Foul-mouthed and filthy, The Happytime Murders arrives in cinemas hoping to recapture the positive reception of Sausage Party, a raunchy adult animation-comedy that similarly tried to take a symbol of our childhood and wildly deface it with sex, drugs and rock and roll. As someone underwhelmed by that 2016 effort's one-note farce, can the Melissa McCarthy-led picture about humans and puppets living side-by-side win me over instead?
When a series of murders occur targeting the members of a popular puppet sitcom from the 90s, 'The Happytime Gang', puppet private detective Phil Phillips (voiced by Bill Barretta) reluctantly teams up with his former partner Detective Connie Edwards (McCarthy) to uncover the real reason the Happytime Gang are being killed one-by-one. Directed by Brian Henson, known for his involvement with children entertainment, most notably The Muppets, this one is most certainly not a family-friendly affair.
Certainly one for acquired tastes, The Happytime Murders is a rude, crude exercise in visual shock value, stuffed with repellent behaviour and scandalous set pieces bound to get people talking, for better or for worse. Its attempt to tackle social issues are evident but half-baked, with a need for sex and drugs seemingly of a higher importance than a deeper meaning; that would be fine if the humour was of a more consistent and inventive standard. Instead, Tom Berger's screenplay is under-written, lazily relying on shock tactics to make us laugh; to very, very mixed effect, the laughs come through at an irregular pace and while there are a few chuckles around, the contrast between the puppets and their vulgarity ultimately wears thin fast. For a film that seeks to push the boundaries, The Happytime Murders doesn't push its narrative far enough.
Recognition must be handed to the production design team, who ensure the scenes pop on screen. It rather smartly exhibits a heightened sense of reality, making the experience all the more bizarre: the glossy beaches and crime scenes contrast the seedy underworld of the puppet world effectively, almost like a comic strip. It's solid work and director Henson explores this version of Los Angeles with a sheen that opposes the filth of the endless obscenities.
Thankfully, as with many of her star vehicles, Melissa McCarthy is the film's salvation. She throws herself in despite the screenplay working against her, stranding her with cheap jokes about her masculinity and weight. She's game, committed and a clear source of most of the laughs that land - although I can't see everyone agreeing with that sentiment, particularly those more resistive to her brand of humour. Her natural charisma is just about enough to prop up The Happytime Murders for me personally, carrying the farce throughout the slender, surprisingly tight 91-minute runtime - any longer and the stitching would burst completely at the seams.
Similarly, Barretta does not hold back as the voice of Phillips. It's a rather typical character type - washed-up cop haunted by a mistake he made years before - albeit in puppet form, once again illustrating the wider narrative's relentless dependency on defacing something recognisable with total depravity. Barretta does what he can in order to make Phillips a compelling lead although lacks the magnetism of McCarthy. In supporting capacities, Maya Rudolph and Elizabeth Banks are both solid but underused. Rudolph, ever a joy, plays it barmy, lip-smacking her way through her scene-stealing appearances, while Banks uses what is essentially a glorified cameo to entertaining effect.
The Happytime Murders lacks middle ground: nuance is not something you go into this film expecting, but a stronger picture would be found if it employed such a technique. With an undoubtedly intriguing premise - puppets and humans co-existing in a society where the former are treated as inferior by the latter - The Happytime Murders disappoints in its inability to capitalise on that potential. While it is not entirely without commendation, it takes the easier route for its duration, relying on McCarthy's brand of humour to combat the predictable script and gross-out humour - and your enjoyment will completely depend on how you take to her as a comedian. If cheaps laughs are enough for you, The Happytime Murders will be your cup of tea; otherwise, you'll leave feeling royally stitched up.
★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
(5/10)
Summary: The Happytime Murders is a crude, rude exercise in shock value, stuffed with relentless vulgarity and profanity that wears thin quickly. Melissa McCarthy holds up the trashy antics admirably though, extracting a handful of laughs despite the lazy script working against her.