Film review: The Muppets (four out of five stars)

(U) 110 mins

Director: James Bobin

Starring: Amy Adams, Rashida Jones, Jason Segel, Chris Cooper

IF it’s a nostaglic gigglefest you are looking for - then there is no better film to see than The Muppets.

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Yes, Kermit, Gonzo, Miss Piggy and the gang are all back for this all-singing, all-dancing update of Jim Henson’s classic creation.

Twelve years after their last big-screen adventure, the Muppets have gone their separate ways. Kermit lives in a mansion with his ‘80s robot. Fozzie ekes out a living as leader of feeble counterfeit troupe The Moopets.

And Miss Piggy is Plus-Size Editor for Vogue in Paris. But not everybody has forgotten The Muppets. Super-fan Walter is overjoyed to visit the Muppet theatre in LA with his brother Gary (Jason Segel) and Gary’s girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams).

But when they find that evil oil tycoon Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) is planning to demolish the run-down old place, the race is on to save it by re-uniting the gang for a telethon.

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The acting and script is what you expect from a Muppets movie but the real stand outs are the songs.

Written by the brilliant Breet McKenzie (from Flight of the Conchords fame), they are sentimental, poignant and damn right hilarious.

The Oscar-nominated Muppet or a Man is the highlight with a great cameo from The Big Bang Theory’s Jim Parsons.

Being a Muppet film, you can expect a host of famous cameos, but you are left thinking there could have been one real stand out star to host the telethon - but sadly we are left with the once-funny Jack Black.

British director James Bobin, also of Flight of the Conchords fame, breathes new life into Jim Henson’s creation with a hugely enjoyable romp.

Mark Dunford