← Back to results
The Happytime Murders
2018 91 min China, United States of America R 18+
★5.0
Action, Crime, Comedy
Director: Brian Henson
Trailers
EN
EN
EN
Teaser
Teaser
Teaser
Teaser
Teaser
Teaser
Teaser
Teaser
Teaser
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
Description
In a world where humans coexist with puppets—who are seen as lesser citizens—cast members of a beloved 1990s children's television series begin getting murdered one by one. Puppet Phil Philips, an ex-LAPD detective-turned-private eye, takes on the case at the request of his old boss in order to assist his former partner, Detective Connie Edwards.
Budget:
$40M
US Gross:
$20.71M
Worldwide:
$27.51M
Starring
Melissa McCarthy
Actor
Elizabeth Banks
Actor
Maya Rudolph
Actor
Awards
Razzie Awards 2019
— Worst Actress
Razzie Awards 2019
— Worst Director
Razzie Awards 2019
— Worst Supporting Actor
Razzie Awards 2019
— Worst Actress
Razzie Awards 2019
— Worst Screen Ensemble
Razzie Awards 2019
— Worst Picture
Key opinion
The Happytime Murders is a polarizing R-rated experiment that attempts to blend classic noir tropes with crude, puppet-based comedy. While some viewers appreciate its deconstruction of genre conventions and bold, cynical tone, others find the humor adolescent and the integration between live-action actors and puppets disjointed.
| Originality | The film succeeds in effectively parodying 20th-century noir and detective genre tropes, establishing a gritty, cynical atmosphere that mimics classics. | |
| Theme | The premise of an alternate Los Angeles where puppets function as a marginalized, second-class race provides a unique, albeit occasionally heavy-handed, social commentary. | |
| Humor | The humor is fundamentally divisive; supporters praise its bold, transgressive, and R-rated nature, while detractors dismiss it as immature, forced, and consistently unfunny. | |
| Acting | Opinions on Melissa McCarthy’s performance are split between those who find her comedic energy fitting for the film's abrasive tone and those who find her character work repetitive and incompatible with the puppet-centric world. | |
| Direction | The technical execution of the human-puppet interaction is inconsistent, with critics highlighting poor chemistry and a failure to establish believable physical context between the two. |