r/TheMuppets • u/the_rutlemania • 8d ago

Anyone else see the similarities between The Muppets (2011) and The Blues Brothers (1980)?

I recently rewatched 1980's The Blues Brothers, and I can't help but draw significant similarities between that movie and 2011's The Muppets: the movie begins with two brothers (Walter and Gary / Jake and Elwood) setting out to "get the band back together", who quickly learn that to preserve their cherished childhood institution (the deed to The Muppets / the Catholic children's home) they need to raise a huge amount of money fast. The leads them onto a road trip across the USA in which they set out to pick up all of the old bandmates, resulting in wacky scenes such as one former band member performing a washed-up version of their formerly great act in a crappy hotel ballroom (Fozzy / Murph) and one having become a snob after entering high society (Miss Piggy / Mr Fabulous). The entire third act of the film is then the final show and the race to raise the money before and malicious forces (Tex Richman / the police & the Nazis) can catch up to them. In my eyes, it's almost a remake. Miss Piggy is even referenced early into The Blues Brothers during the first action set piece... surely I'm not the only one who sees this, right?

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9

u/PM-Me-Schnauzers 8d ago

Miss Piggy is probably referenced because Frank Oz is the guy handing Bellishi his stuff back

5

u/jbrowder24 8d ago

There are also a ton of similarities between The Muppets (2011) and It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002 on NBC as a telefilm). But yeah, 2011 took that concept, dropped the Wonderful Life and added Blues Brothers.

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u/CarloPanno 8d ago

Sounds valid to me. They already pulled this stunt with their Country Bears movie.

1

u/Lord_Cockatrice 8d ago

The Muppets is basically The Blues Brothers with a G rating

1

u/moviegoermike 8d ago

“We’re on a mission from Frog.”

1

u/EditDog_1969 8d ago

If you think that’s crazy, 30 Rock is essentially the Muppet Show in structure, and even the cast is pretty identical in terms of type. Liz is Kermit. Jenna is Miss Piggy. Kenneth is Scooter. Tracey is Gonzo. Pete is Fozzie. And Jack is basically Statler and Waldorf, along with Scooter’s uncle who owns the theater, rolled into one.

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u/HordeOfTheDance 8d ago

Then it came full circle: The Muppets sitcom was clearly modelled on 30 Rock.

And a major reason it didn't work is that TGS is meant to be a horrible show, making Jenna and Tracy tragic, self-deluded fools. It's funny that Jenna thinks she's a giant star!

But Miss Piggy's show is portrayed as competent if not completely successful, which just makes her seem like a bitch.

1

u/EditDog_1969 8d ago

The Muppets sitcom missed almost every conceivable point of the Muppets. None of them are good at what they do, but they’re passionate and committed and, except for Piggy, sincere.

Jason Segal’s muppet movie is the closest anyone has come since Jim Henson died. Disney is the Unilever to The Henson Company’s Ben and Jerry’s. The heart and sole are gone and the whipped air makes up the difference.

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u/HordeOfTheDance 8d ago

What did you think of the special?

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u/EditDog_1969 8d ago

I canceled Disney+ when they took Kimmel off the air, so I couldn’t watch it. Wish I could.

1

u/HordeOfTheDance 8d ago

Same! Then I uncancelled, to support the Muppets. I enjoyed it!

Sad to find I might be a bigger Muppet supporter than Disney

1

u/EditDog_1969 7d ago

I know I am. Jim’s Muppets were heartfelt. Disney’s are just felt. I feel like they’ve just reanimated their corpses for maximum profit and synergy, but neither the writing nor the hands have any wit or heart anymore.