By Robert Scucci | Published
Like a big fan or Team America: World Police and Avenue qI was more than excited when I came across Happy time murdersAn obscene action of the mysterious comedy of neo-noir crime with puppets, while traveling through the Netflix catalog. I almost started to shake when I knew Brian Henson, the son of the legendary Jim Henson, directed Happy time murders Because he expected a fantastic puppet design that at least made his father, the OG proud.
While I have zero complaints about the movements of puppets and their voice voice, Happy time murders Ultimately, it is a disappointment that it has everywhere, it needs to be an effective comedy, but constantly triggers its own point of view.
Puppets versus human
In a world where puppets and humans are mostly segregated, Happy time murders It introduces us to Puppet Private Eye Hard, Phil Phillips (Bill Barretta), a former policeman who previously worked with detective Conwards Edwards (Melissa McCarthy).
Phil was the first puppet allowed in the police force, but his mandate came to an end after a failed rescue resulted in the death of an innocent man 12 years before. Working as a solo practitioner, Sandra (Dorien Davies) approaches Phil to discover who is chanting her for $ 350, which makes no sense because she is willing to pay Phil $ 300 per day, more expenses, to solve the case to see, like her, as she is to see. Blackclack and move on with his life.
Meanwhile, the members of the puppet cast or The Happy Time Gang They are slowly killing for an unknown assailant, the result in LT. Banning (Leslie David Baker) hired Phil as a consultant to work with Connie, who wants to have anything to do with him after the incident that fired him from the force first.
The rhythms are all there
In the value of the face, Happy time murders It has all the traps for a solid obscene criminal comedy, but somehow it falls apart because it lacks an element that would really make it a next level satire. As Mr. Bumblypants (Kevin Clash), Phil’s brother and the star of The Happy Time Gang Larry (Victor Yerrid), Lyle (Kevin Clash, again) and Goofer (Drew Massey) are systematically eliminated under increasingly suspicious circumstances, there is no scarcity of expected creative murder), but go! Chemistry on the screen to maintain that energy consistent through the film.
This is especially disappointing when we learn the reasson behind the murders from the beginning: The Happy Time Gang He goes to the syndication, huge payments are about to take their main cast, and someone is trying to obtain the benefits charging their legacy making sure they never receive those checks; It is an inherently convincing story and a supremely fun mystery to be invented as a spectator.
Melissa McCarthy is perfect for the role of detective Connie Edwards in Happy time murdersAnd his performance is commendable, but the energy that exudes is ultimately unparalleled by his puppet counterparts, and his superior, LT. Banning, who does nothing more than delivering his lines. Heated duration, exchanges full of blasphemies between the detective Conwards Edwards and Phil Phillips, the maximum that will obtain the prohibition of the lieutenant in his efforts to descale the situation “appears now”, when he should bark orders on the mayor who will have his ass if they do things for the books, or other perfectly cliché line that works in this context.
Disappointing, but a solid concept test
As much as I would like to love Happy time murdersIt is simply everywhere to be pleasant. The sex drives scenes (you will know them when you see them) are hilarious for themselves because they are very exaggerated and unpleasant, but they do not necessarily drive the narration of advance birds. Melissa McCarthy orders each scene, but none of his human co -star seems to follow his example and combine with his enthusiasm. And when you join everything, you get a delivery disaster and jokes that do not match that they do not match the energy among the people who say them is inconsistent.
As proof of concept, Happy time murders It is a brave effort, and I will love to see that the cast and the crew have a second chance because there are some genuine moments to get rid of the film. However, in this change, the whole is less than the sum of its parts.
From this writing, Happy time murders It is transmitting in Netflix.
