STX Entertainment | Release Date: August 24, 2018
4.6
USER SCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 113 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
35
Mixed:
32
Negative:
46
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8
SturmhardtNov 24, 2018
It really is a funny movie. It's not the best comedy in the world and it wasn't perfect, but it's silly stupid humor at its best and me and the wife really enjoyed it. It doesn't deserve the >30% rating. If you like the trailer, give it a shot.
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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7
Vitor007Nov 30, 2018
With no subtlety, the film lives up to what was expected of us. Surprisingly, for those who like this comedy style, the film becomes unique, with its vulgar humor always making appearances. The way in which production conveys information toWith no subtlety, the film lives up to what was expected of us. Surprisingly, for those who like this comedy style, the film becomes unique, with its vulgar humor always making appearances. The way in which production conveys information to the public and performances by puppets and humans is also noteworthy. Just its simplicity in the storyline that leads to the inconvenience, especially in its conclusion. 7.0/10 Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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9
Davrosdaleks1Aug 24, 2018
Yes, The Happytime Murders isn't the first raunchy puppet movie (Meet the Feebles) or even the first story to treat puppets as second-class citizens (the short-lived show Greg the Bunny). But it is hilarious, I laughed a lot.

The film has a
Yes, The Happytime Murders isn't the first raunchy puppet movie (Meet the Feebles) or even the first story to treat puppets as second-class citizens (the short-lived show Greg the Bunny). But it is hilarious, I laughed a lot.

The film has a lot creatively insane jokes. Yet, despite the craziness, the film does have a decent plot to it. Though, admittedly it does have a lot of detective/noir cliches to it.

The human cast is surprisingly good in this considering that they have to act with puppets most of the time. Melissa McCarthy, Elizabeth Banks, and Maya Rudolph all put in some of their better performances. In fact, I think this is the best I've seen Maya, who plays a goofy secretary. Credit should be given to veteran Muppet performer Bill Barretta (Pepe the Prawn) as the main character. He pulls off the unenviable job of making the main puppet character Phil come off as tough and gritty, albeit in a humorous way. Only downside to the acting in this is that the puppets' voices are performed by veteran puppeteers rather than cast outside voices and there are a couple of times where the puppeteers' voices weren't strong enough to fit the tone.

Lastly, I really have to admire the technical effort put into this. A lot of effort is made to populate this world with multiple puppets, even if they're just in the background. It really sells the idea of a world populated with them. I haven't seen a puppet film that has had this many full-torso shots. If you don't like comedy that pushes the edge or is weird, this isn't for you. But I really recommend this if you like this sort of thing but aren't completely sold.
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5 of 9 users found this helpful54
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10
jameswaltersAug 28, 2018
Greatest sex scene in the history of cinema!! The film is worth watching for that alone!! And then the homage to "Fatal Attraction" is absolutely incredible!!! The Carpet doesn't match the Drapes!!! Have they ever?!?! Will they ever?!?! NotGreatest sex scene in the history of cinema!! The film is worth watching for that alone!! And then the homage to "Fatal Attraction" is absolutely incredible!!! The Carpet doesn't match the Drapes!!! Have they ever?!?! Will they ever?!?! Not likely!!! Expand
2 of 4 users found this helpful22
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10
zlguntilzSep 4, 2018
One of the best comedies I've seen in years. Will be seeing again for sure! The Movie was set up with the expectation that it was not for children and would be a semi-raunchy movie, not sure why it's getting such bad reviews.
2 of 4 users found this helpful22
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8
Quinnsdaddy11Aug 24, 2018
I believe if you went into this movie wanting to hate it you will find plenty to hate. But if you came to laugh, have a fun light detective story and wanted to see where Jim Hanson's son would take this concept it's a good time. I couldI believe if you went into this movie wanting to hate it you will find plenty to hate. But if you came to laugh, have a fun light detective story and wanted to see where Jim Hanson's son would take this concept it's a good time. I could never give a movie a low score if I was smiling through out and laughed at loud at several scenes, many of which where not in any trailer. So in summary, don't go to this movie if you think you will get something on the caliber of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, because you won't but if you enjoyed Sausage Party I don't see why you couldn't enjoy this too. I for one had a great time and so did my Sister (who I took to the movie since she was visiting in town) Expand
6 of 13 users found this helpful67
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10
xamottAug 31, 2018
Funny, irreverent. Totally worth seeing. Look at who the critics work for that gave this movie a zero.
2 of 5 users found this helpful23
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10
person2000Aug 24, 2018
I think the reason critics are destorying this movie is because they're bringing the weight of their experience with children's televisions version of puppets to the film. It's not jiving with their ingrained belief for what a puppet is andI think the reason critics are destorying this movie is because they're bringing the weight of their experience with children's televisions version of puppets to the film. It's not jiving with their ingrained belief for what a puppet is and can do, thusly they outright reject it. It's the not the best movie of the year, but damn, it's funny and it's fun. If you want to have a good time at the movies, this is the movie to see. The artistry on display and technical skill is astounding, Melissa McCarthy is enjoyable, and Maya Rudolph knocks it out of the park. Go see this movie. Expand
6 of 18 users found this helpful612
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10
MysticArtisanAug 28, 2018
I loved this film and I rarely comment on this site but I felt the need to, as I think the film has been unfairly reviewed. To me I haven’t laughed for alongtime at many new films most of the way through in the last 5-10 years, it’s veryI loved this film and I rarely comment on this site but I felt the need to, as I think the film has been unfairly reviewed. To me I haven’t laughed for alongtime at many new films most of the way through in the last 5-10 years, it’s very subtle, twisted and beyond the obvious humour is very poignant. With its adult stars(it maybe twisted but is not porn) I usually cannot stand Melissa McCarthy and her other SNL alumni (was not a fan of Bridemaids and so forth) but she suited this down to the ground juxtapose to the other 2D characters. Maya Rudolph’s character Bubbles was fun and represented the muppets in a human form of being kind, happy go lucky which was so different to her boss Phil Phillips who I saw as equally dejected, depressed, depraved, dark and twisted in humour too but with pride. It is lazy to compare it to Ted or Team America-they are totally different and in some cases too extreme Sauage Party went wayward and which can be an issue with South Park and Family Guy episodes and to be honest Ted 2 sucked and should not have been made (not Seth Mcfarlane’s finest hour, though The Orville series amended that). Happytime Murders toes the line correctly and I congratulate Brian Henson on this as he must struggle being in his Dads shadow and perhaps he has wanted to do a film like this for a long time but been advised against it. After the film I would like this to be a great tv series or a similar idea for Netflix which I would happily watch. Now sorry to bust the moaning critics bubble but I grew up with the muppets during the 80s and seen all the films including the known ones in the 90s but the newer ones in the last few years were lame and the last series was trying to be like the office which was boring. This film is an adult film quite clearly that uses Muppet like characters-similar to the humour in Avenue Q and is not for kids and it could be seen as a less raucous Ralph Bakshi film in parts. The film develops well and you can see it being obvious in places but that’s part of the joke, it’s tongue in cheek, irony and get this it’s a comedy not a deep film and for an hour and half it will are you smile. I think in the U.K. it will fare better as British people have a darker sense of humour and get the nuances of noir. If you want something deep then go watch a French arty film about a painter/ballerina or some socio-political film you can analyse with your yuppie/artsy friends. However if you are intrigued to go see this, please do and escape the mundane existence of most movies which are so CGI heavy or lacking in plot. Expand
2 of 7 users found this helpful25
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7
TheQuietGamerDec 13, 2020
A one-joke comedy centered around the concept of watching puppets be vulgar and raunchy. The far less clever Ted did the same thing just with teddy bears, yet it was somehow given a pass. Meanwhile this movie has an actual plot.

The whole
A one-joke comedy centered around the concept of watching puppets be vulgar and raunchy. The far less clever Ted did the same thing just with teddy bears, yet it was somehow given a pass. Meanwhile this movie has an actual plot.

The whole thing is also meant to be an allegory for racism, but fails at being effective social commentary. This is because it's never clearly defined how the racism in its world works. You'll see things like a depiction of a more subtle, quiet bigotry and a mutual sense of disdain or mistrust that's been formed by years of prior abuse that closely mirrors today's social climate, only to then witness segregated hospitals and characters making blatantly racist remarks that no one calls them out for like we're back in the late 1800s, early 1900s or something. Essentially, it struggles to pick between two different time periods it wants to critique, one of which is wildly outdated, and therefore fails to offer anything on the topic other than a generic "mmmm, racism bad 'kay?" message. I hate to say it, but I think even Bright did much better job on this front.

For all of its faults though which relate to things like the simplistic story and some aspects that just flat out don't work, I was surprised by just how much this made me laugh. It's all a bunch of nasty sex and potty shock humor, but there's something about that which actually kind of works under the whole "Muppets for adults" conceit because of how effectively it catches you off guard with how far it's willing to go at times. Plus, there are some genuinely amusing flourishes that come from just how well realized these puppets are not just as characters, but anatomically as well. So as stupid and gross as it may be I still walked away entertained and wouldn't mind seeing another project along the same lines.
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0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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10
kuehnauJan 21, 2019
The Happytime Murders is a pretty decent little film, I enjoyed it from start to finish. It's not the best comedy in the world and it isn't perfect, but so few movies are these days. It's a silly, stupid movie at best, but I really enjoyed itThe Happytime Murders is a pretty decent little film, I enjoyed it from start to finish. It's not the best comedy in the world and it isn't perfect, but so few movies are these days. It's a silly, stupid movie at best, but I really enjoyed it and so did my friends and family.

The puppetry is pretty good, the jokes are good enough to stand on their own and the violence? Oh god, while it's true a majorty of the violence is against puppets, it's so brutal that it even made me cringe a few times. Some folks might complain that the humor is juvenile or that the plot is basic. I say to them that they are bitter, crappy adults who have somehow managed to lose their inner child.
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0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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8
AsherStormDec 21, 2019
I had a lot of fun watching this. Not a giant fan of McCarthy, but the world was fun to ride in for a while. I’d love to see something else that takes place in this same world. Dumb funny gross and still enjoyable.
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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8
PavementiiDec 22, 2018
My first movie review. Perhaps because I read sooooo many bad reviews, I was surprised when I enjoyed this film. Like another reviewer, I'm generally NOT a fan of McCarthy. I do like puns, dad humor, but actually prefer dramas. But I wasMy first movie review. Perhaps because I read sooooo many bad reviews, I was surprised when I enjoyed this film. Like another reviewer, I'm generally NOT a fan of McCarthy. I do like puns, dad humor, but actually prefer dramas. But I was convinced to see it with a friend and got plenty of laughs, so boom here my favorable review.

Relax and enjoy some really raunchy humor.
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0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
ganoncrotchMay 4, 2021
I had heard bad things and generally dislike McCarthy other than her minor role in Gilmore Girls but have to say this was genuinely surprising to me for being funny and a well put together mystery story. Very pleasantly surprised, don'tI had heard bad things and generally dislike McCarthy other than her minor role in Gilmore Girls but have to say this was genuinely surprising to me for being funny and a well put together mystery story. Very pleasantly surprised, don't expect Citizen Kane over here but still, just get some popcorn and go in with an open mind you'll likely enjoy this, very few other movies like it. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
Wavy_YeezyMay 25, 2019
Hilarious movie. Seeing the trailer, I wasn't expecting much but it was very funny to me
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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