GARY (Jason Segel) is loyal to his brother Walter-the
two do everything together. “Gary is from Smalltown, USA,” says Jason Segel (TV’s “How I Met
Your Mother,” “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”), a longtime Muppet fan who created
the role with himself in mind. “He’s very naïve, sweet and innocent, and he’s
very much in love with his girlfriend Mary. He’s torn between his brother and
growing into a new phase of maturation where it’s time to be with his
girlfriend. He’s lived with his brother forever so that is his big struggle.”
The plot thickens when the trio decides to take a vacation.
Says Segel, “The movie starts out with me and my brother Walter, whose wildest
fantasy is to meet the Muppets. My goal is to take a vacation to L.A. with my girlfriend Mary. So we all
come to L.A. and while taking a tour of Muppet Studios, which are now decrepit,
we find out that they’re going to be torn down to drill for oil. So we have to
find Kermit, reunite the Muppets-who have disbanded because of professional
rivalries-and put on a show to raise enough money to save the studio.”
Gary throws himself into the effort,
putting his relationship with Mary on the back burner-again. Will he ever be
able to grow up and embrace true love?
With his
Kermit t-shirt and watch, WALTER
(Walter) is a devoted fan of the Muppets. The lifelong resident of Smalltown, USA, dreams of meeting his heroes one
day, and feels that-just maybe-he belongs with them. So when brother Gary and
his girlfriend Mary plan a trip to Los Angeles, Walter joins them with hopes of
realizing his dream once and for all.
The role
marks the big-screen debut for Walter, and one seemingly written for him. “I
play Walter, the world’s biggest Muppet fan,” says the star, “which is a real
coincidence, since I happen to be the world’s biggest Muppet fan and my name is
Walter. It’s like I was made to play this part.”
Walter
finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time-or is it the right
time?-when he overhears evil oil baron Tex Richman discussing a plot to destroy
Muppet Studios. With the help of Gary and Mary, it’s Walter who sets the plan
in motion to reunite the Muppets and save the studio. His pure-hearted
enthusiasm for all things Muppets just might save more than the studio, too.
her desk are any indication. She is Gary’s longtime girlfriend who often
finds herself playing third wheel to Gary and his brother Walter.
Mary
shares Gary and Walter’s sweet, innocent disposition, but she’s growing
weary of sharing her boyfriend with Walter. She can’t help but hope for a
magical proposal during their Los Angeles
vacation, but her plans are derailed when news of Muppet Studios’ pending
demise spur the trio into expressly non-marriage-proposal action.
Amy Adams (“The Fighter,” “Julie & Julia”) was called on
for the role-in a way that was impossible to miss, says the actress. “Jason and
Kermit sent me an invitation to be in Disney’s “The Muppets”-they asked if I’d
read the script and consider the role of Mary. Kermit was a big part of my
decision. I don’t like to tell Jason that ’cause he’s a little sensitive that I
might be partial to Kermit, but I am.”
“The Muppets,” KERMIT THE FROG (Kermit
the Frog) lives a quiet, solitary life. It’s been a few years since the
Muppets last performed together and Kermit doesn’t realize how much he misses
his friends until he’s tracked down by Walter, Gary and Mary from Smalltown,
and convinced to reunite with the rest of the Muppets to save Muppet Studios.
Returning
to the role he made famous in six previous Muppet movies, “The Muppet Show” and
countless TV specials and internet videos, is Kermit the Frog. “I’ve played
other parts, like Bob Crachit in ‘A Muppet Christmas Carol’ and Captain
Smollett in ‘Muppet Treasure Island,’ says Kermit, “but I think me is my
favorite part.”
The role is a bit of a departure for the frog known for his
unifying spirit and award-winning songs like “The Rainbow Connection.” “The
movie is filled with comedy, music and adventure-like all the Muppet movies,”
says Kermit. “But I play quite a dramatic role. You see a side of me that maybe
you haven’t see before-and I’m not just taking about new camera angles. Acting
wise, I really stretch to play me. One of my favorite moments is singing a
brand new original song called ‘Pictures in my Head.’ I walk through the halls
of a big mansion looking at portraits of my Muppet friends and missing those
guys. It was very emotional…and I think it will disprove critics who’ve said
‘the frog can’t emote.'”
Kermit, who’s always the glue that holds the Muppets
together, has a big job in this movie, going head to head with Tex Richman-a
guy who’s lost his laugh-to save the studio.
destroy Muppet Studios, presumably to dig for the oil he claims is underneath.
But the
truth, says Chris Cooper (“Adaptation,” “The Bourne Identity”), who portrays
the villain, is that Tex has a personal vendetta against the Muppets. “He
blames the Muppets for a terrible event that happened to him at his 10th
birthday party,” says Cooper. “He is unable to laugh and has vowed to destroy
the Muppets.”
But Tex
Richman’s inability to laugh doesn’t stop him from taking part in other Muppet
antics. He may be cold-hearted and conniving, but this oil magnate has a few
secrets up his sleeve that are more fun than fiendish.
personality in a new made-to-order gig in Disney’s “The Muppets.” As plus-size
editor of Vogue Paris, she shares her sublime fashion sensibilities with
readers worldwide… at least until Kermit shows up.
The Frog is
there, of course, as part of his mission to reunite all the Muppets to save
Muppet Studios from Tex Richman. But Miss Piggy can read between the lines: she
knows an invitation for love when she sees it. And really-how could she say no
to Kermie?
Playing the
role of Miss Piggy is none other than Miss Piggy (“Muppets from Space,” TV’s
“The Muppet Show”). “It’s the role I was born to play,” says the
internationally famous star. “Moi plays a high-powered, confident, charismatic,
gorgeous, scene-stealing star who saves the day and wins her frog’s heart.”
Her fans
would expect nothing less.
during the Muppets’ extended hiatus depicted in Disney’s “The Muppets,” the
stand-up comic bear was determined to keep his act and the spirit of the
Muppets alive-even if it meant joining up with a Reno casino tribute band called the
Moopets. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and the Moopets may be
sincere, but they’re also a little creepy.
“The
Moopets recreate great Muppet moments,” says Fozzie Bear (“The Great Muppet
Caper,” TV’s “The Muppet Show”), who is back on the big screen as his namesake,
“at least that’s what they told me we were doing. Could’ve fooled me.”
Regardless
of who he shares the stage with, Fozzie will try anything to tickle the
audience’s funny bones: gags, novelties, whoopee cushions, banana peels,
custard pies and recycled jokes that earn more winces than laughs-particularly
from his in-house hecklers, Statler and Waldorf (aka “those two old guys in the
balcony”) In truth, Statler and Waldorf just might be the bear’s biggest fans.
Though they’d never admit it, they may actually be happy to see Fozzie and the
Muppets reunited-and they might have to throw the bear a laugh or two this time
if it means saving Muppet Studios.
the Muppets to air their studio-saving telethon. She’s not easily swayed, and
it’ll take a big-name star to seal the deal.
Actress
Rashida Jones (“The Social Network,” TV’s “The Office) portrays the
tough-as-nails woman to impress. “I play a hard-nosed, stressed-out TV
executive,” says Jones, “but I am the only one who gives the Muppets the chance
to air their fundraising telethon. I definitely crack the whip, though, because
I’m scared of losing my job and I’m scared it’s not going to be successful-I
yell at Kermit a lot.”
It won’t be easy, but
hopefully, Kermit can charm Veronica like he charms every woman, network exec
and diva pig he encounters.
last performed. In Disney’s “The Muppets,” Kermit, Walter and the gang find
that Gonzo’s career is down the drain-literally. “I play a plumbing magnate,”
says the daredevil who returns to the role he singlehandedly made famous. “In
this movie, we see what happens when I pursue plumbing-my original career
choice. Actually, show business and plumbing have a lot in common-especially
when it comes to clogs and snakes.”
It takes
some convincing-and an increase in health insurance coverage-to get Gonzo back
on stage. Fortunately, Gonzo (“The Muppets Take Manhattan,” TV’s “The Muppet
Show”), a pioneer of all things weird, can’t resist the temptation of the wild
and wacky stunts he performs to earn the eternal admiration (not to mention shock
and awe) of his audience-and one very special chicken named Camilla.
Gonzo’s
stage act, which includes shooting himself from a cannon, balancing a piano on
his nose, or eating radial tires to classical music, will likely always end in
disaster-but that’s the whole point!
survivor, finally addresses a troublesome personality trait and finds himself
in an anger management program in Disney’s “The Muppets.” He’s traded in his
drums for a flute and is struggling to redefine his identity. As if…
But fear
not, fans of the over-the-top, monosyllabic, appetite-with-legs drummer from
Dr. Teeth’s Electric Mayhem Band. Once reunited with the Muppets, Animal’s
incessant (yet innocent) pursuit of rock n’ roll, food and women (not
necessarily in that order) returns. “Me like,” says Animal (“Muppet Treasure
Island,” TV’s “The Muppet Show”). “Movie good.”