Broadcast this evening on Canal + Cinema, the film Carnage chez les puppets, with Melissa McCarthy, caused a lively controversy in the United States when it was released in 2018.
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Released in summer 2018 in theaters, Carnage in the puppets marked the return to directing by Brian Henson, 22 years after his last film, The muppets treasure island (1996). Brian Henson is none other than the son of Jim Henson, creator of the Muppet Show and genius puppeteer who notably directed Dark Crystal (1984) and Labyrinth (1986). On the tragic death of his father, from pneumonia at the age of 53, Brian Henson took over the artistic torch of his father, taking care in particular of the artistic direction of the Muppets films. With Carnage in the puppets, he offers a corrosive and deliberately trashy version of the universe created by his father. The pitch: in Los Angeles, humans have coexisted with puppets for years. But the latter, despised by humans, are regularly victims of ill-treatment. Phil Phillips, a puppet private detective, and Inspector Connie Edwards, a human policewoman played by Melissa McCarthy, decide to investigate the case.
Melissa McCarthy faces off against the Raging Muppets
Intended for an adult audience, The Happytime Murders (its title in original version) caused controversy even before its release in the United States. Indeed, during the promotion of the film, a slogan was used in reference to the series Sesame Street, known in France as 1 Sesame Street. On the American poster of the comedy one could read “No sesame, all street” that we could translate by “No sesame, only from the street”, anchoring the urban and more adult aspect of the film. But this did not please the studio Sesame Workshop who sued the team responsible for this slogan, arguing that it gave their work a bad reputation. “We are surprised and disappointed that Sesame Street, a program aimed at educating young children, is being exploited to promote a film prohibited for unaccompanied minors (classified R in the United States)” said the production company in a statement.
A legal complaint that does not succeed
“Scenes from the trailer show foul language used by humans and puppets, drug use by humans and puppets, prostitute puppets serving a human, weapons and violence…” continues the press release. “Although we are disappointed that Sesame Street does not share our humor, we believe we are within our rights”, replied STX Entertainment, the company behind Carnage at the puppets. And justice proved them right since, on May 30, 2018, the complaint was dismissed by a federal court in New York. With mischief, some TV spots announcing the release of the film in the United States began with a card displaying: “By the studio that was sued by Sesame Street …” This controversy did not serve the film which was a failure at the box office (27 million receipts for a budget of about 45 million dollars) and murdered by the critics, collecting six nominations at the Razzie Awards.
Carnage in the puppets, a film to discover on Canal +
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