FILM

USA 2011 110 mins Dir: James Bobin Starring: The Muppets, Amy Adams, Jason Segel, Chris Cooper, Jack Black

Will anyone remember the Muppets 12 years on from their last feature film? Rather than ignoring this burning issue, Disney's 'reboot' of the late Jim Henson's furry critter franchise/sinister liberal brainwashing conspiracy (as it's known to devotees of barking mad Fox News) makes a feature of the Muppets' irrelevance in a cynical modern world where the most popular kids' TV show is called 'Punch Teacher'. In the hands of Ali G/'Flight of the Conchords' writer/director James Bobin, 'The Muppets' is self-aware without being too knowingly post-modern; an unexpectedly enjoyable treat that should delight nostalgic parents and get a whole new generation of kids singing the 'Mahnamahna' song.

The delicious conceit has manchild Gary (Segel) growing up in Smalltown USA with his brother Walter, who's a Muppet - though nobody comments on this until they each address their respective existential crises during the heartfelt song 'Am I a Man or a Muppet?' Walter worships Kermit and co and insists on visiting the Muppet studio when Gary and his long-suffering girlfriend Mary (Adams) take him to LA. But it turns out the old place is threatened by evil oil baron Tex Richman (Cooper, on fine scenery chewing form) so the race is on to get the gang back together for a charity telethon. Turns out Kermit has become a mansion-dwelling recluse with his 80s robot, Fozzie leads a dodgy counterfeit troupe called The Moopets, Animal is undergoing anger-management therapy with Jack Black, and Miss Piggy is the Plus-Size Editor of Vogue in Paris. Much fun is had at the expense of the film-making process (love those montage and 'travel by map' gags), and who could resist a Muppet barbershop quartet cover of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'? (Robin Askew)

Website disney.go.com/muppets/

Opens: February 10

Copyright Robin Askew 2012