Film File - The Muppets

What better time in these dreary days of February for a dose of feelgood nostalgia. At a period when we're buffeted by the euro crisis and dwindling paycheques, a trip down memory lane with Kermit, Miss Piggy & The Gang is surely a timely antidote to the cares of today. Since the series began in the 1970s, 'The Muppets' have been embraced by audiences worldwide, and what began with a single appearance from an unknown frog puppet has became a global phenomenon still going strong 36 years later. With the characters of Fozzie Bear, Statler & Waldorf, Sam Eagle, Swedish Chef and The Electric Mayhem Band - featuring Dr Teeth, Animal, Janice, Floyd and Zoot - Kermit & Miss Piggy started a phenomenon than ran in over 100 countries and was viewed by more than 235 million people. Branching out to the big screen was an obvious outlet with their first feature film, 'The Muppet Movie' in 1979, starring a myriad of actors, including Bob Hope, Cloris Leachman, Steve Martin, Mel Brooks, Richard Pryor and Paul Williams. Impressive lists of celebrity cameos became the hallmark of all Muppet films. Even the internet age didn't deter them, as The Muppets once again reinvented themselves by creating viral videos of the gang performing popular songs, with their first video for 'Ode to Joy', performed by Beaker, receiving more than 14 million views on YouTube. Their second video, for Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' in 2009, notched up more than 23 million views on YouTube. And the source of all this Muppet mania? - Kermit himself puts it best: "We're just your average, everyday dysfunctional family: loud, crazy, odd, silly, and total chaos all the time. But that's okay, because when you get right down to it, we really do care about each other. Besides, I kinda like weird." The cast in this one is no less Hollywood heavyweight than would be expected with Amy Adams, Chris Cooper and Jason Segel in the leads, backed up by Zach Galifianakis, Alan Arkin, Emily Blunt, Whoopi Goldberg, Judd Hirsh and even Mickey Rooney stealing a scene or two. The storyline is along the tried and tested Muppet lines of the little guy versus big business. Directed by James Bobin, whose previous credits include 'Da Ali G Show', and a screenplay by Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller, this first film in over 12 years has Cooper as Tex Richman, a Texan oil baron keen to sink a well right under the fabled Muppet Theatre. The only hope of stopping this travesty of thespian art is to pull the old crew together for one big fundraising concert - a Muppet reunion with all the trimmings. Things aren't so great with the old crew, however, particularly Fozzie Bear, who's finding showbiz a tough mistress as he struggles in a Reno backwater with a tribute band called the Moopets. Animal is, as might be expected, doing time in an anger-management class, and Miss Piggy is swanning around gay Paree, running French Vogue complete with Anna Wintour wig and attitude. Helping Kermit with the whole production is Walter, a Muppet wannabe, plus his brother Gary (Segel), and his girlfriend Mary (Adams). For those of a certain age, this return of 'The Muppets' is a reunion worth every cent of the admission ticket. Gonzo and his chickens, the Swedish Chef and his accent, Miss Piggy supreme, and Kermit with the corny one-liners - what's not to like? It's as if they never left. For a new generation, this film will do big business, and it will be no surprise if Muppet movies become a regular outing for the next few years.