THE MUPPETS

“It’s time to put on make-up, it’s time to light the lights…”

After a long wait, the fabulously felty cast of Jim Henson’s creation are back on the big screen in The Muppets. Indeed, it has been so long that many younger viewers are unlikely to be familiar with the motley crew of singing and dancing fur-balls, but both old fans and newcomers alike will find plenty to enjoy in their latest romp.

There has been much huffing and puffing from America’s Fox network regarding the purportedly lefty ‘pinko’ storyline: millionaire businessman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) plans to buy the now derelict Muppet Studios to drill beneath them for oil, and the Muppets have just a few short days to reform and raise the money to stop him. But frankly, liberal agenda or no, The Muppets is just good solid fun for kids of all ages. It’s hilariously self-aware, and features the usual bevy of celebrity cameos from the likes of Jack Black, Emily Blunt, and even Selena Gomez for the youngsters. You’d have to be pretty joyless to get caught up in politics when there’s so much merriment going on. (KSo) ***