Much like this article, James Bobin's The Muppets was a celebration of all we loved about the band of characters and, essentially, a passion project to bring such larger-than-life personalities back to the screen. In this sense, the film was very aware of itself and the objectives it was obviously striving to meet. For one, our latest puppet, Walter, is a Muppet fanatic who has grown up with the gang's television show - much like writer Jason Segel. In fact, Segel has kept it no secret that he harbours passion for everything Muppets. Take for instance his character in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, he works on a Dracula musical involving puppets, and a similar enthusiasm really shows in his script. The writing is loaded with nods to previous Muppet escapades - whether it be Gonzo reciting Hamlet while performing a dare-devil stunt or Bob Hope's special guest appearance on the Muppet Show. It is laced with the usual underlying message, cementing the wacky antics with a great deal of heart and teachings of compassion and the importance of family and friendship - something so prevalent in previous Muppet films. The Muppets was a triumphant return for Kermit and the others, hitting all the right notes with old and new generations. Jim Henson may have passed away some years prior to filming but the love he stitched into his characters remains as strong as ever, dutifully replicated by true fans of his beloved source material.
