Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising

Directed by Nicholas Stoller and screenplay by Stoller, Andrew Jay Cohen, Brendan O’Brien, Evan Goldberg, and Seth Rogen from characters created by Cohen and O’Brien, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising is the sequel to the 2014 film in which a couple tries to sell their home only to deal with a newly-formed sorority, who had moved next door, where they seek the help from an old nemesis. The film isn’t just a study of adulthood but also sexism as it showcases what sororities could and couldn’t do. Starring Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron, Chloe Grace Moretz, Dave Franco, Ike Barinholtz, Carla Gallo, Kiersey Clemons, Beanie Feldstein, Selena Gomez, and Lisa Kudrow. Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising is a witty yet wild film from Nicholas Stoller.

Set two years after the events of the first film, the film follows Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly Radner (Rose Byrne) who are expecting another child as they’re hoping to sell their house with their two-year old daughter Stella (Elise and Zoey Vargas) as they learn that a sorority has moved in next door which makes their attempts to sell the house very difficult. Even as they try to get rid of this sorority, they would get the help from their old nemesis Teddy Sanders (Zac Efron) who is going through an existential crisis where he helps form the sorority only to be kicked out because he’s kind of an adult. It’s a film that explores not just a couple wanting to go into the next step as parents and adults but also question their own worth as parents where they not only have another child coming but also dealing with people younger than them. For Teddy, he’s someone that isn’t sure what to do with his life as his friends are already moving on into adulthood as his attempts to be part of the fraternity/sorority lifestyle was really him just stuck until he decides to help Mac and Kelly who would kind of be a parent for him.

The film’s screenplay doesn’t just explore adulthood and the fear of becoming an adult but it also explores sexism as it relates to this newly-formed sorority in Kappa Nu. Led by Shelby (Chloe Grace Moretz), Kappa Nu’s mission is to have young women have fun and party while not giving into the pressure of being sexualized or treated as objects by men. Shelby, Beth (Kiersey Clemons), and Nora (Beanie Feldstein) would by the house that Teddy’s old fraternity used to live in as Teddy is shocked that sororities aren’t allowed to throw parties. While Mac and Kelly are sympathetic with Kappa Nu’s need to find their identity and independence, they do feel that the sorority has gone out of control as they do whatever to raise money for the rent and all sorts of shit. Even as Teddy tries to help Mac and Kelly in bringing them down once the feud escalates as it also shows how far these girls would go.

Nicholas Stoller’s direction is very straightforward where he doesn’t really try and do anything new except in showing what kind of hijinks women would do. Shot largely on location around Los Angeles and parts of Southern California, the film plays into the world of suburbia and college life where Mac and Kelly are eager to move into a new home and hopefully sell their home to a couple that is interested in buying it. Many of the compositions that Stoller create are straightforward as it also has some elements of style as it relates to the film’s tailgate party sequence and some of the themed-parties that Kappa Nu holds. Even as some of the parties prove to be very funny as well as other moments such as a little subplot in which one of Teddy’s old frat buddies reveal what he does for a living while there are also elements that will push the boundaries.

Notably a moment in which the girls would throw something at Mac and Teddy’s home that prove how disgusting women can be. Still, Stoller does find a way to balance the two storylines and multiple characters as well as provide a nice focus on the themes without the raunchy comedy overwhelming it. Especially as it play into the themes of growing pains in not just growing up to be a responsible adult but also trying to maintain that excitement of youth. Overall, Stoller creates a very funny and exciting comedy about a couple and a former fraternity president going to battle against a sorority.

Cinematographer Brandon Trost does excellent work with the cinematography as it is very straightforward for many of the scenes set in the day while it has a nice usage of neon lights for some of the parties at night. Editors Zene Baker, Peck Prior, and Michael A. Webber do fantastic work with the editing as it is stylized with some fast-cutting montages and other stylish cuts to play into the energy while not deviating too much to establish what is going on. Production designer Theresa Guleserian, with set decorator Ryan Watson and art directors Cate Bangs and Erika Toth, does brilliant work with the design of the homes of the Randers as well as Kappa Nu and the places they often go to. Costume designers Leesa Evans and Emily Gunshor does terrific work with the costumes from the casual clothes of the Randers as well as the more youthful and stylish clothes of Kappa Nu including a feminist-themed costume party.

Visual effects supervisor Mark LeDoux does some fine work with some of the film’s minimal visual effects for some key stunt scenes as well as a scene involving a major prank. Sound editor Michael Babcock does superb work with the sound as it play into the atmosphere of the parties as well as some of the quieter moments in the film. The film’s music by Michael Andrews is wonderful as it’s very low-key in its mixture of jazz and electronics while much of the music soundtrack that is assembled by music supervisors Manish Raval and Tom Wolfe feature an array of music ranging from hip-hop, electronic dance music, and pop from acts such as Kanye West, the Beastie Boys, Eric Carmen, Joan Jett, and many others.

The casting by Francine Maisler is remarkable as it feature some appearances and notable small roles from Kelsey Grammer as Shelby’s father, Brian Husky as Mac and Jimmy’s boss, Billy Eichner as the real estate agent who gives the Kappa Nu girls their house, Liz Cackowski as the Randers’ real estate agent, Sam Richardson and Abbi Jacobson as the couple that is interested in buying the Randers’ home, Hannibal Burress as a local policeman teaching Garfield how to be a cop, John Early as Pete’s boyfriend Darren, Elise and Zoey Vargas as Mac and Kelly’s daughter Stella, and Lisa Kudrow in a very funny one-scene appearance as Dean Gladstone who tell the Randers that she can’t do anything about Kappa Nu due to their independent affiliation.

Other noteworthy small roles and appearances include Selena Gomez as Phi Lambda president Madison, Jerrod Carmichael and Christopher Mintz-Plasse in their respective roles as former Delta Psi Beta brothers Garfield and Scoonie, Carla Mamet and Nora “Awkwafina” Lum in their respective roles as Kappa Nu members Maranda and Christine, and Dave Franco as former Delta Psi Beta vice-president Pete who reveals to Teddy that he’s gay. Kiersay Clemons and Beanie Feldstein are fantastic in their respective roles as Beth and Nora as Kappa Nu co-founders trying to create a sorority where they can fit in with Feldstein as the funnier of the two girls. Ike Barinowitz and Carla Gallo are superb in their respective roles as Jimmy and Paula Faldt-Bevins as the Randers’ remarried friends who are also expecting a child as they try to help them deal with Kappa Nu.

Chloe Grace Moretz is excellent as Shelby as a college freshman who is frustrated by the rules set for sororities as she decides to make her own sorority with friends so she can smoke pot, party, and let the women have fun while dealing with the Randers. Zac Efron is brilliant as Teddy Sanders as a former fraternity president who is coping with growing pains as he is unsure what to do where he helps Kappa Nu be formed only to get kicked out as he turns to the Randers for help where Efron is just very funny as someone scared of being an adult. Finally, there’s Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne in amazing performances in their respective roles as Mac and Kelly Rander as the couple trying to sell their house with Rogen being the buffoon of sorts who helps Teddy in becoming an adult while Byrne is the straight-woman who would have some funny moments as she tries to do what is right for her daughter and growing family.

Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising is a marvelous film from Nicholas Stoller. Featuring a great cast and a funny take on themes such as sexism, adulthood, and growing up, it’s a film that manages to provide enough laughs while being very smart in what it wants to say. In the end, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising is a sensational film from Nicholas Stoller.

Nicholas Stoller Films: Forgetting Sarah Marshall - (Get Him to the Greek) – (The Five-Year Engagement) – Neighbors (2014 film) - (Storks (2016 film))

© thevoid99 2017

Neighbors (2014 film)

Directed by Nicholas Stoller and written by Andrew J. Cohen and Brendan O’Brien, Neighbors is the story of a couple with a newborn baby who learns that their new neighbors is a college fraternity who creates trouble for the couple as a war breaks in. The film is a comedy that explores the generation gap of sorts as a couple tries to deal with their new family life as well as the horde of frat boys living next door. Starring Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron, Dave Franco, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Lisa Kudrow. Neighbors is a raucous yet hilarious film from Nicholas Stoller.

Being parents and being responsible isn’t easy as the film is about a couple with a newborn baby who learn that their new neighbors is a college fraternity that creates a lot of chaos and such forcing the parents to fight back in order to protect their family. Yet, it’s a film that is much more as it explores not just the fear of growing up but also in being adults and not having the kind of fun they once had as young adults. Particularly as Mac and Kelly Radner (Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne, respectively) want to have fun but they have their daughter Stella to worry about. While they try to be cool with the Delta Psi fraternity led by its president Teddy (Zac Efron) and its vice-president Pete (Dave Franco) where they would party with them. It would only cause trouble when Mac and Kelly break a promise from Teddy about not calling the cops as a war between the Radners and the Delta Psi fraternity emerges where things do get out of control.

The film’s screenplay doesn’t just explore the themes about growing up, being responsible, and the desire to have fun but the characters themselves as Mac and Kelly do want to be good parents to Stella yet they struggle with missing out on the things some of their friends do. While Mac may be the more jovial of the two, he tries to balance that with being responsible as he has a job while Kelly stays at home as she struggles with wanting to be more outgoing. Upon their encounters with the Delta Psi fraternity, Mac and Kelly don’t want to be the un-cool adults but the antics of the fraternity gets out of control as Teddy wants to do something that would ensure his place among the legends of the Delta Psi fraternity. While Pete has that same goal, he would eventually realize that things have come to far as it would play to not just Teddy’s fear of becoming an adult but also in the fact that he doesn’t want to grow up.

Nicholas Stoller’s direction is very lively throughout as he definitely knows how to keep the laughs going without being too repetitive. While much of the compositions in the close-ups and medium shots are pretty simple, there are elements in the film that manages to be visually-entrancing such as some of the party scenes as it is an ode to Gaspar Noe’s 2009 film Enter the Void. There’s also moments where the antics and the war that goes on do become very physical as well as play to a sense of chaos while Stoller knows when to slow things down. Particularly as the stakes get higher where Teddy and Delta Psi are one step away from being shut down while Mac and Kelly struggle with their own actions as it would affect their relationship. All of which would play into this extravagant climax as it is about not just one great party but how the characters would grow from everything they had done as it mixes humor and action. Overall, Stoller creates a very exciting and very funny film about growing up and wanting to have fun.

Cinematographer Brandon Trost does fantastic work with the cinematography for some of the film‘s nighttime interior scenes filled with dazzling colors and grainy cell-phone camera footage while keeping much of its exterior and daytime interior scenes in a straightforward manner. Editor Zene Baker does excellent work with the editing with its emphasis on jump-cuts and other array of rhythmic cuts and montages to play into the humor and chaotic vibe of the party scenes. Production designer Julie Berghoff, with set decorator Sophie Neudorfer and art director Gary Warshaw, does superb work with the look of the Radner home as well as Delta Psi fraternity house.

Costume designer Leesa Evans does nice work with the costumes as it‘s mostly straightforward along with the design of some of the costumes the fraternity wears in their Robert de Niro party. Sound editor Michael Babcock does terrific work with the sound from the way some of the party sounded from the Radner home to the sense of chaos that goes on in the pranks that Delta Psi create. The film’s music by Michael Andrews is a wonderful mix of light-hearted folk music with some electronic music while music supervisors Manish Raval and Tom Wolfe create this chaotic soundtrack filled with electronic music, hip-hop, and rock to play into vibe of the fraternity parties.

The casting by Melissa Kostenbauder and Francine Maisler is incredible as the ensemble features some notable small performances from Halston Sage as Teddy’s girlfriend Brooke, Ali Corbin as Brooke’s friend Whitney, Craig Roberts as a fraternity pledge named Assjuice, Hannibal Burress as the campus officer Watkins, Elise and Zoey Vargas as Mac and Kelly’s baby daughter Stella, and Lisa Kudrow in a small yet terrific performance as the college dean who is concerned about making good headlines while warning Teddy and his fraternity about their actions. Other notable small roles include Jerrod Carmichael and Christopher Mintz-Plasse in very funny performances in their respective roles as fraternity members Garf and Scoonie. Carla Gallo is wonderful as Mac and Kelly’s friend Paula who likes to party while Ike Barinholtz is superb as Paula’s ex-husband Jimmy who also likes to party as he helps Mac and Kelly in their plans.

Dave Franco is excellent as the Delta Psi vice president Pete who is Teddy’s right-hand man as he later becomes a conscience of sorts in the film when Teddy’s pranks start to get more out of control. Zac Efron is great as Teddy as the fraternity leader who wants to create the ultimate fraternity party and have a good time while dealing with the fear of life after college as Efron proves to be very funny as he has some great moments with his co-stars. Rose Byrne is amazing as Kelly Radner as this housewife that is trying to balance her in being wife/mother and the cool woman as Byrne shows her comedic chops in very wild ways as she also radiates some chemistry with her co-star Seth Rogen. Rogen is fantastic as Mac Radner as a man who wants to be cool and fun but deals with the responsibility in being a parent as he tries to protect his family but also not be a total villain to Teddy as it’s a role that his Rogen being an adult but also one is quite fun to watch.

Neighbors is a hilarious and wild comedy from Nicholas Stoller that features superb performances from Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, and Rose Byrne. It’s a comedy that keeps on bringing the laughs through and through while also having an engaging story that audiences can relate to. Especially in the way it explores about the fear of adulthood and losing the joy in having fun while having a family. In the end, Neighbors is an excellent film from Nicholas Stoller.

Nicholas Stoller Films: Forgetting Sarah Marshall - (Get Him to the Greek) - (The Five-Year Engagement) - Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising - (Storks (2016 film))

© thevoid99 2014

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 4/20/08 w/ Additional Edits & Revisions

Directed by Nicholas Stoller and written and starring Jason Segel, Forgetting Sarah Marshall is the story of a TV music composer whose TV-star girlfriend breaks up with him as he drowns his sorrow by taking a trip to Hawaii only to learn that his ex-girlfriend is there with her new rock-star boyfriend as he gains the pity of a hotel receptionist. The film is an exploration into the world of break-ups and how a man tries to deal with a four-year relationship coming to an end as it's told in a largely comedic manner. Also starring Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Bill Bader, Jonah Hill, and Paul Rudd. Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a witty yet touching romantic-comedy from Nicholas Stoller.

Breaking up is a moment that is hard for most people to deal with as the film is about this TV music composer named Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) who is dumped by his longtime TV actress girlfriend Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell) as he becomes depressed and despondent only to take the suggestion of his step-brother Brian (Bill Hader) to travel to Hawaii as he learns that Sarah is staying at the same resort he has checked himself into as she has a new boyfriend in British rock star Aldous Snow (Russell Brand). Taking pity on Peter is the hotel receptionist Rachel (Mila Kunis) who had also been through her own relationship issues as the two become friends while Peter would see Sarah during the vacation where he wonders what went wrong and what did he do as well as other things that made their relationship doomed. Especially as Sarah starts to notice Peter's growing friendship with Rachel as Sarah's relationship with Aldous becomes chaotic.

Jason Segel's screenplay does have a few subplots in the people that Peter meets such as a newlywed couple in Darald and Wyoma (Jack McBrayer and Maria Thayer, respectively), a chef named Kemo (Taylor Willy), a bartender named Dwayne, (Davon McDonald), a waiter named Matthew (Jonah Hill) who has a crush on Aldous, and a stoner surf instructor named Kunu (Paul Rudd). Yet, it does play into the world that Peter encounters as he tries to process the heartbreak he's going through as he would often cry hysterically over the break-up. Some parts of the script allows Peter to reflect on some moments about the relationship as his time with Rachel would prove to be helpful into realizing that there's so much more than Sarah Marshall. Especially as Sarah would face her own issues as well as her reasons into breaking up with Peter where even though Peter did play some role into the disillusion of their relationship. It was Sarah that did a lot to make things worse though her character isn't a total bitch.

Director Nicholas Stoller does a solid job with the film's direction while maintaining an intimate setting for the film's characters and their interaction with each other. The use of the Hawaiian locales are truly inspiring and colorful as it brings a lively look to the entire film in comparison to other Apatow-produced features as the film would also include some full-frontal male nudity to add to the raunchy humor of the film. Stoller's improvisation and also knack of humor is similar to the work of Blake Edwards, notably "10" that had a similar presence of a man dealing with a break-up only to fall for some young woman. The result is a comedy that is funny through and through with big laughs and lots of heart as well as real, lively characters.

Cinematographer Russ T. Alsobrook does a great job with the film's intimate, dark look for Los Angeles that is a huge contrast to the colorful, bright look of Hawaii in all of its exterior and interior locales. Editor William Kerr is excellent for giving the film a leisurely-paced feel without any kind of fast cuts to maintain a straightforward look and feel. Production designer Jackson De Govia and set decorator K.C. Fox do a great job in creating the look of the Hawaiian resorts and locales that feels like Hawaii itself. Costume designer Leesa Evans creates a wonderful look in the costumes from the dresses that Kristen Bell and Mila Kunis wears to the shirts that the men wear. Sound editor George H. Anderson does a superb job with the film's sound to convey the atmosphere that is Hawaii. Music composer Lyle Workman brings a wonderful score to convey its tropic look while the soundtrack featuring the Smiths, Jason Segal, Russell Brand, and covers of many pop songs in a Hawaiian style are wonderful. Notably Segal's own songs in the Dracula musical that are top-notch funny.

The casting by Jeanne McCarthy is wonderfully assembled with cameo appearances from such character actors as Gedde Watanabe as the hotel's manager and Branscombe Richard as a luau bartender named Keoki to other notable cameos by surfer Kala Alexander, Apatow regular Carla Gallo as one of Peter's bad dates, and appearances by Access Hollywood reporter Billy Bush, William Baldwin, and Jason Bateman. Taylor Willy and Davon McDonald are funny as two hotel employees Peter befriends as they tell him to stop crying and get his act together while Steve Landesberg is great as a pediatrician who tells him to sleep other women. Liz Cackowski is good as Brian's wife Liz who tries to help but at one becomes part of a sick, raunchy joke by Peter. Apatow cohorts Paul Rudd and Jonah Hill are hilarious in their respective roles as the stoner surf instructor Chuck/Kunu and the hotel's waiter Matthew. Rudd's stoned-out performance is filled with huge laughs including a hilarious scene where he makes fun of Aldous' British accent while Hill is great for his crush on Aldous which suggests that he's a closet homosexual.

30 Rock star Jack McBrayer and Hill's Accepted co-star Maria Thayer are great as an overly-excited newlywed couple where McBrayer's character has a fear of sex as he tries to deal with it with some unlikely help from Aldous. Bill Hader is funny as Peter's stepbrother Brian who tells Peter to get over Sarah while saying bad things about her and such as Hader is funny in his role. One of the film's funniest performances comes from British actor/musician/TV personality Russell Brand as Aldous Snow, a cocky yet whimsical man who likes to do strange sex moves in bed or on the stage. Yet, sporting many tattoos, the man despite some of his actions and off-kilter personality is just... cool. Brand's performance is just funny throughout the entire film as he reveals that despite his own nature, the character of Aldous Snow will always remain cool.

Kristen Bell is excellent in the role of Sarah Marshall who, despite her actions in breaking Peter's heart, is a full character who is trying to move on with Aldous only to realize that she might not have a future and how much she actually loved Peter. Bell brings a nice touch of sexiness, humor, and certainly a bit of bitchiness to her role as a young woman who doesn't really understand love. The film's big revelation and certainly one of the film's best performances is Mila Kunis who some might remember for her role as Jackie in the TV show That 70's Show. Kunis' lively, free-spirited performance is a joy to watch as she helps Peter deal with his heartbreak, curse out her ex-boyfriend, and observe Sarah Marshall. Kunis adds some sexiness to her own but it's the way she portrays Rachel with such heart and warmth as the girl Peter should be with.

Then there's Jason Segel, an Apatow regular, who delivers a great performance as Peter Bretter. Segel's performance is filled with a lot of laughs as he cries about his break-up, cries after sex, and also expose himself during some moments that are supposed to be sad but end up being funny. Segal is truly genius as he doesn't do any kind of raunchy gags but brings sympathy to a guy who is trying to get over Sarah Marshall while wondering what broke them up. He's also funny when he's doing his stuff that involves his Dracula musical that shows his wonderful talents. He's also worthy of doing something dramatic while having wonderful chemistry with both Kristen Bell and Mila Kunis. Segal gives a real star-making performance that will put him in great company among his Apatow cohorts.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a hilarious yet heartfelt comedy from Nicholas Stoller that features amazing work from Jason Segel and Mila Kunis. Along with a great supporting cast that includes Kristen Bell and Russell Brand, it's a film that has a lot of raunchy elements that is expected from the Judd Apatow-produced comedies but also a lot of heart that allows the film to be more engaging and accessible to a wider audience. In the end, Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a remarkable film from Nicholas Stoller.

Nicholas Stoller Films: (Get Him to the Greek) - (The Five-Year Engagement) - Neighbors (2014 film) - Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising - (Storks (2016 film))

© thevoid99 2014

Muppets Most Wanted/Party Central (short)

Directed by James Bobin and written by Bobin and Nicholas Stoller, Muppets Most Wanted is the story of the Muppets who take part in a European tour where a notorious criminal who looks like Kermit the Frog has Kermit taken to the Gulag in Siberia while pretending to be Kermit much to the suspicion of the other Muppets. The sequel to the 2011 film that brought the Muppets back to the public consciousness, the film is a suspense-comedy where it involves thefts, doubles, singing Russian criminals, and all sorts of crazy things. Starring Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, Tina Fey, and the Muppets. Muppets Most Wanted is a very entertaining film from James Bobin and the Muppets.

Party Central

Written and directed by Kelsey Mann, Party Central is a sequel short to 2013’s Monsters University in which Mike and Sulley help out their fraternity brothers in Oozma Kappa create the ultimate college party. It’s a short where Mike and Sulley do some very crazy things to help their friends create the ultimate college party where a lot of craziness ensues that includes moments where monsters walk through the homes of humans who become freaked out by what is happening. It’s a fun, fun, fun short film from Pixar who continues to deliver with the shorts.

Muppets Most Wanted

The film is a simple story which picks up where the last film is left off where the Muppets try to figure out what to do next. Under the advice of a tour manager, the Muppets go on an European tour where Kermit the Frog is ambushed and taken to the Gulag prison in Siberia as he is believed to be the notorious thief Constantine who switches places with him. Yet, Constantine’s real plan with his associate Dominic Badguy (Ricky Gervais) is to steal clues to obtain the Crown Jewels of England while a few of the Muppets become suspicious over Kermit’s odd behavior. It’s a film that has a premise that may not be entirely original but it does play into a world where taking one Muppet out of the equation in the group can spell disharmony as Miss Piggy finds herself unfulfilled in the new devotion that Kermit has for her unaware that it’s really Constantine.

James Bobin and Nicholas Stoller’s screenplay keeps the premise simple in the way the Muppets not only deal with success but also deal with the fact that many of their ideas don’t always work sometimes. In some respects, the film is sort of the anti-sequel as the film opens with a song about sequels and how they’re often not as good as the predecessor. Not only do Bobin and Stoller take a few shots at it but also infuse it with some suspense and comedy to play into Kermit’s situation at the Gulag where its warden Nadya (Tina Fey) has a major crush on Kermit. Meanwhile, an Interpol agent in Jean Pierre Napoleon (Ty Burrell) teams up with Sam Eagle to not only uncover the jewelry thefts but also deal with each other where a lot of hilarity ensues.

Bobin’s direction is very simple where he aims for something that is crazy at times but also slow things down so that audiences can be engaged into the story. While there’s a lot of excellent musical numbers, it is balanced by its approach to comedy and drama where much of the film is shot in Britain with a few location shots in Berlin, Madrid, and Los Angeles as Bobin goes for mostly medium shots and close-ups. Yet, he does manage to create a few wide shots for some of the film’s big musical numbers as well as present this elaborate climax that is definitely entertaining and gripping. Overall, Bobin creates a very delightful and fun film about the Muppets dealing with a doppelganger and other crazy things.

Cinematographer Don Burgess does nice work with the film‘s cinematography from the look of the scenes at the Gulag to the lavish lighting for some of the stage performances by the Muppets. Editor James Thomas does terrific work with the editing as it‘s pretty straightforward while has some effective use in the montages. Production designer Eve Stewart, with set decorator Anna Lynch-Robinson and supervising art director Grant Armstrong, does excellent work with the set pieces from the Muppets stage presentation to the look of the Gulag.

Costume designer Rahel Afiley does wonderful work with the costumes from the look of the prison uniforms to some of clothes the Muppets wear. Visual effects supervisor Sean Mathiesen does fantastic work with the visual effects in some of the musical numbers to some of the more action-based effects in the film. Sound editors Kami Asgar, Sean McCormack, and Jeffrey A. Pitts do superb work with the sound in creating layers of sound effects and textures in some of the stage performances and the scenes in the Gulag. The film’s music by Christoph Beck and Bret McKenzie is great for some of the original songs that is made as well as some of the musical choices they put in including a very inspired take on Working in the Coal Mine and an over-the-top duet between Miss Piggy and Celine Dion.

The casting by Randi Hiller and Tamara Notcutt is brilliant for the cameos they bring in as among the celebrities that appear in the film are Celine Dion, Salma Hayek, Tom Hiddleston, Chloe Grace Mortez, Christoph Waltz, Mackenzie Cook, Toby Jones, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Zach Galifianakis, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Frank Langella, Hugh Bonneville, Stanley Tucci, Miranda Richardson, Saoirse Ronan, James McAvoy, Josh Groban, Usher, and Til Schweiger. In other cameos as prisoners of the Gulag, there’s Danny Trejo, Jermaine Clement, Ray Liotta, and Dylan “Hornswoggle” Postl as they bring a nice edge to their performances as tough criminals who want to sing. Ty Burrell is terrific as the very comical Jean Pierre Napoleon who teams with Sam Eagle to find what is going on.

Tina Fey is amazing as she does a very comical Russian accent as the Gulag warden Nadya who tries to be tough but has a secret crush on Kermit. Ricky Gervais is excellent as Constantine’s henchman Dominic Badguy (pronounced Bad-gee) who serves as a foil for Constantine. Finally, there’s the Muppets as the people who perform such great characters as Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Gonzo the Great, Fozzie Bear, Walter, Scooter, Animal, and the rest of the gang are just fun to watch. Especially as Matt Vogel does superb work in voicing Constantine who does his worst to ruin Kermit’s persona.

Muppets Most Wanted is an excellent film from James Bobin. Not only is it a worthy successor to its 2011 predecessor but also proof that the Muppets are still vital. Even as they manage to engage audiences from all ages to kids and adults as they all want to do is entertain and give the audiences a good time. In the end, Muppets Most Wanted is a superbly fun film from James Bobin.

The Muppets Films: (The Muppet Movie) - (The Great Muppet Caper) - (Muppets Take Manhattan) - (Sesame Streets Presents Follow That Bird) - (The Muppets Christmas Carol) - (Muppet Treasure Island) - (Muppets from Space) - (The Adventure of Elmo in Grouchland) - The Muppets

© thevoid99 2014

The Muppets/Small Fry

Based on Jim Henson’s puppet TV show, The Muppets is about a big fan who asks his brother and his brother’s girlfriend to save the Muppets theater from an oil businessman by reuniting the Muppets. Directed by James Bobin with a script written by Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller, the film marks the return of the Muppets gang after a long-decade hiatus from feature films as Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo the Great, Animal, and many others make their long-awaited return. Also starring Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Rashida Jones, and Chris Cooper along with a slew of cameos. The Muppets is a fun and lively film that reminds everyone why the Muppets are so loveable.

Toy Story Toons: Small Fry

Written and directed by Angus MacLane, Small Fry is the second Toy Story short from Pixar about Buzz Lightyear being trapped at a fast-food restaurant where he meets a group of discarded toys while a mini-version of Buzz takes his place.

The short has a mini-Buzz toy trying to replace Buzz at a fast-food restaurant where he manages to annoy Woody and the gang. Buzz meanwhile, tries to get back home as he meets a group of toys who go into a meeting about feeling abandoned and not played at all. It’s another short where a lot of funny moments happen that involves the mini-Buzz (Teddy Newton) as his eagerness to be played with has him getting into some trouble with Woody, Jessie, and the rest of the gang.

The Muppets

For all of his life, Walter (the voice of Peter Linz) is a young Muppet that has a been of Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and the gang as his older brother Gary (Jason Segel) and his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) go on a trip to Los Angeles for their 10th anniversary. Gary invites Walter in hopes to go to Muppets studio where they find the place in ruins as Walter secretly enters Kermit’s office to find a meeting with oil baron Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) who plans to purchase the property for oil drilling. Walter decides to find the Muppets in hope to raise $10 million to save the studio as Gary and Mary join him where they meet Kermit. Though Kermit was unsure about reuniting with the old gang, he decides to reunite the old gang as he learns that Gonzo is a successful plumbing executive and Fozzie leading a Muppets tribute band with a group of cynical Muppets.

With Kermit finally getting nearly everyone on board, the only he couldn’t convince is Miss Piggy as she declines due to personal issues with Kermit. Kermit reluctantly replaces her with Miss Poogy, from Fozzie’s tribute band, as they’ve managed to convince a TV executive named Veronica (Rashida Jones) to have a telethon presented with a celebrity guest host. Though Kermit and the gang try to figure out how to present the show as Miss Piggy finally comes around to return for a one-time gig. Gary and Mary go through their own relationship problems while Walter becomes unsure what his talent is for the show. When Kermit learns that Richman isn’t just going to own than just the studio, problems emerge as everyone decides to get together and save the Muppets studio from the greedy Richman.

For anyone that has grown up with Muppets over the years, there’s always a lot that people gravitate towards to. Whether it’s Fonzie’s bad jokes, Animal’s crazy drumming, Gonzo’s stunts, Miss Piggy’s diva behavior, and the always reasonable yet silly Kermit. The Muppets has always been there for one thing only, to make people laugh. Since they’ve been away for quite some time in the age of computer-animated films and an array of silly gimmicks for family movies. The time is right for the Muppets to make their return as they once again return in great form doing what they do best.

Screenwriters Jason Segal and Nicholas Stoller definitely create a story that people can enjoy though it’s obvious formulaic in what they wanted to do. Still, they’ve managed to keep things be lively and find some excuse to put a musical number or a montage into the story. At the heart of it is about one young Muppet fan trying to get the gang back together while finding himself becoming part of the gang. Yet, he has to realize that it’s been so many years since they’ve been seen while the Muppets themselves wonder if they still have something to offer. The script succeeds in being very funny and entertaining while giving the human characters more than just being stock characters while the Tex Richman character is a fun antagonist that is a parody of sorts of other villains.

James Bodin’s direction is truly whimsical in the way the film is presented as it isn’t just a tribute to the old Muppets TV show and the movies they’ve made. It’s also a resurrection of sorts in reminding audiences why they were so beloved. After years of lackluster projects that didn’t live up to the work that Jim Henson did during his life time, Bodin finally gets it by just keeping things simple and just let the Muppets have fun. Bodin manages to get a lot of wide shots for some of the musical numbers while keeping the camera going without any kind of fast-paced movements. At the heart of it all, it’s all about bringing people together and just having a good time in which Bodin does as he brings Jim Henson’s voice back in what the Muppets all about. Overall, James Bodin creates a truly exhilarating and charming film that makes the audience welcome the Muppets back with open arms.

Cinematographer Don Burgess does an excellent job with the cinematography that is colorful and vibrant for its daytime scene while maintaining a stylish intimacy for some of its interiors including the scenes at the Muppet theater. Editor James M. Thomas does a nice job with the editing as it’s mostly straightforward while creating a great montage of how the Muppets are all gathered for the reunion.

Production designer Steve Saklad, with set decorator Tracey A. Doyle and art director Andrew Max Cahn does a wonderful job with the set pieces created such as Kermit‘s mansion as well as Muppets studio and theater for the big production number. Costume designer Rahel Afiley does a very good job with the clothes that the human characters such as the matching suits that Gary and Walter wear along with the stylish dresses that Mary wears. Visual effects supervisor Janet Muswell does some fine work on a few visual effects scene needed such as Walter trying to break into Kermit‘s home. Sound designer Benjamin L. Cook and sound editors Kami Asgar and Sean McCormack do some fantastic work with the sound to capture the some of the sound present on location like Fozzie’s fart shoes.

The film’s score by Christophe Beck is brilliant for its playful and dramatic orchestral themes for the film to emphasize the varying mood of the film. Original songs by Bret McKenzie of Flight of the Conchords provide a lot of the film’s musical moments such as the ballad Man or Muppet, Me Party, and the enjoyable Life’s a Happy Song while providing a soundtrack filled with tunes by Paul Simon, Andrew Bird, and Starship and covers of songs by Nirvana and Cee-Lo along with a new rendition of Rainbow Connection. The music provided in the film is truly the film’s major highlight in terms of technical field.

The casting by Marcia Ross is superb for the numerous cameos that appear in the film such as Alan Arkin, pop singer Selena Gomez, Jack Black, Whoopi Goldberg, Donald Glover as a TV executive, Ken Jeong as a TV game show host, Neil Patrick Harris, Judd Hirsch, James Carville, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt reprising her role from The Devil Wears Prada as Miss Piggy’s receptionist, Rico Rodriguez, Mickey Rooney, Kristen Schaal as an anger management moderator, Sarah Silverman, Jim Parsons, Zach Galifianakis, and Dave Grohl as Fozzie’s tribute band drummer. In other human roles, there’s Rashida Jones as a corporate TV executive who reluctantly let the Muppets put on their show while Chris Cooper is hilarious as oil tycoon Tex Richman as he gets to have a musical moment of his own.

Jason Segel and Amy Adams are a joy to watch as they each bring a wonderful enthusiasm to their roles as a couple eager to be together while helping the Muppets. Finally, there’s the Muppet performers who help play the varied roles of the Muppets, including Peter Linz who voices the role of a new Muppet in the determined fan Walter, as they do an outstanding job providing the voices that longtime fans love to hear from these characters.

The Muppets is an enjoyable and very funny film from James Bodin as he along with screenwriters Nicholas Stoller and Jason Segel help bring the Muppets back. Longtime fans will no doubt be rejoiced by the return of Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, and the rest of the gang while proving they haven’t lost their touch. For new fans, it’s a chance to see why the Muppets are so beloved as they can get a chance to just enjoy themselves and laugh. In the end, The Muppets is an excellent film that brings new life to Jim Henson’s beloved creation.

The Muppets Films: (The Muppet Movie) - (The Great Muppet Caper) - (The Muppets Take Manhattan) - (Sesame Streets Present Follow That Bird) - (The Muppet Christmas Carol) - (Muppet Treasure Island) - (Muppets from Space) - (The Adventure of Elmo in Grouchland) - Muppets Most Wanted

© thevoid99 2011