When it comes to interviewing people in the film industry, there are a great many unwritten rules if you want to be considered professional: Be reasonably respectful and polite, don’t beg for autographs and don’t dribble on yourself. Beyond that it helps to have some idea what to ask, and it’s certainly considered a bit beyond the pale if you become a dribbling wreck.

As a general rule, I like to think that I stick to these. I certainly try to. Unfortunately, there are times when it’s not that easy, and certainly my recent interview with Miss Piggy was one of those. If you heard our recent round table interview with Piggy, Kermit and director of The Muppets, James Bobin, you’ll realise that even being in the same room is a hilarious and surreal experience. It’s even weirder when it’s just you, a Muppet and a film crew. So weird, in fact that not only did I start laughing like an idiot mid way through, but we ended up talking about fluffing.

Yes ladies and gentlemen, I talked dirty to Miss Piggy.

The Muppets hits UK cinemas tomorrow and you can read our review of this awesome movie right here.

Co-writer and star Jason Segel and director James Bobin courageously embraced the arduous task of recapturing the magic of The Muppets for a new generation, safe in the knowledge that the adult ‘kids’ out there who remember the show first time around would only need a few bars of Sam Pottle and Jim Henson’s iconic theme tune to secure a captive interest.

However, this alone cannot guarantee a whole new movie’s success, and it’s because Segel and Bobin – of The Flight of the Conchords fame – have stuck to making this a puppet character-driven piece full of the coy innocence of the 70s’ franchise, and created another new Muppet character called Walter who gingerly and affectionally takes centre-stage that The Muppets (2011) still triggers the warm and fuzzy nostalgia from 30 years ago.

In the Segel-Bobin film, The Muppets’ biggest fan Walter (voiced by Peter Linz) convinces his human brother Gary (Jason Segel) to make a pilgrimage to the old Muppet studios while Gary and girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) holiday in LA. But while there, Walter overhears that the studio grounds and the theatre that housed The Muppet Show are being sold to a greedy oil tycoon, Tex Richman (Chris Cooper), who has other more fatalistic plans for the site. Geared into action, Walter and co unite to convince The Muppets, including Kermit The Frog, to strive to raise the funds to save the historic site by putting on another The Muppet Show/telethon.

Although unoriginal but highly relevant, the plot – good sense overcoming corporate evil – has wisely been kept simplistic to allow the main focus to be reintroducing The Muppets and their personalities that have merely been briefly showcased through other movies and TV specials in the past few decades, but never reunited in full force to show their appeal. Walter represents the ardent, ever-loyal fan here, like a human-puppet ambassador to guide new viewers to Muppet nirvana. In doing so the often-overpowering and self-depreciating Segel screen personality actually takes a back seat with chirpy Adams, content with playing the goofy human support in some awkward but hilarious song-and-dance moments, letting the true felt-made stars shine.

Even with ample ammunition to go on an entertainment offensive against the likes of reality TV shows and faddy TV diets the TV corporations now deliver, the writers never get preachy or cynical, and in turn lose the gracious charm and ever lovable, sweet nature of the original show – even with some of the latter having fallen on hard times, like Fozzie Bear performing in some back-of-beyond bar with his less talented Muppet tribute band, The Moopets.

That said the Muppet global roundup that takes up a good percentage of the run-time, which includes Kermit, Walter and co relocating Kermit’s lost love, Miss Piggy, in Paris, working as the fashion editor of Vogue with Emily Blunt as her assistant (a Devil Wears Prada nod), is both a necessary introduction and a counterproductive snag in that its significance triggers more thrill factor for established fans, but might leave the younger viewers the filmmakers hope to target a little restless.

Indeed the only saving grace is the Muppets are so recognisable that both demographics are likely to rally behind the troupe to save the establishment, and the good-natured and earnest way they go about getting support wins over in a family-friendly way. And every Muppet Show needs its star guest that allows us to rekindle our fond affection for the zany Jack Black comedy, who as the ‘kidnapped star victim’ actually plays against type in trying to escape. There are also a host of other celebrity appearances to boost the campaign too, while Cooper has a ball in true one-dimensional baddie mode trying to bring the curtain down on the night.

We defy anyone over the age of 30 not to get emotional when the lights do go up and Kermit takes the stage – after the inevitable speedy, made-for-TV tidy-up. With all the firm favourites united and back where they belong, and old and new tunes to inanely grin along to, the Segel-Bobin resurrection is nothing short of inspiring, thought provoking and filled with authentic affection, making it a trip out to the cinema not to be missed.

****½ (4.5/5)

Rian Johnson is no stranger to ambition.

His first feature, Brick, was made for under $500,000 and featured the sort of dialogue you’d expect from a know-it-all trying to ape Dashiell Hammett, and that’s precisely what it was, but it was really quite good. He then followed that up with The Brothers Bloom, an ambitious crime caper that although flawed managed to entertain with its twisting narrative and high-level cast.

This time round he’s gathered together another great ensemble including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Jeff Daniels and Paul Dano to star in Looper, a film that on paper sounds like a bit of a mind-boggler.

The most detailed synopsis we have currently is a little vague but you can rest assured with Johnson at the helm things will get awfully complicated awfully quickly :

A present-day killer (Gordon-Levitt) works for a mob in the future and kills people who are sent from the future. He recognizes one victim (Willis) as himself and hesitates, resulting in the escape of his older self.

Talking to the Los Angeles Times the writer/director tried to play down the time travelling set-up explaining that, “if you just tell somebody the plot, you’re inevitably telling them the time travel stuff, but the movie actually uses that as a set-up. The best parallel I can draw is to the first ‘Terminator’ movie where time travel is used to set up this impossible situation between these people and then that situation plays itself out.”

In order to get Levitt to resemble a younger Willis throughout the film he will be wearing prosthetics, to quote Johnson: “the biggest thing is Joe’s performance, he’s really doing Bruce in a big and daring way, but he strikes a balance between obviously imitating Bruce and also building this organic performance.” It all sounds like a tough balancing act to pull off but the with the films obvious ambition whatever happens will at least be interesting. Better than that, like Brick, it may be something truly surprising and new.

Source: IndieWire

Here’s a nice new UK trailer courtesy of Lionsgate for Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt’s new movie, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. We saw a US theatrical trailer for the movie just before Christmas and although this trailer has the same intro dialogue, it give us rather a lot more footage. Blunt and McGregor star alongside Kristin Scott, Amr Waked, Catherine Steadman and Tom Mison. It’s directed by Lasse Hallström and we can expect to see it 9th March.

Synopsis: A romantic, contemporary fable, SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN is the tale of government employee Dr Alfred, or Fred, Jones (Ewan McGregor), a rather introverted scientist at the Department of Fisheries and Agriculture. Trudging along in his day job, with his marriage stagnating, his world is suddenly thrown into turmoil when he’s drawn into a scheme hatched by a fly fishing-obsessed Yemeni Sheikh (Amr Waked) who dreams of achieving the seemingly impossible — introducing salmon to the wadis of the Yemen.

When the British government, desperate for a good news story in the area, gets wind of the Sheikh’s plan, the Prime Minister’s fearsome spokesperson, Patricia Maxwell (Kristin Scott Thomas), seizes on the idea — it’s a good news story that will deflect attention away from the government’s latest blunder. She appoints Fred to oversee the project, which pleases him not at all. For a logical, rather stuffy scientist like Fred, the idea of introducing salmon to the Yemen is one step short of madness.

Fred, however, is eventually won over by the charismatic Sheikh and his mystical worldview, while he also begins to fall for the Sheikh’s representative, Harriet Chetwode-Talbot (Emily Blunt), a gentle and engaging English beauty who joins on him his journey into the Yemen. When Fred is drawn into helping Harriet try and fix the troubles in her life, he learns to cast off his deep-set cynicism. With Emily’s encouragement and support, Fred then rises to the Sheikh’s eccentric challenge, and embarks upon a journey of self-discovery and late-blooming love.

Rian Johnson, director of upcoming science-fiction thriller Looper, has given fans a New Year’s present of a picture of himself sat inside a pod-like structure, leaving fans speculating what part of the film’s set this mechanism could be.

Looper takes place in the future and follows a killer (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who works for the mob, who soon realises that one of his targets is an older version of himself (Bruce Willis).

The photo, which can be seen below, shows Johnson seated in the opening of what appears to be some kind of machine, which could very well be the key to allowing a reality where two different versions of the same person can exist simultaneously. In other words, it might be a time machine. But what do you think?

Looper reunites Gordon-Levitt with Brick director Rian Johnson, and also stars Emily Blunt. It is set to be released on 28th September, and you can visit the film’s Tumblr page for a full-size image, and for more constant updates on the film.

(Source: Image Blend)

Lasse Hallström‘s follow up to the untroubled waters of the Nicholas Sparks adaptaion Dear John is more of the same it would appear, you can judge for yourself with the new trailer for Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.

The trailer is charming enough and benefits from Kristen Scott Thomas looking as if she’s having the time of her life while Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor falls slowly in love. It makes a nice change from the slap you round the face with explosions we’ve seen recently and frankly, it’s nearly Christmas when charm is always on the menu. Hell, I’m sold, sign me up for some Blunt McGregoring.

Those fishing for a synopsis need fish no further,

When Britain’s leading fisheries expert (Ewan McGregor) is approached by a consultant (Emily Blunt) to help realize a sheikh’s (Amr Waked) vision of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to the desert, he immediately thinks the project is both absurd and unachievable. But when the Prime Minister’s overzealous press secretary (Kristin Scott Thomas) latches on to it as a “good will” story, this unlikely team will put it all on the line and embark on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible, possible.

Here is your trailer, all the way from the United States of Yahoo,

While the world (or America at least) is agog with the mighty Muppets back in cinemas there’s another project from Nicholas Stoller and Jason Segel on the way, and today we’ve got the first look at a trailer and poster for The Five-Year Engagement.

The film is produced by Judd Apatow, Shauna Robertson, and Rodney Rothman and is perhaps a spiritual sequel to Forgetting Sarah Marshall, something which comments made by Segel and Stoller during the long gestation period have suggested. Note the poster proudly proclaims it to be from the producers of Bridesmaids so expect people to flock.

Segel is joined by Emily Blunt, Chris Pratt, Alison Brie and Rhys Ifans in the story which centres around an engaged couple trying to get married.

The tireless internet pioneer Yahoo Serious dished this one out to us all.

Here’s the trailer,

You can never have too much Muppets and we’ve been gifted with this new poster which we’d like to share with you.

I still can’t get used to Kermit standing, nor Gonzo’s ‘heroic’ pose but any poster with Fozzie in it is worth taking a gander at. The film is out in the UK next year (yes, still annoyed about that) but our US cousins had their fix last week. Turns out it’s a great film… marvellous!

The Muppets is directed by James Bobin​ and stars Kermit the Frog​, Miss Piggy​, Fozzie Bear​, Gonzo, Animal, Jason Segel​, Amy Adams​, Chris Cooper, Walter and Rashida Jones​.

On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world’s biggest Muppet fan, and his friends Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater​ and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets’ former stomping grounds. To stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate.

IMPA pointed us t’wards this one.

While the population of the UK wait like expectant children at a Christmas shop window for the unveiling of the new Muppets film (out in February) the States are about to feel the fuzzy might of the latest movie with its release this week. A fact which makes this particular offering all the more tantilising.

Coming Soon have nine clips from the film and each one is a lot of fun, with Piggy’s take on a movie classic from the 80s my particular favourite, and it draws to a close one of the most successful and hilarious marketing campaigns of recent years.

The cinematic return of The Muppets is a welcome one, yet there was no knowing if writers Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller, along with director James Bobin, had a decent grasp of the essence of Muppetry.

What we’ve seen so far, and something which the early Stateside reviews appear to compound, is that this is a true Muppet film, and a welcome return to form after some less than successful dalliances apeing literary classics.

Here’s a couple of the clips, head on over to CS for the rest,

We thought that the parody trailers for The Muppets movie were over but now our friends over at Digital Spy have released a new UK trailer for the film and this time they take on Bollywood! Check out the great new trailer below.

The Muppets is directed by James Bobin​ and stars Kermit the Frog​, Miss Piggy​, Fozzie Bear​, Gonzo, Animal, Jason Segel​, Amy Adams​, Chris Cooper, Walter and Rashida Jones​.

On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world’s biggest Muppet fan, and his friends Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater​ and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets’ former stomping grounds. To stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate.

Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller are bringing The Muppets back to the big screen and there’s a new glimpse of the film out today.

The merry band of Yahoos have given us this clip which is, fairly obviously, from the early part of the film and sees our new Muppety friend Walter learning of his impending trip to the fabled Muppets studio. I am just as excited as Walter considering I’ve watched the scene when he, Segel and Amy Adams meet their hero and what happens then. Suffice to say there were tears.

The lucky US get this film months ahead of us in the UK with a Thanksgiving release planned across the pond. For some odd, stupid and frankly unfair reason we’re stuck with Muppet hysteria until February next year. I am not ok with this.

Here’s your clip friends,

Disney have released this amazing new and final parody trailer for The Muppets which we get to see in UK cinemas 10th February 2012 which feels like far too long away, especially when it’s out in the US for Thanksgiving. In this trailer, we get to see them parody Paranormal Activity, The Twilight Saga and Happy Feet. Scroll down to view and enjoy!

The Muppets is directed by James Bobin and stars Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Animal, Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Walter and Rashida Jones.

On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world’s biggest Muppet fan, and his friends Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets’ former stomping grounds. To stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate.

We’ve seen a number of parody trailers for the new Muppet movie, out in the States on the 23rd of November but not out here in the UK until the fricking 10th of fricking February next fricking year, as well as some great posters of our furry friends and here we’ve got four more to tease us into nostalgic whimpery.

Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller are the men bringing The Muppets back to the silver screen for which they, and director James Bobin, should receive some sort of medal of honour and it seems as though they’ve made good on their promise to get the film ‘right’ as we’ve seen some great footage and trailers for the movie so far.

With the Muppet theatre under threat from a greedy oil tycoon the band must get back together and save the day (and the theatre) in true Muppety fashion with songs, terrible jokes and a whole host of cameos. Can’t wait…

My only complaint about the new posters – no Fozzie. Here they are, enjoy Muppeters…

These came to us from Hollywood.com (via Collider)

IFC Films has acquired the North American and Latin American distribution rights to indie-comedy Your Sister’s Sister.

Directed by Lynn Shelton (Humpday), Your Sister’s Sister stars Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada), Rosemarie DeWitt (Rachel Getting Married), Mark Duplass (Cyrus) and Mike Birbiglia (Cedar Rapids).

A year after his brother’s death, Jack (Duplass) still see-saws between emotionally wobbly and outright volatile. When he makes a scene at a memorial party, Iris (Blunt) intervenes with a plan: Jack must oil up his old bike and trek to her father’s cabin on an island on Puget Sound, where isolation will give his brain a chance to detangle. When Jack gets to the woods, however, he finds not solitude but Iris’ sister Hannah (DeWitt), herself nursing a wounded heart and a bottle of tequila. After several shots and some slurred commiseration, liquor isn’t the only fluid these two end up sharing. Their hangover descends in the form of Iris, who pulls up with a bag of groceries the next morning.

Your Sister’s Sister premiered at the 36th Toronto Film Festival to extremely positive reviews.

Source: Deadline

Given that the only marketing this film needs is someone saying the word ‘Muppets’ over and over again it is so nice to see some more of the genuinely funny marketing for the film.

The latest parody trailer for the return of Kermit & Co. has been delivered by the hand of the film’s Facebook page and if the title of the post didn’t give it away then you need look no further than this link.

There’s lots more Fozzie, Kermit, Bunsen and Beaker, Rowlf and, of course, Miss Piggy taking her rightful place centre stage. The only thing I hate is that the film isn’t out in the UK until February of next year, and I know a few people who would gladly cough up the money for a plane ticket to the US in order to see this early. I may start a fund.

In the meantime – look below for the trailer.

It’s a happy day when we can bring you some news on the hugely anticipated new Muppets movie, and while these character descriptions may contain the slightest of spoilers they are essential for any true Muppeteer (and on that note – have they ever done a The Three Muppeteers thing? Seems ripe for the plucking).

Without wishing to underline the Muppet love too much (check out our write up of their appearance at the Big Screen event here) the long wait until February’s UK release date only adds to the enjoyment of having something new to see from the creative team behind the new film. And just to be clear, if there was any doubt that James Bobin would capture the magic of The Muppets then the clip they played at the O2 in August was all the proof necessary to tell us that the new movie is everything fans are looking for.

The character descriptions below give us some new information amongst the bits we already knew, specifically about the backgrounds of the characters. The good people at Stitch Kingdom were the ones to bring this to our attention. Here’s your run down of Muppety goodness,

GARY (Jason Segel) is loyal to his brother Walter—the two do everything together. “Gary is from Smalltown, USA,” says Jason Segel (TV’s “How I Met Your Mother,” Forgetting Sarah Marshall), a longtime Muppet fan who created the role with himself in mind. “He’s very naïve, sweet and innocent, and he’s very much in love with his girlfriend Mary. He’s torn between his brother and growing into a new phase of maturation where it’s time to be with his girlfriend. He’s lived with his brother forever so that is his big struggle.”

The plot thickens when the trio decides to take a vacation. Says Segel, “The movie starts out with me and my brother Walter, whose wildest fantasy is to meet the Muppets. My goal is to take a vacation to L.A. with my girlfriend Mary. So we all come to L.A. and while taking a tour of Muppet Studios, which are now decrepit, we find out that they’re going to be torn down to drill for oil. So we have to find Kermit, reunite the Muppets — who have disbanded because of professional rivalries — and put on a show to raise enough money to save the studio.”

Gary throws himself into the effort, putting his relationship with Mary on the back burner — again.  Will he ever be able to grow up and embrace true love?

With his Kermit t-shirt and watch, WALTER (Walter) is a devoted fan of the Muppets. The lifelong resident of Smalltown, USA, dreams of meeting his heroes one day, and feels that — just maybe — he belongs with them. So when brother Gary and his girlfriend Mary plan a trip to Los Angeles, Walter joins them with hopes of realizing his dream once and for all.

The role marks the big-screen debut for Walter, and one seemingly written for him. “I play Walter, the world’s biggest Muppet fan,” says the star, “which is a real coincidence, since I happen to be the world’s biggest Muppet fan and my name is Walter. It’s like I was made to play this part.”

Walter finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time — or is it the right time? — when he overhears evil oil baron Tex Richman discussing a plot to destroy Muppet Studios. With the help of Gary and Mary, it’s Walter who sets the plan in motion to reunite the Muppets and save the studio. His pure-hearted enthusiasm for all things Muppets just might save more than the studio, too.

MARY (Amy Adams) is a valued shop teacher in Smalltown, USA — at least if the number of apples on her desk are any indication. She is Gary’s longtime girlfriend who often finds herself playing third wheel to Gary and his brother Walter.

Mary shares Gary and Walter’s sweet, innocent disposition, but she’s growing weary of sharing her boyfriend with Walter. She can’t help but hope for a magical proposal during their Los Angeles vacation, but her plans are derailed when news of Muppet Studios’ pending demise spur the trio into expressly non-marriage-proposal action.

Amy Adams (The Fighter, Julie & Julia) was called on for the role — in a way that was impossible to miss, says the actress. “Jason and Kermit sent me an invitation to be in Disney’s The Muppets — they asked if I’d read the script and consider the role of Mary. Kermit was a big part of my decision. I don’t like to tell Jason that ‘cause he’s a little sensitive that I might be partial to Kermit, but I am.”

In Disney’s The Muppets, KERMIT THE FROG (Kermit the Frog) lives a quiet, solitary life. It’s been a few years since the Muppets last performed together and Kermit doesn’t realize how much he misses his friends until he’s tracked down by Walter, Gary and Mary from Smalltown, USA, and convinced to reunite with the rest of the Muppets to save Muppet Studios.

Returning to the role he made famous in six previous Muppet movies, “The Muppet Show” and countless TV specials and internet videos, is Kermit the Frog. “I’ve played other parts, like Bob Crachit  in A Muppet Christmas Carol and Captain Smollett in Muppet Treasure Island, says Kermit, “but I think me is my favorite part.”

The role is a bit of a departure for the frog known for his unifying spirit and award-winning songs like “The Rainbow Connection.” “The movie is filled with comedy, music and adventure — like all the Muppet movies,” says Kermit. “But I play quite a dramatic role. You see a side of me that maybe you haven’t see before — and I’m not just taking about new camera angles. Acting wise, I really stretch to play me. One of my favorite moments is singing a brand new original song called ‘Pictures in my Head.’ I walk through the halls of a big mansion looking at portraits of my Muppet friends and missing those guys. It was very emotional…and I think it will disprove critics who’ve said ‘the frog can’t emote.’”

Kermit, who’s always the glue that holds the Muppets together, has a big job in this movie, going head to head with Tex Richman — a guy who’s lost his laugh — to save the studio.

TEX RICHMAN (Chris Cooper) is a rich oil baron who’s concocted a devious plan to destroy Muppet Studios, presumably to dig for the oil he claims is underneath.

But the truth, says Chris Cooper (Adaptation, The Bourne Identity), who portrays the villain, is that Tex has a personal vendetta against the Muppets. “He blames the Muppets for a terrible event that happened to him at his 10th birthday party,” says Cooper. “He is unable to laugh and has vowed to destroy the Muppets.”

But Tex Richman’s inability to laugh doesn’t stop him from taking part in other Muppet antics. He may be cold-hearted and conniving, but this oil magnate has a few secrets up his sleeve that are more fun than fiendish.

MISS PIGGY (Miss Piggy) showcases her diva attitude and big personality in a new made-to-order gig in Disney’s The Muppets. As plus-size editor of Vogue Paris, she shares her sublime fashion sensibilities with readers worldwide… at least until Kermit shows up.

The Frog is there, of course, as part of his mission to reunite all the Muppets to save Muppet Studios from Tex Richman. But Miss Piggy can read between the lines: she knows an invitation for love when she sees it.  And really — how could she say no to Kermie?

Playing the role of Miss Piggy is none other than Miss Piggy (Muppets from Space, TV’s “The Muppet Show”). “It’s the role I was born to play,” says the internationally famous star. “Moi plays a high-powered, confident, charismatic, gorgeous, scene-stealing star who saves the day and wins her frog’s heart.” Her fans would expect nothing less.

FOZZIE BEAR (Fozzie Bear) lives to make people laugh. So during the Muppets’ extended hiatus depicted in Disney’s The Muppets, the stand-up comic bear was determined to keep his act and the spirit of the Muppets alive — even if it meant joining up with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and the Moopets may be sincere, but they’re also a little creepy.

“The Moopets recreate great Muppet moments,” says Fozzie Bear (The Great Muppet Caper, TV’s “The Muppet Show”), who is back on the big screen as his namesake, “at least that’s what they told me we were doing. Could’ve fooled me.”

Regardless of who he shares the stage with, Fozzie will try anything to tickle the audience’s funny bones: gags, novelties, whoopee cushions, banana peels, custard pies and recycled jokes that earn more winces than laughs — particularly from his in-house hecklers, Statler and Waldorf (aka “those two old guys in the balcony”) In truth, Statler and Waldorf just might be the bear’s biggest fans. Though they’d never admit it, they may actually be happy to see Fozzie and the Muppets reunited — and they might have to throw the bear a laugh or two this time if it means saving Muppet Studios.

VERONICA (Rashida Jones) is a network executive called on by the Muppets to air their studio-saving telethon. She’s not easily swayed, and it’ll take a big-name star to seal the deal.

Actress Rashida Jones (The Social Network, TV’s “The Office) portrays the tough-as-nails woman to impress. “I play a hard-nosed, stressed-out TV executive,” says Jones, “but I am the only one who gives the Muppets the chance to air their fundraising telethon. I definitely crack the whip, though, because I’m scared of losing my job and I’m scared it’s not going to be successful — I yell at Kermit a lot.”

It won’t be easy, but hopefully, Kermit can charm Veronica like he charms every woman, network exec and diva pig he encounters.

GONZO THE GREAT (The Great Gonzo) has been very busy since the Muppets last performed. In Disney’s The Muppets, Kermit, Walter and the gang find that Gonzo’s career is down the drain — literally. “I play a plumbing magnate,” says the daredevil who returns to the role he singlehandedly made famous. “In this movie, we see what happens when I pursue plumbing — my original career choice. Actually, show business and plumbing have a lot in common — especially when it comes to clogs and snakes.”

It takes some convincing — and an increase in health insurance coverage — to get Gonzo back on stage. Fortunately, Gonzo (The Muppets Take Manhattan,  TV’s “The Muppet Show”), a pioneer of all things weird, can’t resist the temptation of the wild and wacky stunts he performs to earn the eternal admiration (not to mention shock and awe) of his audience — and one very special chicken named Camilla.

Gonzo’s stage act, which includes shooting himself from a cannon, balancing a piano on his nose, or eating radial tires to classical music, will likely always end in disaster… but that’s the whole point!

ANIMAL (Animal), the ultimate rock n’ roll survivor, finally addresses a troublesome personality trait and finds himself in an anger management program in Disney’s The Muppets. He’s traded in his drums for a flute and is struggling to redefine his identity. As if…

But fear not, fans of the over-the-top, monosyllabic, appetite-with-legs drummer from Dr. Teeth’s Electric Mayhem Band.  Once reunited with the Muppets, Animal’s incessant (yet innocent) pursuit of rock n’ roll, food and women (not necessarily in that order) returns. “Me like,” says Animal (Muppet Treasure Island, TV’s “The Muppet Show”). “Movie good.”

On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world’s biggest Muppet fan, his brother Gary (Jason Segel) and Gary’s girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets’ former stomping grounds. To stage a telethon and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate. With secret, signature, celebrity cameos, Disney’s The Muppets hits the big screen Nov. 23, 2011.

CBS Films has acquired the North American distribution rights to Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.

Directed by Lasse Hallström (The Hoax), Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is an adaptation of Paul Torday celebrated novel of the same name, and stars Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor, Kristin Scott Thomas, Amr Waked, Catherine Steadman and Tom Mison.

A fisheries scientist (McGregor) finds himself reluctantly involved in a project to bring salmon fishing to the wadis of the Highlands of Yemen, and change British political history and the course of his life.

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen premiered at the 36th Toronto Film Festival over the weekend to mostly positive reviews, sparking a bidding war between CBS Films and Summit Entertainment.

Source: THR

We are big fans of The Muppets here at HeyUGuys and love that they ruled Empire’s Big Screen event last weekend.

Though the new film directed by James Bobin and starring Jason Segel and Amy Adams (playing second fiddle of course to our favourite Muppets – Kermit, Piggy, Fozzie et al) isn’t out in the UK until February of next year there’s still a lot of time to savour the wait and today Disney have released the official music video to next The Muppets movie.

In case you need any more convincing here’s our reaction to the world exclusive clip they played at Big Screen and here’s a little synopsis for you,

On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world’s biggest Muppet fan, and his friends Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets’ former stomping grounds. To stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate.

Without further ado here’s the video in all its glory,

We’ve just been sent the first image from Your Sister’s Sister which stars Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt & Mark Duplass. It’s directed by Lynn Shelton and is set to debut at the Toronto International Film Festival.

In this first look image, we get to see Emily Blunt & Rosemarie DeWitt starring at one another. Ahhhh.

Read on for the synopsis:

Following the success of her Sundance award winning film HUMPDAY, Lynn Shelton weaves another compellingly human story in YOUR SISTER’S SISTER. Lost in an emotional funk one year after his brother’s death, Jack (Mark Duplass) takes his best friend Iris (Emily Blunt) up on her offer for a reflective week of solitude at her family’s remote island retreat. Upon arriving at the house, Jack discovers that Iris’ sister Hannah (Rosemarie DeWitt) had the same idea, and the two spend an awkward evening together. Iris shows up the next morning unannounced, setting in motion an emotionally twisted tale of sisters, brothers, and best friends. Shelton once again honestly explores the complexities of interpersonal relationships while gently poking fun at her characters’ predicaments.

Sounds fun! No UK release date as yet but we’ll keep you posted.

HeyUGuys is live at the O2 arena in London for the Empire Big Screen movie event for the full three days and we aim to have as much covered as possible.

Right now we have The Muppets Panel and we’ll be liveblogging the event right here on this page. You won’t have to refresh anything – just keep watching the live blog panel below and we’ll update you with all the goings on.

There can’t be too many people who don’t love The Muppets (and those that don’t cannot in truth be counted as ‘people’) so eyes, ears and brains are poised to receive an audience with our furry favourites.

You can ask us questions as we go, and we’ll do our best to respond to them.

You can follow all our Big Screen coverage right here.

Big Screen – The Muppets Panel

(08/14/2011)

  

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3:04	HeyUGuys:  Muppets! Sunday August 14, 2011 3:04 HeyUGuys

3:05	HeyUGuys:  This is the one we’ve been waiting for. There’s a live link up with New York to talk to James Bobin and Kermit the frog! Sunday August 14, 2011 3:05 HeyUGuys

3:05	HeyUGuys:  the crows is going wild. AMazing. Sunday August 14, 2011 3:05 HeyUGuys

3:07	HeyUGuys:  Kermit is charming the crowds – James Bobin is taking us through the plot – the discovery of the Muppet theatre in trouble! Sunday August 14, 2011 3:07 HeyUGuys

3:07	HeyUGuys:  JB is talking about the love of the Muppets and the link between the Muppets and the Conchords. Talking cookies are the link… Sunday August 14, 2011 3:07 HeyUGuys

3:08	HeyUGuys:  Ten years since Muppets in space – KtF was up for the role of The Incredible Hulk… Sunday August 14, 2011 3:08 HeyUGuys

3:08	HeyUGuys:  Now Fozzie Bear is here. That’s set the crowd alight. Sunday August 14, 2011 3:08 HeyUGuys

3:09	HeyUGuys:  He’s trying out a new joke. Why did the Chicken cross the web? Sunday August 14, 2011 3:09 HeyUGuys

3:09	HeyUGuys:  To get to the other site. Sunday August 14, 2011 3:09 HeyUGuys

3:09	HeyUGuys:  Best crowd reaction of the whole event so far…. Sunday August 14, 2011 3:09 HeyUGuys

3:10	HeyUGuys:  Fozzie’s off now which is a shame, he did plead with JB to not cut him out of the film. KtF: He is Unbearable. Emphasis on the Bear. Big laughs even the bad jokes… Sunday August 14, 2011 3:10 HeyUGuys

3:11	HeyUGuys:  JB: It’s a dream working on The Muppets. KtF: Bordering on a nightmare.After seeing Conchords we deduced that James was strange enough to work with us. Sunday August 14, 2011 3:11 HeyUGuys

3:11	HeyUGuys:  KtF: I do all my own stunts. It’s hard to find spindly green stuntmen… Sunday August 14, 2011 3:11 HeyUGuys

3:12	HeyUGuys:  Animal is now chasing a rabbit across the screen That was the biggest crowd reaction. Sunday August 14, 2011 3:12 HeyUGuys

3:13	HeyUGuys:  Back to the movie. Talking about the cast now – Jason Segel and AMy Adams. JS is very tall. Kermit worked on apple boxes. Sunday August 14, 2011 3:13 HeyUGuys

3:13	HeyUGuys:  the question of cameos has popped up – JB: It’s in the tens! We have a lot of cameos. Pretty much everyone we asked said yes. Some are themselves, some are characters. There’s a lot of surprises. Sunday August 14, 2011 3:13 HeyUGuys

3:14	HeyUGuys:  WE’re apparently going to see a scene from the beginning of the film – just when the plan to destroy the Muppet theatre is discovered… Sunday August 14, 2011 3:14 HeyUGuys

3:16

HeyUGuys:  Walter, AA and JS are looking for Kermit – the only one who can save the theatre. approaching the huge house with gates which have Piggy and Kermit designs on them. This is the electric fence footage we’ve seen. Poor Walter is fried. And here he is – probably Kermit’s entrance – accompanied by a wonderful visual gag… Sunday August 14, 2011 3:16 HeyUGuys

3:17	HeyUGuys:  In Kermit’s house they are served by the robot called 80′s Robot. Genius. So many little gags. It’s a true Muppet film. The music, the jokes, the exposition. It’s bliss. Sunday August 14, 2011 3:17 HeyUGuys

3:18	HeyUGuys:  Kermit is singing. It;s captivating. Sunday August 14, 2011 3:18 HeyUGuys

3:23

HeyUGuys:  Walking through his house looking at the pictures of his Muppet past. It’s a genuinely beautiful summation of the Muppets as they are now – not around as much, but not forgotten. Some wonderful visual moments. I have no idea how they did it – this is a Muppet movie. The song, I’m guessing it’s called Pictures in my Head ,was pitch perfect. It’s playing with the nostalgia in a respectful and very fun way. This is genuinely moving. I can’t believe they’ve done it – from this alone it’s a must watch. There are tears all over the place – from just a small clip. It’s self referential but not smug. Charming without being mawkish. It’s the Muppets and it’s going to be a huge movie. Huge. Sunday August 14, 2011 3:23 HeyUGuys

3:24	HeyUGuys:  Kermit is talking about twitter – he doesn’t because he has no pockets. Sunday August 14, 2011 3:24 HeyUGuys

3:25	HeyUGuys:  Favourite person to work with – Kermit picks The Queen… Sunday August 14, 2011 3:25 HeyUGuys

3:27

HeyUGuys:  There’s a Q&A now – but while the question come in let me set the scene. It is easily the highlight of the entire event. The laughs are coming so thick and fast and so easily that any doubt people may not find it easy to connect with the Muppets has been dispelled. There’s more heart and fun in this panel and footage than all of the dozens of flashy trailers and polished footage. Sunday August 14, 2011 3:27 HeyUGuys

3:28	HeyUGuys:  Piggy is the subject of conversation – and she’s now on screen. Milking the applause. Sunday August 14, 2011 3:28 HeyUGuys

3:29	HeyUGuys:  She’s accepting her damehood. Something’s gone wrong clearly… Sunday August 14, 2011 3:29 HeyUGuys

3:29	HeyUGuys:  Chris Hewitt is now bestowing the Damehood on PIggy. That’s a career high then…. Sunday August 14, 2011 3:29 HeyUGuys

3:31	HeyUGuys:  Piggy stomred off after finding out that the House of Lords was not a restaurant… And that’s it. Sunday August 14, 2011 3:31 HeyUGuys

3:31	HeyUGuys:  That’s it. Best moment of the weekend. Shame it’s such a long time to wait here in the UK… Sunday August 14, 2011 3:31 HeyUGuys

3:32	HeyUGuys:  Go and see The Muppets. Then go and see it again. They’ll make more if you do! Sunday August 14, 2011 3:32 HeyUGuys

3:32