Review: The Happytime Murders
The Happytime Murders, a soft-boiled noir set in a world where humans and puppets (un)happily co-exist, is fascinating not necessarily because it's good, which it sometimes almost is, and not necessarily because it's bad, which it often is. Rather, it is fascinating because it seems to function in a state of blissful mediocrity, perfectly to rely on a premise that is far from the novelty that it believes itself to be.
Directed by Brian Henson, the puppets that populate the film are aesthetically in the same vein as the Muppets, which were created by Henson's father, Jim, but are far less innocent. Depicting puppets and/or cartoon characters as randy, raunchy, potty-mouthed, decidedly adult figures is nothing new as Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Cool World, and Ted, amongst other films, can attest, so whatever forbidden thrill one may initially experience upon watching The Happytime Murders quickly dissipates. Which is not to say that there aren't enough outrageous moments - one involving an octopus and a cow, another a copious amount of Silly String - to appeal to one's juvenile and irreverent sensibilities.
They may be living with the humans, but puppets are still second-class citizens as Los Angeles private eye Phil Phillips (Bill Barretta) conveys in his voiceover. Phil himself is partially responsible for setting back his felt brethren after accidentally killing a puppet civilian back when he was the first and last puppet to be part of the LAPD. Whilst on a case for Sandra (Dorien Davies), a felt femme fatale who wants him to track down her blackmailers, Phil finds himself smack dab in the middle of a crime scene when a former cast member of The Happytime Gang gets his head blown off. He won't be the last to be targeted for other former cast members are dropping left, right and center - perhaps all victim to one person who wants more than their designated share of a lucrative syndication deal.
The case reunites Phil and his former partner Connie Edwards (Melissa McCarthy), who is herself part puppet after she underwent emergency surgery to replace her liver after the incident that caused Phil his badge. The two aren't exactly pleased to see one another, but they eventually lighten their friction in order to solve the case. The plot is beside the point, so intent is Henson on displaying his puppets exhibiting all manner of eye-popping behaviour. To the film's credit, there's a naturalness to the world they have created - the interactions between humans and puppets believable and the situations themselves logical. Yet it never truly ventures beyond its comfort level, which is not necessarily a criticism since there's a particular good-humoured spirit that pervades the proceedings.
The trio of leading actresses - McCarthy, Elizabeth Banks as the sole human cast member of The Happytime Gang and Phil's former lover, and Maya Rudolph as Phil's girl Friday - all do reliably fine work and seem to be enjoying themselves. The real MVPs though are Barretta and Davies, both of whom embody Phil and Sandra so well that one wishes the filmmakers would have just done away with the humans altogether and concentrated on making an all-puppet comic noir.
The Happytime Murders
Directed by: Brian Henson
Written by: Todd Berger
Starring: Bill Barretta, Dorien Davies, Melissa McCarthy, Elizabeth Banks, Maya Rudolph, Leslie David Baker, Joel McHale, Cynthy Wu, Michael McDonald, Fortune Feimster, Jimmy O. Yang
