After the major success that was The Muppets in 2011, it seemed inevitable that a sequel would soon follow.  In Muppets Most Wanted, Kermit, Fozzie, and the gang return in one of the most thoroughly enjoyable movies of the year so far: a film filled with hijinks, laughter, and a green frog that looks suspiciously like Kermit himself.

The movie begins as the Muppets decide, via a dazzling musical number, to make a sequel to their previous box office blockbuster.  They sign Dominic Badguy, pronounced “Badgy”(Ricky Gervais), as their manager, who books them for a world tour that will take them to Berlin, Madrid, London, and everywhere in between.  What the Muppets do not know is that Badguy is involved with Constantine, the World’s Most Criminal Frog and Kermit’s doppleganger.  The two hatch an elaborate plot that results in Kermit’s imprisonment in Siberia under the watchful eye of prison guard Nadya (Tina Fey), and Constantine secretly “replacing” Kermit on tour.

The majority of the movie focuses on Kermit’s struggles to escape the Siberian prison, known as the Gulag, and Badguy and Constantine tricking the Muppets into going along with their evil plan to steal the crown jewels of London.  A hilarious subplot involves French Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon (Ty Burrell) and Sam the Eagle as their tense professional rivalry ultimately leads to friendship in the duration of their chase.

While The Muppets relied on the sentimental appeal of a Muppets reunion, Muppets Most Wanted immediately goes in a different direction.  It has a much darker, more sinister tone than the first movie and quickly develops into an action-packed adventure. While exciting,  Muppets Most Wanted does lack some of the innocence and heart that made the 2011 movie so appealing.

However, upbeat musical numbers, witty dialogue, and an ultimately satisfying ending help make this movie just as much fun as the first.  Constantine is  sinister, yet very amusing, and his heated banter with Badguy and failed attempts to imitate Kermit’s voice will leave the audience in stitches.  The music is consistent; although there is no single showstopper like “Man or Muppet,” the overall quality is enough to keep devoted Muppet fans satisfied.  Seemingly normal conversations frequently digress into hilarious musical numbers that harken back to the absurdity of the original Muppet Show.

All of the most familiar Muppets appear in this movie, from original staples like Kermit and Miss Piggy to recent additions like Walter.  As in the previous movie, frequent celebrity cameos elicit excited cheers from the audience, and stars like Gervais and Fey help add a necessary “real world” element to the plot.  The humor is certainly child-friendly, but it also caters to the adults in the audience who may be unsure about whether they are men or Muppets.

Containing everything that people have always loved about the Muppets, such as lovable characters, ridiculous situations, and a loving, familial bond, this movie will have kids and adults alike laughing and smiling the whole way through.