The Happytime Murders Review

Photo courtesy of IMDb.com

WARNING: CONTAINS DISTURBING IMAGES OF MUPPETS

As the trailer for the movie “The Happytime Murders” came to an end, I attempted to make sense of what my eyes had just watched through the lit up screen of my phone. And to think I believed Oscar the Grouch was the worst Muppet… I was wrong. All of the sweet memories of

Kermit the Frog’s familiar voice, ruined by this 2018 Sesame-Street-gone-wrong story of the new cast of the felted friends or should I say strangers.

With a 23 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, I should’ve known what I was getting myself into. Still, I had to see for myself who was committing the murders of the cast members of the old show “The Happy Time Gang.”

The rain was pouring down on a late Friday afternoon. I began to worry that there would be no seats available due to the prime movie weather. As I walked into the Plaza theater, not a seat was taken. Then I remembered the 23 percent rating — no wonder I was about to receive a private screening of a two week old movie.

The film takes place in a world where Muppets are treated as second-class citizens. Muppet P.I. Phil Phillips (voiced by Bill Barretta) was the very first muppet cop, who soon became an  ex-cop due to a disturbing incident in which Phillips missed a shot while his partner was being held at gunpoint.

Phillips is then found tangled up in a case with his ex-human-partner in crime Connie Edwards (Melissa McCarthy). The are forced to take on the case of the “Happy Time Gang.” Phillips and Edwards have to learn how to work together again in order to solve the bizarre case that involves strange scenes like visiting a strip club, snorting sugar, or going to the other side of town to the “fuzzies” neighborhood.

Forget the G-rated family friendly muppets you’re used to and let me introduce you to the not-so-friendly, not-so-innocent R-rated Muppets.

Director Brian Henson, son of Jim Henson, who has directed multiple muppet productions, has gone against his father’s legacy and changed the reputation of the felt puppets forever.

The majority of the movie contained foul language, multiple sex scenes, references to drugs and sexist and racist comments. This is not something you want to see, especially from Muppets. This movie was anything but funny. If for some reason you decide to go see it — which I would not advise — I would suggest not taking your 9-year-old sister (please protect her image of Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear) to see this film, unless you want to experience the most awkward situation of your life.

As the plot kept unraveling, I became more and more confused as to what was going on. The jokes in the R-rated mystery were so forced that they didn’t make sense. All I am going to say is I never want to see an octopus and cow Muppet in the back of a massage room again.

The main character is a blue puppet, which in the movie was made out to be a racial reference. There was awkward, racial puppet humor based on the color of their felt, like when Phillip’s brother mentions how he had bleached his felt multiple times and a girl complimented him by saying he “looked better.” As if to say he was better off a different color.

The bulk of the production overshadowed the few genuinely funny scenes. The charisma between Edwards and Bubbles (Maya Rudolph), Phillip’s secretary, was amusing.

The amount of work put into the production with all the Muppets was impressive — one of the best parts of the movie was the credits when they showed the behind-the-scenes with all the puppeteers.

I should have known walking into an empty theater on a rainy day that the film would be a let down even if it was my very own private show. I would just like to thank the creators of this movie for changing my view on the innocent Muppets forever, and may my sweet memories of Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy rest in peace.