It’s been 12 years since the Muppets’ last big-screen feature film “Muppets from Space” in 1999. Many of us were already convinced that was the last of the Muppets on a feature film and were somewhat satisfied with their new stints on funny viral videos. It also means most of our kids have never seen an original Muppets movie or show. That’s all changing now that the Muppets are back on the big screen in a Disney movie titled simply: The Muppets.

Opening this Wednesday, November 23rd and poised to be a huge Thanksgiving Weekend blockbuster, The Muppets brings back all the characters we love-Miss Piggy, Kermit (or is it la Rana René for some of us?!), Beeker, Fozzie, Gonzo, Animal and the rest of the gang. We’re also introduced to a new pivotal character, Walter-the world’s biggest Muppet fan and a muppet himself-and his brother Gary, played by the charming Jason Segel.

I got a chance to screen the movie last week and also to interview Jason Segel, Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog! Seriously, one of the most amazing interviewees ever. Piggy is really a diva in person, but charming in her demeanor. Kermit is a gentleman, witty and so green in his ways. Jason is just a big kid at heart and it was refreshing to see how truly excited he is to be realizing one of his childhood dreams by starring and writing a Muppets movie.

He recounted for us his first encounter ever with Kermit:

My first encounter was at a table read in New York where they surprised us and brought the puppets out for the table read. And when Kermit first spoke a line that we had written I literally cried at the table read and they had to stop the table read for a second while I pulled it together.

It was because I’m a grown man. I should be able to handle this. This is also my profession. But no, I cried like a little baby just for a second. But it happened.

Meeting him in person and seeing how truly mesmerized he was by his role in bringing back the Muppets franchise prepared me for his role on the actual movie where he always has the same look of disbelief and awe to be in presence of his childhood idols.

The movie takes us on a journey of self-discovery with Walter when he realizes his brother Gary is different than him (one is a muppet, the other is human) and he then discovers a video of the old Muppets Show and realizes he’s not the only one of his kind. His lifelong dream then becomes to visit the Muppets studios in Hollywood and he finally gets the chance when Gary invites him to tag along a trip he has planned with his girlfriend of ten years Mary, played by Amy Adams.

This kickstarts the adventure of finding out the Muppets are indeed separated and the Muppets Theater is abandoned and about to be torn down by the evil oilman Tex Richman, played by Chris Cooper. They help Kermit reunite the Muppets to stage a telethon and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater.

The movie is full with classic Muppets lines, jokes and gags and with fun song and dance numbers that really get you smiling. It’s definitely a family movie that has a bit for adults and kids, as it should be. As Jason Segel put it:

Kids are just watching a goofy guy sing a song with a bunch of puppets and it’s fun. And adults are experiencing it on a whole different level and I think there’s something neat about the whole family walking away having enjoyed something together, having a shared experience.

Brett McKenzie from Flight of the Concords wrote most of the music, which was a perfect match. Because if you think about it, Flight of the Concord’s are Muppety. Two kind of wide-eyed innocents dwelling through the hard cruel world and that’s very much what the Muppets are like.

This clip below is from one of my favorite song-and-dance moments in the movie. It’s a happy-feel-good-super-cheesy moment that really works.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0dH0g9IJoA&feature=channel_video_title

The other moment happens at the end with a huge montage right in the middle of the most popular spot on Hollywood boulevard in front of Disney’s El Capitan Theater. It was a little surreal since I was screening the movie right there! I kept thinking how the heck they got a permit to close down that busy intersection for such a huge dance production? But, then again, it must be Muppets magic in full effect.

Now that the Muppets are finally back in theaters and ready to captivate a whole new generation–just like they did with my four-year-old girl who now can’t stop singing Manamana– the next logical question is, will there be another shot at a Muppets Show on TV?

Kermit and Miss Piggy basically answered that it’s  up to us.

KERMIT : Well, sure, sure.

MISS PIGGY : I would love that. We should do that, Kermit.

KERMIT : I think it would be fun. I think we should, uh, I think we should look into that. I think it depends on what you all write about the movie. If you help us fill the theatre seats there’s a hope for that, you know. I think that would be fun. You know, maybe, maybe a few more films. I think if we do it, we should do it pretty much like the other one, don’t you? Red theatre. It’s good to take a poll here, you know.

So, tell us, will you be watching The Muppets in theaters this Thanksgiving Weekend?

Well, now it seems like Kermit has felt he needs to set the record straight and let us all know that his real name is Kermit La Rana and NOT la Rana René like most of us from Latina America know him as. Kermit just doesn´t have the same ring to it en español. Do you agree?

Thing is that Ms. Piggy is upset by the way she assumes he got the name of Rana René and now is prohibiting him from using it, and you know how that can get! So, like a good man, errr, frog, he’s succumbed to her word.

Not sure if I´ll be able to do the same. Can´t see my Mexican friends calling my husband Kermit La Rana now!

Check out this video where Kermit and Piggy have it out in Spanish and tell me what you will be calling him now!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J3RKkmVIn4&feature=youtu.be

The Muppets opens in theaters nationwide November 23rd and we can´t wait to see what they are up to on the big screen after so many years!

Will you be spending your Thanksgiving á la Muppet?

Below you will find a fun and easy recipe for Kermit cupcakes and printable activities for your kids to make while those cupcakes are baking!

The Muppets return to the big screen next week on November 23rd! What a better way to spend this holiday than with cupcakes and The Muppets?!

Click on the images below to download the printable version of each activity and recipe.

click on image for full and printable version

click on image for printable version

click on image for printable version

Puss In Boots 

Release Date: October 28

This Shrek spinoff focuses on the early life of Shrek and Donkey’s feline friend. Before Puss in Boots was the coolest and most daring cat around,  he lived in an orphanage where his only friend was the mischievous egg named Humpty Alexander Dumpty. The movie follows the adventures of Puss and Humpty that eventually lead to Puss becoming a wanted cat.  Years later the outlawed Puss decides to take destiny into his own paws and ends up having the adventure of a lifetime.

Happy Feet Two

Release Date: November 18

We all remember Mumble, The Master of Tap. Now he is all grown up and has a son of his own with Gloria. But Mumble has a problem, his tiny son, Erik, doesn’t want to dance. To top things off the penguin nation is facing new dangers. Now, it’s going to take everyone working and dancing together to save them all.

The Muppets

Release Date: November 23

Walter, the worlds biggest Muppet fan is on vacation in LA. He and his friends Gary(Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) discover the plan of an oilman named Tex Richman (Chris Cooper)  to raze the Muppet theatre and drill for oil that was recently discovered there. Now, the muppets had all gone their separate ways, but they reunite to stage the greatest Muppet telathon ever and raise the $10 million dollars that are needed to save the theatre.

Real Steel

Release Date: Now Playing

“Real Steel” is set in the near future where robot boxing is a top sport. A struggling promoter (Hugh Jackman) thinks he has found a champion fighter in a discarted robot. In the process of training the robot he discovers that he has an eleven-year-old son who wants to get to know his father. Read our full review here and interview with Hugh Jackman here.

Arthur Christmas

Release Date: November 23

Many Christmas movies evade the question: How does Santa really deliver all those gifts in one night? Well,  this November Arthur Christmas will take us into Santa’s ultra-high-tech super-hidden operation underneath the North Pole and reveal that answer.But at the heart of this story is a Christmas classic, and Arthur who must complete a very important mission before dawn.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked

Release Date: December 16th

The Chipmunks and Chipettes go on vacation where they turn a luxury cruise liner into their personal playground. But then they become ‘chipwrecked’ on a remote island. While the ‘Munks and Chipettes are trying various ways to get back home, they accidentally discover that the island they are on is not as deserted as they thought.

The Adventures of Tin Tin

Release Date: December 21st

“The Adventures of Tin Tin” directed by Steven Spielberg is based on the series of books by Hergé. The movie follows the journey of Tin Tin, a relentless reporter, who sets off on a treasure hunt for a sunken ship with Captain Haddock. However, they find out that someone else is in search of the ship as well, and their that’s when their adventure makes a turn.

Hugo

Release Date: November 23rd

Hugo is an orphaned boy who secretly lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station during the 1930’s. He lives a hard life looking after the clocks of the strain station and keeping his presence there hidden from the authorities at the same time. When he finds a mysterious mechanical man that has been left behind by his late father, he gets caught up in a mysterious adventure.