There is a new movie coming your way from the Jim Henson Company, but don't expect the Muppets to appear. That's OK though, because Deadline reported Melissa McCarthy will star in The Happytime Murders, and she's way cooler than Kermit. (Sorry, Kermit.)
Directed by Jim Henson's son, Brian Henson, The Happytime Murders will follow two detectives, one human — played by McCarthy — and one puppet, who are forced to team up when someone starts murdering the beloved stars of the children's show The Happytime Gang. If it sounds like an irreverent and bizarre take on the buddy cop genre, I think that's exactly what Henson is going for.
Digital Spy compared the premise to Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, and it sounds like they are exactly right. If the R-rated film can channel the natural hilarity of Who Framed Roger Rabbit?'s mix of familiar childhood characters in adult situations, it could easily be McCarthy's best film yet. For her part, the star sounds excited to dive in to The Happytime Murders and ruin your childhood love of puppets while making you laugh your butt off.
In a statement, McCarthy told Deadline, "When a really good script combines puppet strippers, Los Angeles' underbelly, and comedy, it's like my fever dream has finally come true."
McCarthy has plenty of experience playing law enforcement agents with an attitude thanks to The Heat and Spy, so she's already a natural fit for the role of an irascible detective who's not too happy to be working a case with a puppet. Besides, just the idea of watching the versatile McCarthy act alongside a cadre of foul-mouthed puppets sounds like a gift from the movie gods.
If her recent Saturday Night Live guest appearances as Sean Spicer have taught the world anything about McCarthy's comedic style, it's that the sillier the premise, the more she will make you laugh. The actor has a gift for grounding surreal humor with just a touch of reality — something that will be vital to a story like The Happytime Murders.
The best part of The Happytime Murders for McCarthy (and the audience) is that it sounds like a true star vehicle for the actor. As long as she is surrounded by a cast of voice comedians who can keep up with her, the film has all the ingredients to become a major hit. It's going to be hard for audiences to resist a movie that takes a satirical look at The Muppets and stars McCarthy as a human in a world where puppets are real.
Now McCarthy and puppet fans are just going to have to wait for this magical concoction of a film to hit theaters.
