Muppets Most Wanted

The reunited Muppets set off on a world tour, never suspecting that their new manager (Ricky Gervais) is using the tour as cover for a crime spree masterminded by an escapee from a Russian gulag, “the world's most dangerous frog”—a near-perfect double for Kermit. The movie opens with one of many clever songs by Bret McKenzie, “We're Doing a Sequel,” frankly admitting that “the sequel's never quite as good.” Happily, the movie belies that truism. It's not only even better than 2011's The Muppets, it's the best Muppets movie since the first one in 1979. Nicholas Stoller and director James Bobin's script is a riot of groan-and-guffaw jokes, and Bobin's pacing is sprightly and joyous. Gervais, Tina Fey (as a gulag guard) and Ty Burrell (a French cop) head the customary all-star supporting cast. Pure fun.