The Muppets (2011)
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A devoted Muppet fan and his human brother must help Kermit the Frog reunite the disbanded troupe to save the Muppet Theater from a greedy oil magnate.
The story
Walter, a Muppet fan living in Smalltown, discovers that a greedy oil magnate named Tex Richman intends to buy the Muppet Theater to drill for oil on its former site. Walter informs his human brother Gary and Gary's girlfriend Mary, who help him visit Kermit the Frog. Kermit realizes that the only way to save the theater is for the disbanded Muppets to reunite and perform a telethon to raise ten million dollars. Kermit begins the difficult task of recruiting his former cast members, who have all gone their separate ways, to put on a show and save their home.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Walter, a Muppet fan, learns that oil magnate Tex Richman plans to demolish the Muppet Theater. He enlists his human brother Gary and Gary's girlfriend Mary to help Kermit the Frog reunite the disbanded Muppets for a telethon to raise ten million dollars. Kermit recruits Fozzie Bear from Reno, Gonzo from his plumbing empire, and Animal from an anger management clinic. They travel to Paris to recruit Miss Piggy, who initially refuses but eventually joins after her rival Miss Poogy is hired. The group pitches their telethon to Veronica Martin at the CDE network. As time runs out, Kermit tries to plead with Tex, but Tex reveals he intends to give the Muppets' trademarks to a tribute band called the Moopets. Desperate, Piggy helps kidnap Jack Black to be the celebrity host. During the telethon, Tex repeatedly sabotages the show, but Gary and Mary restore the power. A guilt-stricken Uncle Deadly stops Tex's final sabotage attempt. Kermit and Piggy reconcile, and the Muppets perform "Rainbow Connection." Walter performs a whistling act to a standing ovation. Tex crashes Kermit's car, cutting the phone lines just short of the goal, and evicts them. However, a display error reveals they actually met the quota. In a mid-credits scene, Tex returns the theater and trademarks after being struck by Gonzo.
- First release year
- 2011
- Runtime (minutes)
- 102
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- James Bobin
- Writers
- Jason Segel · writer; Nicholas Stoller · writer
- Cast and characters
- Jason Segel · Gary; Amy Adams · Mary; Chris Cooper · Tex Richman; Rashida Jones · Veronica Martin; Steve Whitmire · Kermit the Frog, Beaker, Statler, Rizzo the Rat, Link Hogthrob, Lips and the Newsman; Eric Jacobson · Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam Eagle and Marvin Suggs; Dave Goelz · Gonzo, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Zoot, Beauregard, Waldorf and Kermoot; Bill Barretta · Swedish Chef, Rowlf the Dog, Dr. Teeth, Pepe the Prawn, Bobo the Bear, Big Mean Carl, Mahna Mahna, Behemoth, Beautiful Day Monster, a Muppet caricature of Gary and a hobo
- Genres
- musical comedy; children's comedy; musical
- Themes
- nostalgia; reunion; perseverance
- Tone and mood
- humorous; heartfelt; absurd
- Premise and plot tags
- reboot; musical; comedy; adventure
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Muppets
- Franchise connections
- The Muppets
- Reception
- The film was a critical and commercial success, receiving universal acclaim for its humor, music, and revitalization of the characters. It was a commercial success, grossing over $171 million worldwide on a $45 million budget.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 95% · review count: 228; Metacritic · score: 75 · scale: 100 · review count: 37; CinemaScore · score: A · scale: A+ to F
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Original Song · win
- Production trivia
- The film was the first in the series to directly acknowledge The Muppet Show and reference plot points from previous Muppet films.; The film was the first theatrical Muppets production to not star Frank Oz and Jerry Nelson performing their respective characters.; The film was the first Muppet film to win an Academy Award.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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