzie, and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are three versions of the film (theatrical, extended, and “Statler & Waldorf Cut”), a blooper reel (10 min.), a “Rizzo's Biggest Fan” featurette (3 min.), and bonus DVD and digital copies of the film. Bottom line: a fine extras package for this sure-to-be-popular sequel.] (S. Granger)