Let’s cut right through the hype and get to the down and dirty…
The filmmakers behind THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS believe in truth in advertising.
Like their main barker lines in ads that state, “No Sesame. All Street.”
And, “Sex. Murder. Puppets.”
Yeah, that’s the ticket.
Needless to say this very hard, R-rated, dark puppet satire is NOT for kids!
(One has to wonder what had to be cut from the film to escape the dreaded NC-17 rating?)
What we’ve got here is a cop/detective yarn set on the seedy side of L.A. with clashing detectives—one human, the other a puppet—who attempt to solve the brutal murders of ex-puppet cast members of a once popular children’s TV show.
What they encounter along the way (and in the string of gags thrown into the mix) borders EXTREME RAUNCH!
Nothing is sacred here.
Just about everything gets hit including the infamous BASIC INSTINCT scene. Even Scientology gets riffed. Yet at its only 91 minutes running time the movie still plays about 10 minutes too long.
And then there’s THAT scene in the (puppet) dick’s office…..
Let me just put it to you this way, there are no E.D. issues going on HERE!
You’ve got to love puppet sex with all its comings—and goings.
“Clean up on aisle 2,” pretty well nails it.
All that plus a respectable human cast which coexists with the film’s stuffed co-stars.
They include Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph, Joel McHale and Elizabeth Banks.
It’s all directed by Brian Henson., he, of course being the son of Jim Henson, creator of THE MUPPETS.
No wonder Sesame Workshop tried to interfere with the project in court.
(Unsuccessfully, I might add.)
So if “you looking for some rotten cotton,” check out THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS. Opening this weekend in wide release.
JUST KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GETTING YOURSELF INTO!
My grade: C
Jack Goes To The Movies Friday mornings at 9:50 a.m. during Kansas City’s Morning News on 98.1 KMBZ-FM
It’s more than just a little concerning to me that Roseanne has apparently made such a quick comeback. She shouldn’t be wearing stripes down at the Footlocker, let alone getting any parts in a picture these days.
Roseanne???? Did you confuse her with Melissa McCarthy here?
No. But frankly, I wouldn’t give McCarthy a part in the picture either.