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Score 5.8

IMDb 5.5

Rotten Tomatoes 23%

Year: 2018
Type: Film
Runtime: 91 min
Country: United States, China
Language: English
Puppet role: Protagonist
Puppet types: Moving-mouth Puppets

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Film 2018 91 min

The Happytime Murders

Name: The Happytime Murders
Genre: Action, Crime, Comedy, Mystery, Fantasy
Released: 2018
Duration: 91 min
Rating: 5.8
Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Bill Barretta, Maya Rudolph, Joel McHale, Elizabeth Banks

ActionCrimeComedyMysteryFantasyThrillerFilm Noir

Trailer

Synopsis

In a Los Angeles where humans and puppets coexist as second-class citizens, disgraced puppet detective Phil Phillips and his former human partner, Detective Connie Edwards, are forced to work together. They must solve a brutal murder spree targeting the former cast of "The Happytime Gang," a beloved 1980s puppet show. As the killings become more personal, Phil himself becomes the prime suspect.

Context & Trivia

The Happytime Murders was the first and only film released under The Jim Henson Company's Henson Alternative banner, a division aimed at adult audiences. The film utilizes Muppet-style puppets, though they are not referred to by that name, as the official Muppets are owned by The Walt Disney Company. A total of 125 puppets were used in the film, with 40 created specifically for it. To accommodate the puppeteers, all sets were built up, allowing puppeteers to stand with straight arms to operate the puppets. Bill Barretta, a veteran Muppet performer, voices and puppeteers Phil Phillips, the puppet protagonist. Other notable puppeteers include Kevin Clash and Victor Yerrid. The film was directed by Brian Henson, son of Muppets creator Jim Henson.

Puppeteers

Bill Barretta, Dorien Davies, Kevin Clash, Drew Massey, Victor Yerrid, Colleen Smith, Ted Michaels, Brian Henson, Alice Dinnean, Donna Kimball

Puppet companies

Henson Alternative · The Jim Henson Company

Puppet building

The Jim Henson Company

Direction

Brian Henson

Writing

Todd Berger, Dee Austin Robertson, Erich Hoeber, Jon Hoeber, Melissa McCarthy

Cast

Melissa McCarthy, Bill Barretta, Maya Rudolph, Joel McHale, Elizabeth Banks, Leslie David Baker, Dorien Davies, Kevin Clash, Drew Massey, Victor Yerrid

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