Muppets Most Wanted comes to home video today – My First Impressions of the Blu-ray

August 12, 2014 Jason @disneygeek.com

The Muppets Most Wanted comes to home video with the Unnecessarily Extended Edition featured in a Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital Copy (Disney Movies Anywhere) combo-pack. The Blu-ray features three “versions” of the movie. The original. The extended and a special Statler & Waldorf Cut. I will keep it spoiler free but warn you not to get your hopes up on the Statler & Waldorf cut. Its funny but probably not what you think, Disney released the feature here it is:

The extended edition features are showing as about 12 minutes of running time (1:47 vs 1:59 on the player). They are integrated throughout the film and I found myself at several points asking if this was extended or in the original. And there is no easy way to switch back and forth.. so you need a better memory than me. I did get a couple of them though. I could this list on muppet.wiki.com.

I was disappointed not to see the Pixar Short, Party Central on the disc since it was released before the film in theaters. For more details on the home video release click here.

The bonus features are a bit thin in this offering. There is a long blooper reel, over 9 minutes. Some were funny but I was expecting more. I am a fan of the Muppets but this just seemed to drag on to me and most I did not find “laugh out loud funny”. I did enjoy the Rizzo’s Biggest Fan, this feature is an open letter to the director to include Rizzo in the next film. There is also a music video “I’ll Get You What You Want”. I would have liked to have seen a making of feature of some sort. Also a catalog of what was added for the extended version, for those of us that are not that eagle eyed or have short memories.

Upon a second viewing my impressions of the film stayed more or less as they did on the first pass. I enjoyed the film but it felt like it ran long and lacked something.. below are my first impressions and a quick summary of the plot in case you are unfamiliar with it.

My first impressions of the film itself from its theatrical run:

If you have seen any of the promotional material for the “Muppets Most Wanted” you are given the basic story line. The World’s Number One Criminal – Constantine — escapes from a Russian gulag and assumes Kermit’s identity. He uses the Muppets World Tour as a cover for his crime caper. Sam Eagle and Jean Pierre Napoleon (Ty Burrell) from Interpol are in pursuit.
If you are a fan of the Muppets you will enjoy the film. I thought the movie opened strong with a show stopping “We’re Doing a Sequel” number and plenty of Statler and Waldorf moments (whom I really enjoy).

Beaker, one of my favorite Muppets, plays a minor role, only a couple of times on screen, but very key. The rest of the film had some fun and entertaining moments but it did not have the big bang like the opening and seemed to drag a bit in the middle. If you are looking to spend some time with the Muppets then you will enjoy the film, but if you are expecting something more you may walk out disappointed. “Muppets Most Wanted” does not have the same feel/heart as the 2011 “The Muppets” film did.

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