(Before review)
Anthony: *feels in pain of his life* I cannot believe myself... I've been suffered two times to watching four of the worst movies of this year... Like Pacific Rim Uprising, Rampange, Teen Titans Go Th the Movies and then Slender Man... Why?? Why did i waste my time and my IQ to watching these horrible movies...? I mean, 2018 is gonna kill me... Its gonna kill me so bad...!
Zelia: *approaching him* Whats wrong, Antho?
Anthony: I don't feel very good, i've suffered more than three strikes of bad movies, i just want to see some good movie at the end of summer...!
Zelia: How about "The Happytime Murders"? You've seen that trailer, right?
Anthony: Hmm... I saw it, i think il be interested to see, i watched the puppet shows since my childhood, but as i know, they took to a new level like "Sausage Party", i mean, it can't be that bad, right?
*one in a half hours later*
Zelia: So, what do you think of it?
Anthony: It was... Ok, not the best, but it was rather alright. And im kinda refreshing.
Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my movie review.
You know, i had an old memory that remembered seeing a puppet show as, such as Sesame Street, it was fun, colorful and it has a lovable casts, though i don't remember which one is my favorite episodes, its most likely that i always a fan of animated films like Disney or Pixar.
As time goes, puppet shows are probably being picked up for movies, especially with famous franchise like "The Muppet show". I mean i know they had an up and down legacy. However, some people decided to asking "What if we make a puppet content, with action, black comedy and murder solving?".
"The Happytime Murders" is a 2018 is a black-comedy crime solving with puppets, directed by Brian Henson (the son of Jim Henson, but also as a producer), produced by Jeff Hayes, Jason Lust, Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone, then written by Todd Berger and Dee Austin Robertson (for story only).
This is the film that like Sausage Party, it came out of nowhere for a surprise that we have never seen. Like what if they're gonna make an R-Rated film with puppets? Well, thats exactly what we have by Brian Henson that we had a.... Lets just say, questionable immature imagination. However, before it came out, the film was suffered a lawsuit from Sesame Workshop due to the trademark infringement of quote "No Sesame, all Street" with a confusion individuals, while STX (the distribution company of this movie) wants to keep the tagline. But the case was dismissed because STX just got started for their production and the judge was favored STX's intention.
So, with all that said, will this movie make a big deal of a new level of Puppet genre, or is it realy not worth it for family?
Well, lets find out.
The Story
Now, we expected to be something interesting for the story, well... Not really.
It takes place in the world where the puppets coexists with humans, but ended up being bullied and considered to be "inferior". However, we introduce our main hero Phil Philips, a private investigator in Los Angeles who got fired from LAPD. However, he was approached by a sexy client named Sandra, where she gave his objective to find someone who's blackmailing her, while he's going to the sex-shop for investigation from the records. However, a mysterious murderer who killed the shop owner and some customers in the shop, which Phil didn't notice that there's a lot of puppet's body counts. But Phil meets detective and former partner named Connie Edwards, which they're unlikely reuniting and working together But it turns out the murderer was targeting the cast of the 90's fictional show "The Happytime Gang", its up to them to find the mysterious killer once and for all.
Though i find the setting is rather nice to have a world with humans and puppets, but its just the story feels like we have heard or seen before, its rather too simple for the story. There's a subplot where Garry reunites with Phil since the 90's, but it was only used in the first act that Garry didn't last very long. Not to mention, the movie was trying for a focus between Phil and Edwards, but the development seems to be a lacking, since it was focus with humors. Speaking of it, i find the gags are rather double edge swords, some parts that it did made me chuckle from silly lines of the gags, but others that i was questioning for the meaning or even rather uncomfortable to see.
Story might have potential for the setting and the half of humors, but it just felt flat for cliche murderer case story and some subplot aren't helping.
The Production
Well, i can easily say that the presentation itself is rather... normal.
For starter, the filming locations are rather not bad, from typical street in LA, a semi abandoned house and some colorful dirty houses with puppets, i kinda like it, but maybe would've been better.
Then there's the puppet works, which i find them are rather nice, some have cool and some colorful designs that i find them original, but some others are like a rejected designs of either Muppet showor Sesame Street, like some of two females on the alleyway that they're like rejected gender bender version of Kermit the frog. Speaking of puppet designs, they're total of 125 puppets they they're made, and 40 are specifically made for the movie. And when the puppets are shown in hole body, they're doing in green screen for their movements some they're kinda move nice, but other times questionable. Some of the puppet's gags are rather bellow, like the scene where one room with octopus puppet playing with Cow puppet's teat, which i find it be uncomfortable to seeing it. or even the scene where Phil and Sandra have a... Lets just say they're hanging out way too much in Phil's room and i swear, i hope its a silly string when he... Um... spraying...
And finally, there's the action scene, i find the action scenes are rather entertaining and sometimes a bit suspenseful. And of course, they even doing a body count of puppets, but its rather disappointed that there's no blood out of puppet's organs, come on people, if this is an R-Rated movie, give us more blood. But or course, maybe its because of budget limit, since it estimated costs 40 or 47 million dollars. But hey, at least its four times expensive than "Slender Man".
The production itself are rather nice, but they could've make something better than that like more violent than more sex.
The Characters
Its not easy to tell for which characters are likable that we can root for.
First is our main hero Phil Philips (played by Bill Barretta), he's like an anti-hero as a private investigator when he lost his job from LAPD. Plus, he always mutter what went wrong, perhaps self-aware and spray smokes out of his mouth while smoking. Though Bill did a nice job of voice acting, but i guess he's kinda likable in the film, even though he's more of a generic broken down investigator.
Then there's Connie Edwards (played by Melissa McCarthy), she's kinda another broken character from the past, though she sometimes she could be serious, but other times she could be idiot, where one moment she was trippin on drugs, which is probably a filler scene that has nothing to do in the plot. Though i find her rather nice for her acting, but sometimes, her role could be a B****. So, i guess i could say that she deserves better than a godawful reboot of Ghostbusters, right?
And there's Sandra White (played by Dorien Davies), who's a typical sexy girl that we never know who she is. But to be fair, she's rather hot.
While the rest aren't much else to say that most of them didn't have any special developments, like Bubbles (played by Maya Rudolph) who's a hot secretary with Phil, Lieutenant Banning (played by Leslie David Baker) who's a superior lieutenant which i kinda like him, Agent Campbell (played by Joel McHale) who's a serious agent from FBI and Jenny (played by Elizabeth Banks, aka Wyldstyle from The Lego Movie) who's a sexy former host of "The Happytime Gang".
Speaking of "The Happytime Gang", as for the puppets? Well, don't expect about them, they're just appeared for the gimmick of drugs, mobsters and prostitutes.
I also like to point out that the acting are rather bellow average that they're trying to be serious or funny, but other times, they're flat out cartoonish that it makes Hulk Hogan blushes.
The characters are rather average that some characters that i kinda like, but some of them are forgettable and the acting is questionable to watch.
And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, after seeing two previous bad films that i was suffered, this one is alright. The setting is interesting, the actions are entertainment, some of puppets are nice looking and some characters like Phil and Banning are rather likable. But when you have a boring story, average looking film, bellow acting, lack of violent and a mixed bag jokes, you get a film that doesn't have any specials or meaning. I guess they're trying to make a new level like "Sausage Party", but the different is that Sausage Party had a dark sense of humor, nice looking animation and an interesting story. But this one feels like it was done on Web movie due to the limit of budget.
So, im not entirely sure if i can recommend this movie, because you'l probably find it to be a desperate cashing in for adult audiences. But, at least it didn't made me traumatized than two previous films that i was despised.
For me rating, i think il go with 5/10. It may have potential, but probably tripped with several problems.
So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on Pateron.com/Blackevil915 for your big request.
Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.
Anthony: It was... Ok, not the best, but it was rather alright. And im kinda refreshing.
Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my movie review.
You know, i had an old memory that remembered seeing a puppet show as, such as Sesame Street, it was fun, colorful and it has a lovable casts, though i don't remember which one is my favorite episodes, its most likely that i always a fan of animated films like Disney or Pixar.
As time goes, puppet shows are probably being picked up for movies, especially with famous franchise like "The Muppet show". I mean i know they had an up and down legacy. However, some people decided to asking "What if we make a puppet content, with action, black comedy and murder solving?".
"The Happytime Murders" is a 2018 is a black-comedy crime solving with puppets, directed by Brian Henson (the son of Jim Henson, but also as a producer), produced by Jeff Hayes, Jason Lust, Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone, then written by Todd Berger and Dee Austin Robertson (for story only).
This is the film that like Sausage Party, it came out of nowhere for a surprise that we have never seen. Like what if they're gonna make an R-Rated film with puppets? Well, thats exactly what we have by Brian Henson that we had a.... Lets just say, questionable immature imagination. However, before it came out, the film was suffered a lawsuit from Sesame Workshop due to the trademark infringement of quote "No Sesame, all Street" with a confusion individuals, while STX (the distribution company of this movie) wants to keep the tagline. But the case was dismissed because STX just got started for their production and the judge was favored STX's intention.
So, with all that said, will this movie make a big deal of a new level of Puppet genre, or is it realy not worth it for family?
Well, lets find out.
The Story
Now, we expected to be something interesting for the story, well... Not really.
It takes place in the world where the puppets coexists with humans, but ended up being bullied and considered to be "inferior". However, we introduce our main hero Phil Philips, a private investigator in Los Angeles who got fired from LAPD. However, he was approached by a sexy client named Sandra, where she gave his objective to find someone who's blackmailing her, while he's going to the sex-shop for investigation from the records. However, a mysterious murderer who killed the shop owner and some customers in the shop, which Phil didn't notice that there's a lot of puppet's body counts. But Phil meets detective and former partner named Connie Edwards, which they're unlikely reuniting and working together But it turns out the murderer was targeting the cast of the 90's fictional show "The Happytime Gang", its up to them to find the mysterious killer once and for all.
Though i find the setting is rather nice to have a world with humans and puppets, but its just the story feels like we have heard or seen before, its rather too simple for the story. There's a subplot where Garry reunites with Phil since the 90's, but it was only used in the first act that Garry didn't last very long. Not to mention, the movie was trying for a focus between Phil and Edwards, but the development seems to be a lacking, since it was focus with humors. Speaking of it, i find the gags are rather double edge swords, some parts that it did made me chuckle from silly lines of the gags, but others that i was questioning for the meaning or even rather uncomfortable to see.
Story might have potential for the setting and the half of humors, but it just felt flat for cliche murderer case story and some subplot aren't helping.
The Production
Well, i can easily say that the presentation itself is rather... normal.
For starter, the filming locations are rather not bad, from typical street in LA, a semi abandoned house and some colorful dirty houses with puppets, i kinda like it, but maybe would've been better.
Then there's the puppet works, which i find them are rather nice, some have cool and some colorful designs that i find them original, but some others are like a rejected designs of either Muppet showor Sesame Street, like some of two females on the alleyway that they're like rejected gender bender version of Kermit the frog. Speaking of puppet designs, they're total of 125 puppets they they're made, and 40 are specifically made for the movie. And when the puppets are shown in hole body, they're doing in green screen for their movements some they're kinda move nice, but other times questionable. Some of the puppet's gags are rather bellow, like the scene where one room with octopus puppet playing with Cow puppet's teat, which i find it be uncomfortable to seeing it. or even the scene where Phil and Sandra have a... Lets just say they're hanging out way too much in Phil's room and i swear, i hope its a silly string when he... Um... spraying...
And finally, there's the action scene, i find the action scenes are rather entertaining and sometimes a bit suspenseful. And of course, they even doing a body count of puppets, but its rather disappointed that there's no blood out of puppet's organs, come on people, if this is an R-Rated movie, give us more blood. But or course, maybe its because of budget limit, since it estimated costs 40 or 47 million dollars. But hey, at least its four times expensive than "Slender Man".
The production itself are rather nice, but they could've make something better than that like more violent than more sex.
The Characters
Its not easy to tell for which characters are likable that we can root for.
First is our main hero Phil Philips (played by Bill Barretta), he's like an anti-hero as a private investigator when he lost his job from LAPD. Plus, he always mutter what went wrong, perhaps self-aware and spray smokes out of his mouth while smoking. Though Bill did a nice job of voice acting, but i guess he's kinda likable in the film, even though he's more of a generic broken down investigator.
Then there's Connie Edwards (played by Melissa McCarthy), she's kinda another broken character from the past, though she sometimes she could be serious, but other times she could be idiot, where one moment she was trippin on drugs, which is probably a filler scene that has nothing to do in the plot. Though i find her rather nice for her acting, but sometimes, her role could be a B****. So, i guess i could say that she deserves better than a godawful reboot of Ghostbusters, right?
And there's Sandra White (played by Dorien Davies), who's a typical sexy girl that we never know who she is. But to be fair, she's rather hot.
While the rest aren't much else to say that most of them didn't have any special developments, like Bubbles (played by Maya Rudolph) who's a hot secretary with Phil, Lieutenant Banning (played by Leslie David Baker) who's a superior lieutenant which i kinda like him, Agent Campbell (played by Joel McHale) who's a serious agent from FBI and Jenny (played by Elizabeth Banks, aka Wyldstyle from The Lego Movie) who's a sexy former host of "The Happytime Gang".
Speaking of "The Happytime Gang", as for the puppets? Well, don't expect about them, they're just appeared for the gimmick of drugs, mobsters and prostitutes.
I also like to point out that the acting are rather bellow average that they're trying to be serious or funny, but other times, they're flat out cartoonish that it makes Hulk Hogan blushes.
The characters are rather average that some characters that i kinda like, but some of them are forgettable and the acting is questionable to watch.
And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, after seeing two previous bad films that i was suffered, this one is alright. The setting is interesting, the actions are entertainment, some of puppets are nice looking and some characters like Phil and Banning are rather likable. But when you have a boring story, average looking film, bellow acting, lack of violent and a mixed bag jokes, you get a film that doesn't have any specials or meaning. I guess they're trying to make a new level like "Sausage Party", but the different is that Sausage Party had a dark sense of humor, nice looking animation and an interesting story. But this one feels like it was done on Web movie due to the limit of budget.
So, im not entirely sure if i can recommend this movie, because you'l probably find it to be a desperate cashing in for adult audiences. But, at least it didn't made me traumatized than two previous films that i was despised.
For me rating, i think il go with 5/10. It may have potential, but probably tripped with several problems.
So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on Pateron.com/Blackevil915 for your big request.
Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.
