The Happytime Murders (Jim Henson)

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blackcauldron85
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"The Happytime Murders"- Jim Henson Co. movie

Post by blackcauldron85 »

I'm not putting this in the Muppets thread in the Disney Discussion, because I don't think that this will be a Disney movie...please move this there, though, if it will be a Disney movie!

http://community.livejournal.com/ohnoth ... 42365.html

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The Jim Henson Co. has picked up a spec script that may signal a daring turn into adult territory for the company behind Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear.

"The Happytime Murders" is a film noir murder mystery that will fall under the company's Henson Alternative banner, a division that develops projects not intended for children.

Brian Henson, co-CEO of the Jim Henson Co. and one of the late puppeteer's sons, is on board to direct.

The story takes place in a world where humans and puppets co-exist, with the puppets viewed as second-class citizens. When the puppet cast of an '80s children's TV show called "The Happytime Gang" begins to get murdered one by one, a disgraced puppet LAPD detective turned private eye -- with a drinking problem, no less -- takes on the case. The script was written by Todd Berger from a story he worked on with Dee Austin Robertson.

This would not be the first time that Henson is delving into more adult fare. In 1982, the company made "The Dark Crystal," which featured a dark tone and, in one scene, nudity. But "Happytime" will also have an absurdist and comedic quality to it, comparable to Broadway's "Avenue Q."
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Post by littlefuzzy »

Almost sounds like a puppet remake of Who Framed Roger Rabbit... Maybe with a bit of Greg the Bunny.



Of course, long before Avenue Q came out, there was a little film by Peter Jackson called Meet the Feebles.

Talk about a puppet movie for adults! :lol:
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The Happytime Murders (Jim Henson)

Post by Sotiris »

This is basically an R-rated Who Framed Roger Rabbit but with Muppets instead of Toons.

Here's the first trailer.
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Re: The Happytime Murders (Jim Henson)

Post by Disney's Divinity »

I'll be seeing this for Melissa McCarthy, love her. Not too excited about it otherwise.
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Re: The Happytime Murders (Jim Henson)

Post by Sotiris »

Well, that didn't take long! :lol:

'Sesame Street' Creators Sue STX Entertainment Over Marketing for 'The Happytime Murders'
http://variety.com/2018/film/news/sesam ... 202822955/
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Re: The Happytime Murders (Jim Henson)

Post by Disney Duster »

Oh, so it's rated R, not X. It looks...gross. A little funny.
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Re: The Happytime Murders (Jim Henson)

Post by estefan »

Disney Duster wrote:Oh, so it's rated R, not X. It looks...gross. A little funny.
The MPAA discontinued the X rating in 1990, after it was cooopted by the pornographic film industry. They now use NC-17, but that rating is extremely rare as it's considered box-office suicide (you can blame Showgirls for that).
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Re: The Happytime Murders (Jim Henson)

Post by Disney Duster »

I thought Sotiris wrote X initially. I swear...
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Re: The Happytime Murders (Jim Henson)

Post by Sotiris »

Interesting article about the making of the movie.

How Peter Jackson's Low-Budget Cult Comedy 'Meet the Feebles' Inspired 'The Happytime Murders'
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat- ... it-1135381
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Re: The Happytime Murders (Jim Henson)

Post by blackcauldron85 »

I don't know why this is getting bad reviews- it is great! It was funny and shocking- my husband and I want more of these films; I hope the Henson Alternative production company continues.
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Re: The Happytime Murders (Jim Henson)

Post by Disney's Divinity »

This was better than I expected. I thought it would be cringeworthy and try-hard, but it was actually pretty funny. Some of the highlights:a video of a Dalmatian puppet with a Russian accent whipping a fireman, the whole shop scene at the beginning you know the one, a puppet being murdered via dogs being released to rip him to shreds, the same puppet having bleached his skin to be less "blue," McCarthy asking questions to pig and crab puppet perverts. :lol: The deleted scenes of the funeral ("ashes to ashes, fluff to fluff") and Elizabeth Banks being arrested were good, too.
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