Fozzie Farts Worry 'Muppets' Legends About New Movie's Faithfulness

While we here at Yidio have expressed our excitement again and again about the upcoming "The Muppets" movie, it seems that not everyone is as optimistic about the return of the puppeteered performers as we are. I'm not talking about younger kids who have no idea who the Muppets are, either... no, these naysayers are the people who helped create the Muppets themselves.

According to THR, some of these Muppet "insiders" have questioned Jason Segel's script. "They're looking at the script on a joke-by-joke basis, rather than as a construction of character and story," said one of the former Muppet writers. Another had issues with a point in the trailer where Fozzie makes a joke about "fart shoes." "We wouldn't do that; it's too cheap," the insider  noted.

Another very famous face--or voice, rather--of the Muppet world also decided to chime in on the new film recently. Frank Oz, who provided voices for Miss Piggy and Fozzie, said that it was his decision not to be in the movie. "I turned it down. I wasn't happy with the script," said Oz. "I don't think they respected the characters. But I don't want to go on about it like a sourpuss and hurt the movie."

Isn't it a bit late for that, Frank? And who are these other insiders who are spouting off about their doubts a month before the movie releases?

Plus, there's the fact that Segel was hired to write the script (he also stars) because he's a huge Muppet fan and cites them frequently as one of his comedy influences. While the old-school Muppet team might see problems with changes to characters and setting, they may be overlooking the possibility that Segel is breathing new life into a brand that has been all but dead for more than a decade.

So yes, it might be out of character for Kermit to be living in a mansion and for the other Muppets to be jealous of him. It might be out of character for Fozzie to wear fart shoes. But sometimes, when characters haven't gone anywhere for a while, they need to find new ground before returning to their roots. Something tells me that by the end of "The Muppets," all will be right with the Muppet world.

So much so that even Frank Oz won't be able to complain.