Master Of Muppets

“We’re here to sing, dance, make people laugh and somehow, just maybe, make the world a little bit better place. That may sound silly, especially coming from a frog. But the Muppets have always tried to inspire the world with silliness and to show folks that no matter who you are or how weird you seem to others, there’s a place for you and people who care about you. And when you find that place and meet those people, wonderful things happen.”
 
Trust Kermit the Frog to bring the most uplifting Christmas message of the year. Back on the big screen after nearly 12 years, our favourite amphibian is joined not only by the usual posse of Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo and the rest, but also by comedy kid Jason Segel (who co-wrote the screenplay), three-time Academy Award nominee Amy Adams, Oscar winner Chris Cooper and newcomer Walter, the Muppets’ biggest fan. As always with a Muppets movie, other stars clamoured to be involved. Cameos include Donald Glover, Alan Arkin, Ken Jeong, James Carville, Rico Rodriguez and Judd Hirsch.
Jason Segel admits that he found himself quite starstruck around the famous Muppet crew, who have always been inspiring figures in his life.
“It started when I was a kid,” he says. “The Muppets were my first comic influence and I was in love with puppetry. I thought it was an amazing art form.
“My co-writer Nicholas Stoller and I ended Forgetting Sarah Marshall with a lavish puppet musical, and The Jim Henson Company designed the puppets. Something started growing in my belly. Nick and I came up with this idea and pitched it to Disney. Disney liked it so we wrote the script.”
What makes the Muppet brand of humour so unique?
“Modern comedy makes jokes at other people’s expense,” says Segel. “The Muppets never make fun of anybody. They’re all about being good and nice and trying to make the world a better place. It’s easy to get a laugh out of making fun of somebody. The Muppets never relied on that.”
The Muppets opens in Smalltown, USA, home to Walter, brother Gary (Segel) and his girlfriend, Mary (Amy Adams). It’s the kind of town where people smile a lot, give apples to teachers and break into song, just because. The trio leave the safety of Smalltown behind for a long-awaited trip to Hollywood, and an opportunity to visit Muppet Studios. There Walter overhears the evil plan of nefarious oil baron Tex Richman and finds himself organising a long awaited, never-imagined, can’t-believe-it’s-really-happening-to-me Muppet reunion.
“Kermit was a big part of my decision,” says co-star Amy Adams. “I don’t like to tell Jason that cos he’s a little sensitive that I might be partial to Kermit, but I am.”
Adams previously showed off her gorgeous singing voice in Enchanted, and it came in handy in The Muppets’ toe-tapping musical scenes, which feature songs by Flight Of The Conchords’ Bret McKenize.
“In the finale of the movie there are 200 extras, 100 dancers and 50 Muppets,” says Segel. “It was very surreal and it happened to take place on my birthday. I walked out from my trailer thinking I was coming to film, and everyone sang ‘Happy Birthday’, including the Muppets. I kept thinking, ‘I’ve tricked everyone. Somehow I’ve made this weird childhood dream come true.’ It was the craziest thing ever.”

The Muppets is in cinemas from February 17.