I don't understand why stories involving puppets always have to be so exaggerated. But I do see what they were going for—it’s not really about the puppets themselves, but about the people behind them. The storylines and characters are fairly typical, a familiar combination; however, that seems almost intentional. It presents something recognizable, only amplified in unpleasantness – and with a surprising degree of…

It's rare for me to truly connect with a comedy starring Melissa McCarthy, and I certainly hoped for something special given the idea of an R-rated Muppets film. However, _The Happytime Murders_ really crushed those hopes in a rather brutal way. The movie didn’t handle that concept gently at all. Final rating: ★½ - It was boring and disappointing; it's best to skip this one if you can.