The Happytime Murders (2018 film)
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| The Happytime Murders | |
| Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Brain Henson |
| Produced by | Brian Henson Jeffrey Hayes Melissa McCarthy Ben Falcone |
| Screenplay by | Todd Berger |
| Story by | Todd Berger Dee Austin Robertson |
| Starring | Melissa McCarthy Maya Rudolph Joel McHale Elizabeth Banks |
| Music by | Christopher Lennertz |
| Cinematography | Mitchell Amundsen |
| Edited by | Brian Scott Olds |
| Production company | STX Films H. Brothers Black Bear Pictures TMP The Jim Henson Company On the Day Productions |
| Distributed by | STX Entertainment |
| Release date | August 24, 2018 (United States) |
| Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $40–47 million |
| Box office | $27.5 million |
The Happytime Murders is a 2018 American black comedy crime film directed by Brian Henson and written by Todd Berger. The film stars Melissa McCarthy, Bill Barretta, Maya Rudolph, Joel McHale, Leslie David Baker, and Elizabeth Banks. The plot, set in a world where puppets and humans co-exist, follows a joint police force who must solve a recent murder spree of retired sitcom stars.
The film was first announced in 2008 by The Jim Henson Company, the production studio of Muppets creator Jim Henson. Various actors, including Cameron Diaz, Katherine Heigl, and Jamie Foxx, were approached to star before McCarthy signed on in May 2017. Filming began in Los Angeles that September, and involved the use of over 120 puppets. The release marks the film debut of Henson Alternative, a banner of The Jim Henson Company that specializes in adult content.
The Happytime Murders was released on August 24, 2018, by STXfilms. It received generally negative reviews from critics and was a box-office bomb, grossing only $27.5 million worldwide against a $40–47 million budget. The film received six nominations at the 39th Golden Raspberry Awards including Worst Picture and Worst Actress for McCarthy, winning the latter award.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
[edit] Cast
- Melissa McCarthy as Detective Connie Edwards, Phil’s ex-partner.
- Maya Rudolph as Bubbles, Phil’s optimistic, upbeat, kind secretary.
- Joel McHale as Special Agent Campbell, a stern, arrogant FBI agent.
- Elizabeth Banks as Jenny Peterson, a burlesque dancer and Phil's ex-girlfriend, who was the sole human member of The Happytime Gang.
- Leslie David Baker as Lt. Banning, Edwards' police superior.
- Michael McDonald as Ronovan Scargle, the CEO of the Puppet Television Network which produced The Happytime Gang.
- Cynthy Wu as Brittenie Marlowe, Larry Phillips' girlfriend.
- Mitch Silpa as Tommy, a criminal who sells puppet parts on the black market.
- Hemky Madera as Tito, a criminal who purchases puppet parts on the black market.
- Jimmy O. Yang as Officer Delancey, a police officer.
- Ryan Gaul as Officer Milligan, a police officer.
- Fortune Feimster as Robin, a weed dealer and a longtime fan of The Happytime Gang.
- Ben Falcone as Donny, an LAPD desk worker.
[edit] Puppeteers
- Bill Barretta as Phil Phillips, a disgraced ex-cop who is now a private investigator. He was the first puppet to become a police officer, but was fired from the force after accidentally killing Sandra's father.
- Barretta also performs Junkyard, a member of Lyle's drug gang.
- Barretta also performs Boar, a common warthog who works on the beach [[Boardwalk}boardwalk]].
- Dorien Davies as Sandra White (née Jakoby), a puppet who hires Phil to investigate a case for her while having a secret vengeful motive against him.
- Kevin Clash as Lyle, an actor on The Happytime Gang who played a sports coach and is now a drug lord.
- Clash also performs Mr. Bumblypants, a white rabbit actor who played a mailman on The Happytime Gang and now has a pornography addiction.
- Drew Massey as Goofer, an actor on The Happytime Gang who played a handyman, and is now homeless and addicted to sugar, which is like heroin to puppets.
- Massey also performs Vinny, a vulture who works at a porn shop.
- Ted Michaels as Ezra, an actor on The Happytime Gang and Cara’s cousin.
- Michaels also performs a sexist thug.
- Colleen Smith as Cara, an actress on The Happytime Gang and Ezra’s cousin.
- Smith also performs a Dalmatian at a porn shop and Carol
- Alice Dinnean and Donna Kimball as Sheila and Diane (the "Rotten Cotton Girls"), a duo of puppet prostitutes and strippers.
- Kimball also performs an unnamed cow at a porn shop and Roxy.
- Brian Henson as a crab in a trash can.
- Henson also (presumably) performs Jasper Jakoby, Sandra's father who Phil accidentally shot years ago while trying to stop a puppet thug.
- Allan Trautman as an octopus at a porn shop.
- Trautman also performs the reluctant puppet doctor that operated on Connie.
- Victor Yerrid as Larry "Shenanigans" Phillips, Phil's older brother and an actor on The Happytime Gang who played a police officer, and in the present, he has since had his blue skin bleached and underwent a nose job.
- Yerrid also performs an old man outside of Phil's private office, who loves singing and dancing.
In addition, Henson makes an on-screen cameo in a photograph in Connie's apartment.
[edit] Production
[edit] Development
[edit] Filming
[edit] Release
[edit] Home media
[edit] Reception
[edit] Box office
[edit] Critical response
[edit] Accolades
| Award | Category | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis Film Critics Association | Worst Film of the Year | The Happytime Murders | Nominated | |
| Houston Film Critics Society | Best Worst Film | Won | ||
| Alliance of Women Film Journalists | Hall of Shame | Nominated | ||
| Actress Most in Need of a New Agent | Melissa McCarthy | Nominated | ||
| Golden Raspberry Awards | Worst Picture | Brian Henson, Jeffrey Hayes, Melissa McCarthy & Ben Falcone | Nominated | |
| Worst Director | Brian Henson | Nominated | ||
| Worst Actress | Melissa McCarthy | Won | ||
| Worst Supporting Actor | Joel McHale | Nominated | ||
| Worst Screen Combo | Any two actors or puppets | Nominated | ||
| Worst Screenplay | Todd Berger & Dee Austin Robertson | Nominated |
