The Happytime Murders - So good (but probably not for everyone)

I didn't see 'The Happytime Murders' in the cinema, simply because it wasn't in there long enough for me to manage.  I'm guessing it didn't stay long was something to do with the reviews - which were pretty poor to say the least.

Brian (son on legendary 'Muppets' creator Jim) Henson creates a work where puppets co-exist with us 'normal' humans and yet are kind of considered 'second class citizens' - possibly due to them being filled with fluff, constantly wanting to engage in mass song and dance routines and, in some cases, hopelessly addicted to sugar.  However, if you've seen any of his father's work, you may be thinking you're going to get some sort of light-hearted, family-friendly, happy-go-lucky adventure to keep the kids entertained.  Oh how wrong you would be.  In fact... this film should probably never be shown to children (which is most likely one of the main reasons it failed, commercially).

Despite the (literally) colourful cast of puppet-characters, 'The Happytime Murders' is definitely for adults only.  Expect violent murder (as the title refers to), puppet-sex (which makes the 'love scene' from 'Team America: World Police' seem tame) and plenty of snorting lines of purple powder.  And all that is why I think it's become one of my favoutite films of recent times.

Melissa McCarthy is the main human lead.  I know some of her films can be a bit 'hit of miss' (and the 'Ghostbusters' remake didn't help), but - don't worry - she's back on form here.  The only thing that doesn't go in her favour is the fact that she's totally upstaged by the film's 'true' star - the blue-faced puppet 'Phil Philman' who, despite being made out of material and clearly operated by puppeteers' hands, somehow manages to convey more expression and range of emotion than most of the human actors working in Hollywood right now.  In a matter of minutes you'll probably actually forget that he's not real and get behind him as you would with any protagonist.

So many recent 'comedies' (note the quote marks?) barely get me to raise a smile.  Yet in 'The Happytime Murders' I'd go as far as to say that almost all the jokes land and hit their mark.  Believe it or not, many of the gags are pretty well thought out and only really can work in a film about puppets.  Plus you also have a bit more of a subtle take on prior racial inequalities where puppets are seen as a 'sub-class' of society.  However, this kind of message is never blatant enough to appear 'preachy' and get in the way of the film's true purpose - to make you laugh.

For me, the film was pretty much close to perfect, but I do understand that it's not for everyone.  It's vulgar (see the silly-string gag), crude and some may say distasteful, plus 'puppets for adults' is always going to be a 'niche film' to sell to the masses.  Basically, you're either going to love or hate it.  Possibly best to really be sure that you're into some sick and twisted stuff like this before you sit down to watch.  If I had to compare 'The Happytime Murders' to another film, I'd say 'Ted/Ted 2,' simply because both take (traditionally) children's characters and make them crude, vulgar and for adults only (and are all the better for doing so).

9/10 almost as perfect as The Godfather