Watch The Happytime Murders

In the crime-comedy movie "The Happytime Murders," Los Angeles serves as the home to both humans and puppets, who coexist uneasily. The movie combines the worlds of humans and puppets in a way that has never been seen before. In this world inhabited by puppets, Melissa McCarthy plays Phil Philips, a puppet private detective who is trying to solve a string of gruesome murders that are happening to the cast of a popular children's show called "The Happytime Gang." Phil is joined in his quest by his former police partner, Detective Connie Edwards (played by Elizabeth Banks). The duo faces many challenges as they try to solve the crimes, including not being entirely welcomed by the human police force, who view them as second-class citizens.

The movie is directed by Brian Henson, whose father, Jim Henson, was the creator of beloved children's characters such as Kermit the Frog and Big Bird. However, despite his lineage, Brian Henson certainly did not create the type of show that his father was famous for. The movie is filled with raunchy humor, graphic violence, and a lot of swearing. It is rated R for good reason, and it is not for children.

Of course, there are some hints of the humor that audiences might expect from a Jim Henson production. The puppet characters are all very expressive and vibrant, and the concept of putting raunchy humor into the mouths of something like a puppet can be hilarious at times. In general, the movie has a solid sense of humor that propels the story forward, contrasting Phil's sardonic wit with Connie's abrasive personality.

Overall, though, the stars of the movie are the puppets themselves. With their huge, exaggerated features and bright colors, they are a sight to behold. Much care has clearly been taken to create a world that is both realistic enough to be engaging but also fantastical enough to be fun. Every character, whether human or puppet, has a unique personality and backstory, with the larger-than-life puppets providing plenty of comic relief, reminding viewers of the likes of Sesame Street’s cookie monster.

Despite the cartoonish characters, "The Happytime Murders" is overwhelmingly a movie for adults. The film's sense of humor is harsh, vulgar, and often downright shocking. This kind of humor isn't going to be to everyone's taste. However, those who are able to get on board with it may find much to enjoy in what is a thoroughly engrossing viewing experience. Some of the movie's best moments come in the form of hilarious sight gags involving the puppets, with the filmmakers obviously having a lot of fun experimenting with their puppet creations.

"The Happytime Murders" is an unusual type of movie. It is part crime drama, full of murder and intrigue, and part comedy that tries to get laughs through some very dark humor. Some might argue that its tone is uneven, sometimes seeming like a raunchy parody of film noir while at other times seeming like an attempt to subvert the tropes of a more typical buddy-cop comedy. Ultimately, the movie is something unique that will surprise audiences while providing some laughs along the way.

For a movie that is so deeply rooted in the concept of puppets, "The Happytime Murders" is surprisingly raunchy and graphic. While it is certainly not for everyone, those who can appreciate a crude joke or two may find much to enjoy in this zany comedy. The movie has a solid cast, with McCarthy, Banks, and Rudolph all delivering great performances. At its core, though, "The Happytime Murders" is a showcase for the puppets, with their creative designs and personalities providing ample amusement throughout the movie. The film is a bizarre but entertaining piece of cinema, full of dark comedy and creative ideas. For those looking for something different that will make them laugh, "The Happytime Murders" is a solid choice.

The Happytime Murders is a 2018 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 31 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.5 and a MetaScore of 27.