THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS
US, 2018, 91 minutes, Colour.
Melissa Mc Carthy, Maya Rudolph, Elizabeth Banks, Joel McHale?, Leslie David Baker. Voices of: Bill Barreto, Dorien Davies.
Directed by Brian Henson.
Brian Henson is the son of the celebrated Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets and developer of the Jim Henson’s studios. He died prematurely and his son, Brian, took over the studios.
It is not recorded whether there was a severe rumble of Jim Henson’s grave when The Happytime Murders was announced. Did he turn in his grave? The material and treatment of this story, cowritten and directed by Brian, is not exactly in the spirit of the Muppets. Though…
Of course, it is an amusing idea. This is a private eye story from LA, echoing the conventions of the famous private eyes and their investigations. The difference is that Phil, voiced by Bill Barreto, is a puppet, close cousin of the Muppets. And, as with so many other films, he has a significant secretary in the office – and very amusing performance by Maya Rudolph, spoofing the role with her manner, talking, frequent change of fashion. But, almost immediately, Phil finds that he has a client, Jessica who, despite her wearing spectacles, is shown as a variation of Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct.
Phil has had his difficulties in the past, a dramatic flashback showing the cause of his being dropped from the LA police force, his falling out with his former partner, Edwards (Melissa McCarthy? doing her usual raucous thing), and the accidental shooting of a father in the presence of his daughter.
Mention of the word ‘raucous’ is probably very relevant to the film and its dialogue, lots of coarse language, some explicit sexual behaviour and language, plenty of innuendo beyond the explicit.
Allowing for this, which many will probably not allow, the plot takes it usual course, a number of murders of the group associated with Phil, his investigating despite the interventions and disapproval of the local police, teaming up with Edwards again, a buildup to a dangerous shootout and heroism all round.
Actually, the idea is not bad, but had it been done with a little more subtlety, a little more finesse in the raucousness, it could have been a more entertaining spoof that a wider audience could have enjoyed.
