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The Happytime Murders

The Happytime Murders

Action · Crime · Comedy · 2018

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.

Movie details

The Happytime Murders

“No sesame. All street.”

2018 Action · Crime · Comedy 1h 31m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

5.8 / 10

Community rating

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.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Happytime Murders?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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22 Jump Street

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21 Jump Street

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Brian Henson

Written by

Todd Berger · Dee Austin Robertson

Melissa McCarthy

Melissa McCarthy

Detective Connie Edwards

Bill Barretta

Bill Barretta

Phil Philips / Junkyard / Boar (voice)

Leslie David Baker

Leslie David Baker

Lt. Banning

Elizabeth Banks

Elizabeth Banks

Jenny

Joel McHale

Joel McHale

Agent Campbell

Maya Rudolph

Maya Rudolph

Bubbles

Dorien Davies

Dorien Davies

Sandra (voice)

Court is in session

Put The Happytime Murders on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“It owes the canon nothing.”

The movie pursues immediacy and audience pleasure without begging institutions to certify its worth.

The prosecution The Auteur Devotee

“Easy pleasure, short half-life.”

It moves efficiently through the moment but offers little reason to keep arguing once the credits end.