The Happytime Murders Dvd

The Happytime Murders is a 2018 American comedy film directed by Brian Henson and screenplay by Todd Berger and story by Berger and Dee Austin Robertson. The film stars Melissa McCarthy, Bill Barretta, Maya Rudolph, Joel McHale, Leslie David Baker, and Elizabeth Banks. Set in a world where puppets and humans co-exist, the film follows a puppet and human 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 Happytime Murders was the first film released by Henson Alternative, a banner of The Jim Henson Company that specializes in adult-oriented content.

The Happytime Murders was released on August 24, 2018, by STXfilms. It received mostly negative reviews from critics for its adult-oriented humor and innuendoes although the puppetry did receive praise. The film 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, who won the latter award.

Plot

In a world where puppets coexist with humans but are treated as second-class citizens, Phil Phillips was the first puppet cop on the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) before being fired. Now a private detective with a human secretary Bubbles, he is hired by puppet client Sandra White to find out who has been blackmailing her. Phil investigates a lead at a puppet-owned porn shop. While he checks their records in the back, an attacker kills everyone else present including Mr. Bumblypants, a cast member of the beloved puppet television sitcom The Happytime Gang that was due to go into syndication.

The LAPD arrives and Phil meets with his former partner Detective Connie Edwards. Twelve years prior, Edwards was being held at gunpoint by a puppet perpetrator. Phil tried to shoot him, but missed and hit an innocent puppet killing him in front of the puppet’s young daughter. Edwards testified against Phil and a law was enacted preventing puppets from being cops. In the present, Edwards believes it was a robbery gone wrong. Phil believes it was murder, since no money was taken. That night, Phil’s brother Larry “Shenanigans” Phillips, a former Happytime Gang cast-member, is torn apart when someone lets dogs into his house. Phil reluctantly joins forces with Edwards to find the killer.

The two track down former Happytime Gang cast-member Lyle only for him to be killed in a drive-by shooting in front of Phil. Phil goes to see Jenny, the only human Happytime Gang cast-member and his former girlfriend, at a puppet strip club where she works. Phil is unable to protect her when her car explodes. The police see Phil leaving the scene and believe him to be responsible for the murders.

Phil hides out at Edwards’ apartment and they discover that former Happytime Gang member Goofer has apparently overdosed and drowned. They go to the house of the two remaining Happytime Gang members, Ezra and Cara only to find their mangled bodies. The FBI arrives and detains Phil and Edwards. Phil is shown Sandra in an interrogation room. She reveals that she and Jenny are married and claims Phil killed Jenny and the others to keep Sandra for himself.

Edwards is suspended from duty and enlists Bubbles to ask for help proving Phil’s innocence. They break into Sandra’s home and discover a hidden room containing plans for the deaths of the Happytime Gang stars and a conspiracy against Phil. Edwards notices a picture of the puppet Phil accidentally shot years ago, and realizes that Sandra is his daughter and out for revenge against Phil. Bubbles sees a tape recorder and presses the play button, which ignites a fire destroying all the evidence. Edwards breaks Phil out of jail to stop Sandra.

Phil and Edwards race to the airport, where Sandra is planning to escape with all the royalty money. Phil apologizes for killing her father, saying it has haunted him all the years since and asks why the Happytime Gang stars had to die. Sandra says she wanted Phil to suffer as payback. It is revealed that Jenny is alive, having faked her death, and is in cahoots with Sandra, but Sandra knocks Jenny out to take the money for herself after Phil reveals her true history. Sandra holds Edwards at gunpoint, putting her and Phil in the same position as twelve years before. Phil takes his shot and does not miss this time, killing Sandra.

Edwards’ police superior Banning arrives to congratulate Phil and Edwards on cracking the case. He restores Edwards to active duty and convinces the mayor to lift the ban on puppet cops, welcoming Phil back on the force. Phil asks Bubbles out on a date, which she accepts.

Cast

Melissa McCarthy as Detective Connie Edwards, Phil’s ex-partner.
Maya Rudolph as Bubbles, Phil’s optimistic, upbeat and kind secretary.
Joel McHale as Special Agent Campbell, a stern and 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 Brittany 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.