Review 2: Maleficent

Maleficent

(or . . . Sleeping Beauty, from a Slightly Different Perspective)

Disney's Maleficent came to the big screen on May 30, 2014. The film promised to deliver the untold story of one of Disney's greatest villains of all time. Promises are funny things - don't make a promise you can't keep. Maleficent tells another version of Sleeping Beauty, rather than Maleficent's story from the 1959 animated classic. Simply put, the film doesn't deliver what it promises.

This film has a number of interesting problems. First, it seems like someone took a bulleted list of the most iconic moments from the animated Sleeping Beauty and tried to explain them away with rather lackluster and flimsy explanations (or in some cases, over explanations). For instance, why does Aurora prick her finger on a spinning wheel? Because that's the item that Maleficent sees while cursing the young princess. Seems rather unsatisfying. In contrast, we spend a great deal of time on setting up why Maleficent chooses sixteen as the magic number to curse Aurora, but it's just tossed in the mix. This happens throughout the course of the film, especially in the beginning set-up that seems like wasted plot exposition.

Second, there are a number of logical problems throughout the film. For instance, in the opening we see a young Maleficent heal a broken branch on a tree. Yet for some reason (that doesn't get a needed explanation) she cannot heal her own wings. Perhaps her magic doesn't work on herself? Who knows, but it would have been worth an explanation. Also, why would King Stefan (who is really the villain of the film) hand over his child to a bunch of idiotic pixies? Especially when the relationship between fairy kind and human kind is already strained and they take the child to a cottage that is dangerously close to the Moors, where Maleficent dwells? Also, why are the pixies idiots? And why does Maleficent turn the raven into a man, except to have someone for Maleficent to talk to?

Third, flat characters. Maleficent as a character shines quite brightly and Angelina Jolie gives an amazing performance. But the other characters fall utterly short of being remotely two dimensional. Their motivations are mysterious or overwhelming singular (I'm looking at you King Stefan). Only Maleficent is fleshed out as a character and even she is almost unrecognizable in her actions from the character she is based off. She appears to lack all of her powers (such as turning into a dragon, appearing and disappearing in green flames, and traveling as a will o' the wisp). The audience is sympathetic to Maleficent, who does have an arc to her story. But she has the only story arc. The other characters fade into the background and are grossly overshadowed by Maleficent.

Speaking of shadows, the film itself if very dark for much of the duration. Sometimes it was hard to actually make out what was going on in many scenes near the end. The human world was quite dismal to look at and seemed to have no redeeming qualities. There was no understanding or sense of the scope of the kingdom and the people who lived there.

Okay, now for some good things. Angelina Jolie as Maleficent and the overall story arc for her character were quite good and it comes full circle by the end. There is a nice little story in this clunky film about the power of true love, in this case, between Maleficent and Aurora. This story helped pull the movie together. Yes, it sounds a lot like Frozen, but it works here as well, though you can see it coming a mile away.

We get some fun creatures in the Moors, but we don't get too much of them.

Final Thoughts:

Maleficent is a story about the truth behind Sleeping Beauty, not so much about the Maleficent from the 1959 animated film. In fact, forget that and just remember the names of the characters. Once you discover that fact, the film can be quite enjoyable. Don't go into this film expecting to think for yourself. If you do, you will be disappointed. The information the film wants you to know will be spoon fed to you (though it leaves out and doesn't satisfyingly explain things). It has some fun and especially sweet moments between Maleficent and Aurora and I wish the film was focused on the 16 years that Maleficent spent with Aurora waiting for the curse and their relationship, rahter than giving unnecessary backstory in the form of effects sequences that does not help move the movie along. Also, it would have been really nice to have more fleshed out characters who mean something and have motivations, rather than characters there for the sake of continuity of the 1959 animated classic (especially when these characters do not resemble each other in any way besides their names).

*Perhaps if I see it again knowing that it is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty and without the false pre-tense that this movie is about the origins of Maleficent from 1959 animated film, I might have a different perspective. Thanks advertising department at Disney for setting my hopes high and not delivering on your promise of telling the untold story of Disney's greatest villain.

Maleficent curses us with mediocrity.

"Eh, it could be better."

Maleficent had promise to be magnificent but mediocrity made it miss the mark.

Disney made a masterpiece many years ago with the original animated classic "Sleeping Beauty." It had heart, a classic story, and best of all a villian to despise. Maleficent ranks with the likes of Darth Vader,  the Wicked Witch of the West, and Cruella DeVille. Like all good villains, we love to hate them. Star Wars Episodes I-III tried to make Vader sympathetic and his fall from good into evil wasn't convincing. Elphaba's rise from a tragic figure to success only to fall again lessens here evil ways. And Cruella, well,  she's wonderfully wicked. What Disney does to Maleficent is tragic in its own way.

Maleficent starts with letting the audience know this is not the story we know. The Narrator/Maleficent didn't warn us this would be the story no one knows. It reimagines the traditional story of "Sleeping Beauty" and you have to forget EVERYTHING you know about the classic. Now, this follows on the heels of a movie that reinvented a series after 60 years without sacrificing anything about the original.  I am of, of course, talking about Godzilla (2014). Maleficent can learn a thing or two from the King of the Monsters. Instead, Maleficent borrows from the pages of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland and Oz: The Great and Powerful.

Quick synopsis: Maleficent is unique among the fair-folk in that she is human sized and has large bird-like wings. A human boy wanders into the moors where the fair-folk live and they begin a forbidden friendship since fair-folk and humans do not get along after the war. He gives her the kiss of true love but then turns to the greedy ways of man and chops her wings off to become king. Maleficent turns evil and broods for years until Aurora is born and bestows the curse upon her. The king hides Aurora with three fairies and they raise her. However, due to the idiocy of the three fairies Maleficent secretly raises the child and becomes her fairy godmother, showing Aurora the fair-folk and the moors, and letting her see all of fairy kind. After becoming attached to the child she despised, Maleficent tries to retract the curse, but can't. Aurora escapes from the three fairies, escapes to her fathers castle, and pricks her finger. Maleficent finds Prince Phillip, brings him to the castle, he kisses her, and the curse is not lifted so he just leaves. Maleficent is grief stricken and then kisses Aurora on her head and she wakes up. A big battle ensues, Maleficent gets her wings back, and her and Aurora unite the fair-folk and the humans. Happy Ending. 

Where to begin? First off, I did enjoy the creature design. The fairfolk were unique and fit in the world that surrounded them. They were similar in design to creatures seen in the world of Oz. I could have easily imagined the two worlds being one. However, the human world was bland and uninteresting. Set design and costumes where lacking and the grand scale was lost in a grey color palette. Minor things, but they add to the feel of the movie, which may have been better off as a mini-series than a full-fledged movie. It didn't look like the production value was there. The characters known as Merriweather, Flora, and Fauna are now dim-witted fairies who really serve as only a plot device and nothing more. Sad for such beloved characters to fall to the back drop.

Second, do not play the Frozen card here. Not ever. What Frozen did with turning the idea of true love on its head was powerful. It was the first Disney movie to move into a modern era where love is not only between and a prince and a princess. Maleficent takes the same idea and somehow, after only one time, turns it into a cliche. Plus, it deviates from the original story entirely. 

Third, the story really ended up telling us a whole new "Sleeping Beauty" under the guise "Maleficent" so people would see it. Maleficent was wasted as a character, given a bland, overdone, back story, and placed into someone else's story to provide an outlet to make sequels. She didn't look like Maleficent, she only wore here traditional black robes once, never turned into a dragon, didn't have evil minions, and was never really evil. She also had more in common with the human world than she did the fairy world, playing the role of a martyr. While the rest of the fair-folk were bug-eyed and the more animalistic one's were artistic, Maleficent was very much a human with horns and wings. She fell to the same pitfalls humans did and was no better than them. Where is the villain from the original? Does this movie even fit into Disney canon now or, like Star Wars, this movie creates a brand new canon to work from? Maleficent was a beautiful evil, pure and dark. Maybe evil needs to remain in the shadow so it can be evil. To plot and plan with its own infernal devices and schemes and reveal itself when the time is right.


This will work for mass audiences as Alice in Wonderland and Oz the Great and Powerful have. I am just disheartened to see such a vile villain succumb to mediocrity and be forgotten for the evil deeds she has done. After all, that's why I cheered for her.

Profile: Maleficent

Name: Maleficent
First Seen: Sleeping Beauty (1959)

The baddest of the bad. Maleficent is an evil fairy who knows how to hold a grudge. After not being invited to the royal christening of Princess Aurora, Maleficent enacts a revenge so subtle and bold that only evil could come up with it.

Before she leaves an already awkward situation at the castle, Maleficent claims she has no ill will towards the King and Queen and bestows a gift upon the young Princess Aurora. The child will grow up beautiful and kind, but "before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday, she will prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die."

If that's not bad enough, as Aurora's sixteenth birthday arrives, Maleficent ensures her curse will be fulfilled by finding Aurora and leading her to a spindle. She also traps Prince Phillip and leaves him in a dungeon to rot for 100 years. The good fairies help him escape, and Maleficent, more determined than ever, calls upon all the forces of hell! Things just got real.

Besides having an army of goons and an evil raven, Maleficent can turn into a fire-breathing dragon! Maleficent fights Prince Phillip to the bitter end. She falls to her death after Prince Phillips magically endowed sword stabs her in the heart.

Maleficent as she appears in Kingdom Hearts.

Maleficent, however, would reappear numerous times. In the Kingdom Hearts series she is the mistress of all evil leading other Disney Villains in a scheme to take over worlds. In Fanstasmic!, a spectacular nighttime show at the Disney Parks, Maleficent is one of the villains trying to take over Mickey's imagination. She appears in both her fairy and dragon form.

Maleficent receives her first solo film debuting May 30th, 2014.

Good or Bad Fairie

Curse you Crystal Perry the Platypus!

Today saw the release of Crystal Perry the Platypus for Disney Infinity. This is the final character for Disney Infinity 1.0 to be released and August marks the launch of Disney Infinity 2.0. Click this link to view more information on Disney Infinity 2.0. That makes 34 figures in all for 1.0 and no word yet on how many will be available for 2.0. When you have all the regular figures level 1 or higher you unlock the Lightsaber weapon. I wonder what happens when you get all the Crystal characters to level 1? Hmmmm.

My collection of everything Disney Infinity 1.0

Big Trailer 1 for Big Hero 6

We are excited to announce Disney's newest animated feature; starring the obscure Marvel characters from Big Hero 6.

Profile: Taminella Grinderfall

Name: Taminella Grinderfall
First Seen: Pak Nit and Pak Nit RX commercial

Taminella Grinderfall is a witch from Jim Henson's early productions. Her first evil deed was during a Pik Nat and Pak Nit RX commercial with two children called Shrinkel and Stretchel. The two children, upon stumbling across a gingerbread house in the woods, are thrown into an oven by Taminella. They come out fine (due to the Pik Nat) and Taminella is so impressed she changes into a more presentable and non-children eating version of herself.






Taminella was set to appear in the Tales of Tinkerdee which was never produced. She later appeared in Tales from Muppetland in The Frog Prince (1971). Taminella took on the role of the wicked witch that turns Sir Robin the Brave into Sir Robin the Frog. She also poses as King Rupert the Second's (King Goshposh) sister and puts a spell on the poor princess Melora, who is about to take the throne! Oh, that is evil!

She was set to appear in The Great Santa Claus Switch (1970). But after some rewrites, she was replaced by Cosmo Scam.

Taminella was originally voiced by Jerry Juhl.

Bang, Zoom, Right to Rocket Racoon!

The long awaited "Guardians of the Galaxy" second trailer launched yesterday and the movie looks like great fun! I think it is a much needed break from serious Marvel and a much needed look into the goofy side of the universe.

The Art of Suitmation

Celebrating Jim Henson

A Bag of Magic

A Tribute to Jim Henson

Time passes . . .

       And so do people.

Some we remember more than others . . .

       Even if you didn’t know them.

One man passed away

       And the world wept . . .together.

One man passed away

       The laughter stopped . . .instantly.

But with all the grief and sorrow

       The world remained brighter . . .perhaps even brighter than before.

This one man touched the world

       With a small green frog.

This one man dreamed.

Mayhem, and madness,

       And chickens that danced.

It may not have made sense,

      But we laughed for some reason.

A frog that hosted a television show

     And a seven foot canary

A purple skull named Yorick

     And creatures beyond our wildest imagination

Populated the world of this man.

He even let us in to his world

     And we took off our shoes and walked right in.

As we entered he gave us each

    A little bag of magic to keep as our own.

He didn’t tell us what to do with it

   That was left up to us.

That magic brightened the day.

It got us through the tough times.

It helped us laugh at life.

It caught beautiful butterflies and dreams.

It made us cry with happiness.

After he left, this man

     Left the door open to his world.

We can go in or out

     Whenever we please.

Some say he passed away.

They are wrong. He is still here.

His dream lives on.

And the magic he left

       helps us get through the day.

A reason to ROAR! Godzilla Review

In an age where most kids don't know who Godzilla is and most people associate the films with bad dubbing, guys in suits, and Saturday mornings, Godzilla 2014 has given us a reason to cheer for Godzilla again. In the capable hands of Gareth Edwards, Godzilla has risen from the ocean once again to stomp our favorite cities in an all out kaiju battle. But Edwards brings a human element to the story, one that works in tandem with Godzilla and brings the audience into a world where giant monsters roam.

*****Warning Spoilers*****

I will not go into a full synopsis of the movie as I want you to see it and judge for yourself. I would have to say the opening credits are entertaining and informative, explaining the origin of Godzilla and tying it to the original film. From there we move to the introduction of the main protagonists, Dr. Serizawa and the Brody family. Any fan of the series will recognize the name. Dr. Serizawa is a sympathetic character, working for Monarch and hunting Godzilla and discovering other MUTO's, or Mutated Unidentified Terrestrial Objects. His motivation is kept secret from us until a key moment when the heart of the original Godzilla movie comes through and we see that Edwards wants to pay homage to the reason Godzilla was created all those years ago. That is where Godzilla 1998 went wrong, never paying back the original movie it came from. Devlin created a new Godzilla, Edwards re-imaged the original. The Brody family is our window into this new world where giant monsters exist. More than a plot device, but still secondary to the title character himself. Edwards said he saw Spielberg as an inspiration and it shines brightly in the Brody's, an average family with problems and issues, but caught in the events unfolding before them. Think War of the Worlds, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and E.T. Character development is key and what Edwards does is create characters we care about, have believable back stories, and become attached to, suffering with them during their downfalls and silently cheering when they succeed.

I also would like to congratulate Edwards on making this movie respectable. He does not try to out do other Godzilla movies, blow-up every scene with special effects, or even include unnecessary violence. What he has done is create a Godzilla adults, kids, and everyone in-between can enjoy. Godzilla causes damage, but unintentionally. People die. This is no exception in the new vision, but there are no gruesome deaths, no onscreen horrors, or objectionable material. No one uses profanity in the movie. No sex scenes or alcohol, illegal substances, or the like. Godzilla has been good, clean fun and still remains good, clean fun. The Showa era especially was designed for children, even Little Godzilla was created to market a kids TV show starring the bubbly little monster.

Plot was always a struggle in previous Godzilla movies and many used what would become cliche Godzilla plots. Godzilla 2014 takes one of these plots, fleshes it out, and what would be familiar is now new and unique. Godzilla is a titan, and inevitably, death goes where he goes. Both protagonists are looking for answer to questions they cannot answer and were the results of something much larger than them and directly affects family. I am trying to be vague so you see the movie. Why was the concept of plot a struggle in the previous generations of the series? Well, because of the title character. The movies is called Godzilla and he is the star. The humans were always just an entry point for the viewer so we could step into the world of Godzilla. Not so here, humans and Godzilla get plenty of screen time although I wish some of the fight scenes were not merely teases.

What we really want to see is Godzilla and his introduction into the movie is epic. Godzilla is bigger, badder, and familiar all at once. What Godzilla 1998 failed to do was bring us the character we all know and love. The character who in my childhood was a hero, someone we rooted for to win, who fought to the bitter end, never gave up, and left you cheering. There were many moments in the movie I was audibly cheering in the audience as Godzilla rose from the ocean and fought the MUTO's or used his famous radioactive beam weapon.Yes! It's back and bolder than ever. Godzilla, however, is treated more like an animal in Edwards version and I applaud him and give him a standing ovation for his interpretation of Godzilla, a force of nature. Godzilla fights with tooth, claw, and tail, and has some pretty spectacular scenes with the MUTO's. Even the MUTO creature design was different and fascinating and, most importantly, were believable. There is one things people must remember when watching a Godzilla movie, and that simple fact is, you are watching a Godzilla movie. You must suspend disbelief in order to enjoy, engage, and relish in the epic awesomeness that is giant monsters fighting. Edwards stayed true to the series and brought us the familiar in a novel way, much like Abrams did for Star Trek and Avatar has done for the stranger in the strange land theme.

But Godzilla is more than that in Edwards vision. He is a god, a creature who will correct the balance of Earth from unstoppable forces. As I've said before, Godzilla is just that, a force. He is neither good nor bad, wicked or saintly, but protecting the Earth he lives on and his territory. I would say though this Godzilla definitely leans towards good, which is fine by me. He has become the hero I remember from childhood and a monster for all ages. 

Profile: Godzilla 1954

Name: Godzilla 1954
Seen in: Godzilla (1954), Godzilla Unleashed (Wii)

History: Godzilla was born in the atomic blast off the bikini atoll. He started life as a Godzillasaurus on Lago Island and from the fallout mutated into what we know as Godzilla today. At 164 feet tall, '54 Godzilla is the smallest of his reincarnations. His skin is charcoal black with a triple set of spines running down his back that light up when charging his infamous radiation beam weapon, used to destroy everything in his path. With the dose of radiation, '54 Godzilla also has super-regenerative powers which allow for him to heal rapidly, resulting in a near-indestructible nature. The only way to defeat Godzilla would be for Dr. Serizawa to sacrifice himself with the only known experimental weapon that would strip the flesh from any organic creature, the Oxygen Destroyer.

Godzilla would go on to star in 29 movies, 2 animated series, and a series of video games on every major console. However, the bones of the orginal '54 Godzilla would lie at the bottom of the sea for almost the entire Godzilla series until Godzilla against MechaGodzilla (2002) The bones would be turned into Kiryu (MechaGodzilla 3) and used against Godzilla. Kiryu would return the bones back to the sea and '54 Godzilla would once again lie in the place he was destroyed.

Disney POP! Vinyl Figures - Summer Movies

If you are not aware of the POP! Vinyl figures line of collectables, you need to get acquainted quickly. Funko provides the planet with terrific bobble heads and vinyl figures from a variety of genre and a number of licensed properties, such as Disney, Ghostbusters, and horror icons. Funko was founded in 1998 to bring back low-tech toys in the high-tech world of today. Funko has sold millions of its highly entertaining nodders and vinyl characters worldwide. Check them out for yourself and you’ll know why! These figures are adorable, so adorable that you'll become obsessed with the great sculpts, colors, and characters! Any guess what - they'll run you 9.99 a pop. Not too shabby.

Here are a few of the figures that are being released for some of Disney's films.

Could Disney's worst baddy get any cuter?!

Aww . . . it's a little angel.

Rocket's already stolen my heart, but I think he just made a nest there.

Treebeard's cuter cousin.

Cute? Or just frighteningly cute?

Watch out! Tiny weapons!

Don't mess with this little green cutie!

I am beyond excited for Guardians of the Galaxy! Seriously, I'm beside myself every time I watch this trailer.

Destroying the Destroyer

We all have our weaknesses. Superman has kryptonite. Kermit has Miss Piggy. Achilles had his heel. Well, the Big-G also has his weakness. The only weapon capable of killing him twice.

How to Step out with a Star

The Return of the King (of Monsters)!

Just one week to go and Legendary Pictures has declared the next 7 days as Godzilla Week! While they may not know, California has an official Godzilla week, but I'll take two in one year anytime! Over the next couple of days we'll take a closer look at Godzilla: past, present, and future. But for now, enjoy this video from the screenwriter of Godzilla 2014.

Happy Birthday Ishiro Honda!

Ishiro Honda

Born May 7th, 1911 - Died February 28th, 1993

Ishiro Honda would have been 103 and if he were alive today would have seen the rebirth of the movie character he made famous the world over. Honda directed and co-wrote the screenplay for the most famous of all monster movies, Godzilla, and would later direct many more including the Mysterians, Mothra, and the first appearance of King Ghidorah. These monster movies would make him famous overseas and make him the father of all kaiju and monster movies from 1954 on.

To see a complete listing of his life work please visit the link below:

Review: Muppets Most Wanted

(or maybe The Muppets . . . Again!)

The Muppets returned to the big screen this past March 21 with Muppets Most Wanted, a direct sequel to The Muppets. The film has grossed over $69 million and had a budget of $50 million. 

This film begins at the "The End" firework titles at the end of The Muppets. As the Muppets break the fourth wall, the audience realizes that The Muppets film was indeed just that - a film. All the fans have gone (or never existed really as they were just extras) and the Muppets are left pondering what to do next. Perfect segue to a song, right?

We start with the really fun and Muppety sounding "We're Doing a Sequel." The song has clever lyrics, though sometimes they betray the characters. For instance, We're doing a sequel / We're back by popular demand - wait - didn't we just spend a whole movie saying the Muppets weren't popular and their fans (who turned out to be extras) saved the day? We're doing a sequel / That's what we do in Hollywood / And everybody knows that the sequel's never quite as good  - wait - did the Muppets just put themselves down? I get the parody here, but that seems like a set-up for failure, or perhaps an excuse for mediocrity (there's a pattern here, you'll see). Anywho, putting those things aside, and a few other lyrics that I find a little irksome, it's a great start to the film. We get Muppets singing, including Scooter and Rowlf, some great parodies of other films, and some really snazzy costumes! Things are going well, we're having fun right up until we get to the lines We're doing a sequel / It's more of the same. / Let's give it a name. / How 'bout The Muppets Again! and then we cut to the titles and its called Muppets Most Wanted. Wait, but didn't the gang just say it was called "The Muppets . . .Again," or did they not get the memo that the name was changed? Perhaps it was really difficult to edit out this song? It is a good one. Okay, we'll let you pass on this one, filmmakers. Good songs should stay.

So, after a rousing start, a bouncy song, and the shadowy escape of a criminal who bears a resemblance to Kermit, the Muppets meet with Dominic Badguy who suggests the Muppets do a world tour and he be their manager - effectively removing Kermit from the gang. Kermit appears almost as a bad guy here as he votes against the other Muppets to not go. The Muppets seem like giddy children who have no respect for Kermit or each other. Whoa, not cool. 

Now that the gang, except Kermit, has voted that Dominic be their manager and they go on a world tour, we get to see a Muppet vehicle that ranks well with Kermit's Bicycle, the hot air balloon, and Piggy's motorcycle - a train. I really love that Beauregard was driving the train, backwards nonetheless. I was hoping that would be a running gag. But alas, it was not. 

Now, I can't get much further in this review if I don't mention Constantine (performed by Matt Vogel). Constantine is our villian. A Kermit duplicate with a mole who is hilarious and spot on the entire film. His plot exposition song "I'm Number One" really tells us what makes this frog tick. He's nothing more than a selfish frog with plans to be rich (and probably famous, just like another frog) by being a criminal. Oh yeah, and he likes to see monkeys dance and things explode. Constantine is quite the opposite of Kermit in the sense that Kermit is the reluctant leader and Constantine is the only leader.

After a frustrated Kermit goes for a walk, suggested by Dominic with a convenient map of where to go, Kermit is ambushed by Constantine and taken to a Russian Gulag. Constantine can now run The Muppets world tour with Dominic. Let me digress for a moment, as I found the premise of the Muppets not noticing Kermit to be gone was once again betraying the characters. Okay, now for the digression: 

James Bobin says this about Kermit being replaced in the film, "You have to suspend disbelief and accept that The Muppets don’t know, and also not care that they don’t know. It’s an impossible situation, but it’s much funnier if you believe it. And if you do believe it, you’ll be fine with this film."

The problem I have with this idea is that I do care that the Muppets don't know. I care about these characters with all my heart. When something like Kermit being replaced happens, I care. Now, I know this has happened before in The Muppet Show when Kermit was almost replaced by an automated host (The Muppet Show episode 104) and a green pig (The Muppet Show episode 224), but even though the gang is initially fooled, they know something is up with their MC. In this film, it's just out of character for the Muppets to be so selfish, only care about their acts, and not notice that Kermit is gone. Except Animal, which was a very nice touch. End digression.

In the Gulag we are introduced to a number of cameos and Nadya, the prison guard. Nadya is played well by Tina Fey and even gets a song. However, this song doesn't really feature any Muppets and just introduces the Gulag. Other than that, it doesn't do much for the film. Nadya's character is treated like a character should be treated in a Muppet film, as a secondary character to the Muppets. She's funny, has a crush on Kermit, and knows every escape plan in the book (well, at least on Netflix). Although we do end up spending a little too much time in the Gulag. It seems like this was the answer to The Happiness Hotel in The Great Muppet Caper. But without the Muppets.

Speaking of human characters in Muppet films, we can't forget Jean Pierre Napoleon played by Ty Burrell. I really enjoyed the team-up of Jean and Sam Eagle. It was funny, appropriate, and fit well into the film. They even got a song together, "Interrogation Song." This song ended up being one of my favorites, especially the uncut version on the soundtrack. It's fun, features lots of Muppets, and helps move the film along. However, this song also has a betrayal moment to the Muppets. At the end, Sam sings, They couldn't, they're too stupid. Okay, have the Muppets ever called one another stupid? I think they are naive to the situation, which is where the humor lies. But they are not stupid.

In the meantime, the Muppets put on shows to adoring fans . . . or so we think. Once again, the characters are betrayed. Apparently, the Muppets are not popular, once again. Walter, who has a suspicion that Dominic and Constantine are not who they say they are, follows Dominic and witnesses him bribing people to go to the show and write good reviews. Okay, this is the third instance I have mentioned of this idea that the Muppets are not popular. Here's why it bothers me: The Muppets are popular but are being sold to audiences (in two films now) as if they are not popular. Will this lead to a self-fulfulling prophecy? The opening song confirms this, We got another go to show them we can do it all again! If the Muppets fall into the void as unpopular, it will because the current films are treating them as unpopular forgotten has-beens. 

So now Walter knows the scheme and Fozzie finally gets to knowing and Animal knew all along. Let's talk about Walter for a moment. Walter had a whole film to be introduced. In this film, he is rightfully placed as a supporting character. However, I do find it very hard to believe that Gonzo, Rowlf, and Scooter would not notice Kermit being gone. Instead, the character who helped bring the Muppets back from the void of unpopularity (or did he?) is the only one who has any suspicion, besides Animal. My point here is that the qualities that make the Muppets a family- love, respect, mutual admiration, teamwork -have been distilled into one character, leaving the others a little flat. However, I do have to say that many of the Muppets that were missing or that did not get enough screen time in The Muppets, take fine form here. There's even a nice little jab at the first film with Rizzo and Robin. Which, I admit, I gasped audibly in the theatre.

Rowlf: Walter quit the Muppets? We just did a whole movie where he joined the Muppets.
Floyd: We sure spent a lot of time on it.
Rizzo: I'll say! Maybe even at the expense of other long-standing, beloved Muppets. C'mon Robin!
Robin: (sighs) Coming.

So the Muppets finally realize something is up. Constantine breaks up the Muppets and Piggy is getting ready for her wedding. We get a great Miss Piggy song, "Something So Right." I really love this song. It was totally written for Piggy, she gets to star in it, and Rowlf gets to play the piano. Oh yeah, and Celine Dion is her fairy godmother. The tune is wonderfully written for the pig and includes some other great Muppets like Link, Scooter, Dr. Teeth, Lew, Beaker, Floyd, Pepe, and Rowlf. This is one of the best character development songs in the film. We get to really feel Piggy's pain as she wrestles with the prospect of getting married after all these years.

Let's skip ahead to the wedding. We get some great visual gags as Kermit tries to infiltrate the Tower of London and not get caught. A hilarious and very Muppety mirror gag stands out. Annie Sue appears here, as well as a gaggle of Muppets. Once it's been revealed that Constantine is the fake Kermit (pointed out pointlessy by Scooter), things get a little crazy and back to Muppet standards. Chaos ensues as Constantine tries to escape with Piggy as hostage! Another sub-plot is revealed! And now we get the Muppet ladder! The Muppet ladder? Yes, the Muppet ladder that was previously mentioned earlier in the film as something we all should know about. 

The Muppet ladder is probably one of the most visually pleasing scenes in the film. It captures the real heart of the characters, who really do care about each other. Contrary to previous indications. The gang pulls together in Muppet Caper fashion to stop the thieves. You know, like in this scene from The Great Muppet Caper:

The Muppets, in a final moment of clarity, stand together as a family and save the day! They really do care for each other (sorry, I had something in my eye). Nadya shows up to take Kermit back to the Gulag, but instead the Muppets band together. So instead of going to prison, the Muppets do one last act at the Gulag - the Gulag Finale. 

The Gulag Finale turns out to be a hilarious scene for the Muppets. Not so much for the humans (with some awful green screen editing). The Muppets sing, "Together Again," again. It's cute and is probably there to help create the bookends using the word "again" in the opening and closing songs, as well as for nostalgia purposes. Who doesn't want to leave the theatre feeling a good about the Muppets from their childhood?

Final Thoughts:
Overall, after much ranting, I really liked the film. It stands up well with the first three Muppet movies. However, it does betray the characters a few times and relies a little to heavily on the theatre format, which can be limiting (remember, every other Muppet film saw the characters interacting in the real world, not in the theatre setting). Hopefully, this attitude of the Muppets being unpopular will change and not be a self-fulfilling prophecy. But in the end, the characters return to true form and remind us what it means to be family and a Muppet.