The movie Happytime Murders, directed by Brian Henson, is a dark comedy set in a world where puppets and humans coexist. The story follows Phil Phillips (voiced and puppeteered by Bill Barretta), a disgraced puppet detective who is forced to team up with his former partner, human detective Connie Edwards (played by Melissa McCarthy), to solve a series of murders targeting the cast of a popular children's show called "The Happytime Gang".
As Philips and Edwards investigate the case, they find themselves embroiled in a seedy underworld of sex, drugs, and violence, where the line between the two species is constantly blurred. Along the way, they encounter a colorful cast of puppet characters such as a sex-crazed bunny named Bubbles (voiced by Maya Rudolph), a foul-mouthed, expletive-laden puppet prostitute named Sandra (voiced by Dorien Davies), and a puppet mob boss named Lou (voiced by Kevin Clash).
Despite the comedic elements of the film, Happytime Murders is not your typical lighthearted family-friendly puppet movie. It is, in fact, a hard R-rated film with plenty of violence, sexual content, and foul language. This is particularly notable given the fact that the movie comes from the same Jim Henson Company that brought us beloved family classics like The Muppets and Sesame Street.
One of the movie's biggest strengths is its clever use of puppetry. The puppets are not cutesy or cuddly but instead are worn and grungy, with visible signs of wear and tear. This aspect helps to convey the palpable sense of decay and desperation that have come to define the Happytime Murders world.
The lead actors, particularly Melissa McCarthy and Bill Barretta, also give strong performances. McCarthy brings her characteristic brand of raunchy humor to the table, while Barretta's Philips has a hard-boiled, cynical edge that's reminiscent of classic film noir detectives. Meanwhile, Rudolph's Bubbles steals plenty of scenes with her bawdy antics and infectious charm.
However, despite the film's strong performances and creative use of puppetry, Happytime Murders can sometimes feel like it's trying too hard to be edgy and subversive. Some of the jokes fall flat, and the film's attempts at satire can come across as heavy-handed or overly simplistic.
Overall, while Happytime Murders may not be everyone's cup of tea, it's worth a watch for those who enjoy offbeat, irreverent comedies. Its unique blend of puppetry and hard-R adult humor make it a refreshing departure from the usual family-friendly fare. However, it's important to note that the movie is not suitable for children or those who are easily offended by graphic content.
Happytime Murders, the is a 2018 comedy with a runtime of 90 hours.
