The Muppets Movie: The Original Soundtrack was released, and it's filled with songs from the movie, The Muppets! If you're wondering, yes, Jason Segel and Amy Adams did sing some of the songs with the Muppets of course! Overall, the soundtrack's genre leans towards show tunes and Glee-type songs. There are some songs within the album that make it so much more than that.In addition to songs, there are tracks titled, "Muppet Studios, I Can't Believe It," "I Haven't Seen the Old Gang," "We Drive," "That Spells Reno," "Welcome Back," "Party of One," and "We Humbly Ask," that are sound bites from the movie itself. They were placed in between the songs and it seemed to fit well in that sense.
Drum roll... Jason Segel's 'debut' song, "Life's A Happy Song," is a very upbeat and happy track that will get children and adults both skipping around due to the bounci-ness and the lightheartedness of the song. Segel is joined by co-stars Amy Adams, Mickey Rooney, Walter, and Feist in the performance and recording of the track.
Most of the core plot is a direct rehash of "It's a Very Merry Muppet Movie", a film that is to "The Muppets" what Michael Mann's TV movie "L.A. Takedown" is to his feature crime epic "Heat". In both films, the Muppet Theater is in danger of being demolished when a ruthless business tycoon (a hilarious Joan Cusack in the former, a rappin' Chris Cooper now) ends up owning the place. The Muppets must rally together, clearing away the cobwebs of the past, and do a big show to save it. "Muppet Christmas" deviates heavily by focusing on Kermit's crisis of confidence via a prolonged "It's A Wonderful Life" segment - a portion of that otherwise overly cornball film that actually elevates it, even if it is a familiar retread of Frank Capra. "The Muppets", whether intentionally or not, is a familiar retread of the rest of "A Very Muppet Christmas" - right down to guest appearances by Whoopi Goldberg (a human Muppet if there ever was one).
Like "Scream 4" earlier this year, "The Muppets", unable to decide if it's a sequel or a reboot, ends up being a precarious version of both. The agreeably fun (and somewhat meta) story of Kermit, Fozzie, Miss Piggy and company returning from obscurity for a new shot at the big time keeps getting stopped in favor of more time spent with Segel (in wide-eyed doughboy mode all the way) and Walter (who logically should've been the central character in the story instead of Segel, but instead his part is yet more regrettable deadweight). Including Amy Adams as a star of a Muppet movie is a perfect no-brainer; too bad she doesn't get to do anything in this one. While Adams' presence is wasted, Segel's utter lack of dancing ability is painfully obvious in the big musical numbers he's placed himself at the center of. Disney, taking no chances with "The Muppets", and unable to ever decline a chance at crass cross-promotion, trots out Disney Channel stars for cameos, and dresses numerous background signage with distracting "Cars 2" and "Winnie the Pooh" imagery. (Hey everyone, guess what's new on Disney DVD??)
All that said and endured, you will still love "The Muppets". Heck, not all the new music is forgettable - Kermit's new tune "Pictures In My Head" tugs the heartstrings just as it should. Sharp-eyed fans will notice a lot of obscure Muppets we haven't seen in a long time. Do go see this film - you'll be voting at the box office for more Muppet movies. And who knows, maybe those will be better. As they say, someday they'll find it. The old gang is a little worn here, and Disney's choice of celebrity mending may not be the best, but it's still great to see the classic Muppets movin' right along again.
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