Life couldn’t be better for the world’s most unique group of BFFs ever. Well, that was the feelings felt by each, and everyone, involved right up until the moment that everyone finally realized that things were coming to a complete halt since the previous Muppet movie had come to a sudden end. But this was just not going to work for any of our famous Muppet friends, and they were determined to find something to redirect their time, and attention, to and quick.
As wonderful as that sounded to everyone, the fact remained that there really seemed to be nothing left for them to do together and life for the family of Muppet pals might be coming to a very unwanted end. And then the unexpected happened and Kermit was presented with the perfect opportunity for everyone. If the Muppets couldn’t get everyone to come to them for their show, then they would just have to take the show on the road. Yes, it was time for everyone to hit the road and begin their “World Tour”.
Thanks to the Muppet’s new best friend, Dominic Badguy, everything was about to take a very unexpected turn. The only problem is that the unexpected turn that the Muppets were being coerced into taking was about to be a terribly wrong turn indeed. You see, their new buddy Dominic just so happened to be a very bad guy after all, and his true motives were actually much less than honorable.
As bad of a guy as Dominic ended up being, it just so happened that what he was doing, he was doing for an even worse individual, named Constantine, who could pass for Kermit’s long lost twin. Since Constantine was a known evil villain, and the only difference between him and his look alike Kermit was a mole, his plan was to replace Kermit on the World Tour and carryout his villainous plans without anyone being the wiser.
If things were going to work in Constantine’s favor, he was going to have to make it really look good. This would require the relocation of the real Kermit to a location deep in Siberia, but only after gluing a mole in just the right spot beforehand. The plan was that the mole being glued in place would trick the authorities as well, getting Constantine off the hook long enough to get away with his evil plan.
Under normal circumstances this would be the ideal, foolproof plan but this was not a normal circumstance, and what Constantine failed to account for was Miss Piggy and the rest of the Muppets. This was a mistake that would bring about more problems for Constantine than he would have ever imagined possible.
Positive Elements
There is a constant, and underlying, tone of friendship, family, and love throughout the entire film, but it is the real Kermit who keeps the love alive for the rest of the Muppet family. In fact, Kermit’s feelings about love and friendship eventually rub off of him and onto those who he shares a prison with while in Russia. He even gets to the Matron of the prison, Nadya, before all is said and done.
Kermit’s friendship with, and concern for, the entire Muppet gang is very evident but it is his long time love for Miss Piggy that we see shine brighter as things begin to progress through the movie. When Constantine begins making plans to pop the question to Miss Piggy, as part of his bigger evil plans, we see both the real Kermit and Miss Piggy express their true love for each other. But it goes much deeper than feelings of love between the pair. It is about life long commitment, marriage, and starting a family together that keeps all hope alive.
It is at this point that we come to realize that, for Kermit, it is even more than just simple love and friendship that are the foundation of who he is as an individual. It is about the commitment that we make to remain true to our friends, and how much fulfillment it can bring even in the worst of situations. What it really boils down to is that it is that fulfillment that has the power to get us through the terrible situations that we find ourselves facing in life.
Sexual Elements
There would have been nothing to include in the area of “Sexual Elements” had Salma Hayek not appeared in the movie wearing what was literally a skin tight jumpsuit of some kind. It was revealing enough to warrant being included here as a “Sexual Element”
Violent Elements
Much of the violence witnessed is the style of violence that you would expect in a Muppet’s movie. It is the violence of the slightly humorous kind. Beeker seems to get the blunt of the bumps as a cupcake blows up in his face, and he is somehow blown up in the London Harbour. There is an actual running of the bulls which Salma Hayek feels the brunt of, and Fozzie gets squashed by a freezer.
There are additional forms of violence scattered throughout the film but it is almost expected since slapstick and this particular kind of movie seem to go hand in hand. Constantine and Miss Piggy have a few moments in which they express themselves in ways that could easily qualify as extremely emotional.
Drug and Alcohol Elements
There is nothing to include in this particular section as the entire film was totally free of anything resembling elements of a drug or alcoholic nature.
Conclusion
Family, friendships, and true love! These are three things that remain consistent throughout this particular Muppet movie, as well as throughout each and every movie, and show, that the Muppets have ever been a part of. It is simply who they are, and who us older folk have become accustomed to seeing them be.
The bottom line here is that the Muppets have been around for a heck of a long time, and they are going to be around for a heck of a lot longer. While plots, and stories, might have changed from one film to the next, the Muppets have always been…well, the Muppets. It is simply who they will always be.
Sure there are spotty scenes throughout the plot that could be interpreted as a little too strong however, the Muppet team being who they are drowns out the minor instances of emotion and action out of necessity that become mere moments of hilarity in the end. The Muppets are the classic form of entertainment that the entire family can, and should, enjoy together, and that is the bottom line.
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Southern Outdoor Cinema
About Paul B. Murray
Paul is founder of Southern Outdoor Cinema, an outdoor cinema event production company based in Atlanta and a dad to 2 pre-teen girls. When he is is not traveling to create outdoor movie nights for communities, he is spending time playing board games, reading books and of course watching movies with his girls.
