The Happytime Murders (2018)

When the puppet cast of a '90s children's TV show begin to get murdered one by one, a disgraced LAPD detective-turned-private eye puppet takes on the case.

Director:

Brian Henson

Writers:

Todd Berger (screenplay by), Todd Berger (story by)

Stars:

Melissa McCarthy, Elizabeth Banks, Maya Rudolph

1 win & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Melissa McCarthy	...	Detective Connie Edwards
Elizabeth Banks	...	Jenny
Maya Rudolph	...	Bubbles
Leslie David Baker	...	Lt. Banning
Joel McHale	...	Agent Campbell
Cynthy Wu	...	Brittenie Marlowe
Michael McDonald	...	Ronovan Scargle
Mitch Silpa	...	Tommy
Hemky Madera	...	Tito
Benjamin Cole Royer	...	Rick
Brekkan Spens	...	Dick
Ryan Tran	...	Phil
Fortune Feimster	...	Robin
Brian Palermo	...	Paramedic (as Brian Joseph Palermo)
Damon Jones	...	Police Station Guard John / Puppet Doctor

Storyline

A murder mystery set in a world where humans and puppets co-exist, but puppets are viewed as second-class citizens. When the puppet cast of an '90s children's TV show begins to get murdered one by one, a former cop, who has since become a private eye, takes on the case.

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Plot Keywords:

wisecrack humor | fictional drug | violence | f word | murder mystery | 

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Taglines:

From the studio that was sued by Sesame Street.

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong crude and sexual content and language throughout, and some drug material

Details

Official Sites:

Facebook Instagram

Country:

USA China

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 August 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Happytime Murders

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,532,425, 26 August 2018, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$20,706,452, 27 September 2018

Company Credits

Production Co:

STX Entertainment, Huayi Brothers Media, Black Bear Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

DTS SDDS Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Puppets featured in That Puppet Game Show (2013) play characters and extras in the movie. Eddie Watts is a waiter in the restaurant Phil and Larry Shenanigans are talking in, on the wall photo and in the background. Clyde Stravinsky as the crab in the garbage can at the beach. Jake Hamilton-Jones as the little girl's father who Phil accidentally shoots. Dr. Strabismus as the doctor at the puppet clinic who refuses to operate on Connie. One of the singing Hot Dogs appears during the end credits.

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Goofs

[SPOILER] It is never explained how Jenny survived the car explosion, especially when the camera never moves from the car after she enters, and her body is visible in the driver's seat.

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Quotes

Connie Edwards: You better get checked 'cause that shit tasted like salt.

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Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: The Puppet Inside Me (2018)

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Soundtracks

Bring Your Love Back Home
Written by Tom Hirschmann and Scott Lean
Courtesy of BMG Production Music, Inc.

User Reviews

Seriously? What is all of the hubbub about?? It was Hilarious.

I am a 64-year-old marketing guy, married to a 5th grade school teacher. Because is was available on Movie Pass, we decided to "risk our morality" and see this movie. Neither of us could figure out what all of the negativity and silly "up in arms" whining is about! We both found the movie hilarious, and far more clever than many of the other reviews are portraying.

WARNING... IT's A MUPPET MOVIE!!! If you have seen any of the other Muppet/Henson films, you know what to expect. Loads of Muppets interacting with humans...and acting silly. In this case, the jokes were raunchier, and more adult. Big whoop! But, even the crudest bits were pale in comparison to loads of other big Hollywood comedies out these days. There wasn't a single scene that was as gross and off-putting as the "taking a dump in the manhole" scene in "Bridesmaids." The whole bit with the silly string? Hilarious...and silly.

See it. Especially if you can get a discount, or matinee price. No. Don't take kids. But, I am guessing there are tons of kids these days who wouldn't even blink at the humor. We have seen a ton of movies in the past few weeks...and we both agreed, compared to "The Spy Who Left Me" or "the Meg" this was gold.