THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS | FAMILY MOVIE REVIEW INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND KIDS

"THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS"
(2018) (Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph) (R)

QUICK TAKE:: Comedy: In a world where humans and sentient puppets co-exist, a cop and a private detective must work together to solve a string of puppet murders.

PLOT:

In a world where humans and sentient puppets co-exist, Phil Philips (BILL BARRETTA) is a puppet private investigator who used to be a cop until he slipped up in the line of duty and accidentally shot an innocent bystander. He now lives a life of smoking, drinking, pining for his former human girlfriend, Jenny (ELIZABETH BANKS), and working cases out of an office in seedy downtown Los Angeles.

His life changes when he becomes embroiled in the string of murders targeting the former puppet stars of "Happytime Gang," a long-ago canceled TV sitcom. Among the cast members is his brother, Larry (VICTOR YERRID), who like the others is about to strike it rich once a lucrative syndication deal kicks in. But Phil learns that this accord is key to catching the killer. His former boss, Lt. Banning (LESLIE DAVID BAKER), convinces Phil to team up with his former partner, Detective Connie Edwards (MELISSA McCARTHY), who despises him for the near-fatal mistake he made years earlier that cost him his badge and almost cost Connie her life.

At the same time, Phil is working a blackmail case brought to him by a seductive puppet named Sandra (DORIEN DAVIES) that starts to tie in with the Happytime Murders. As he gets closer to the truth, FBI Agent Campbell (JOEL McHALE) begins to suspect Phil is the murderer. On the run for crimes he didn't commit, Phil needs Connie and his faithful secretary, Bubbles (MAYA RUDOLPH), more than ever.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Teens may be attracted to its filthy, raunchy, R-rated content and want to see it for its taboo factor.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R: For strong crude and sexual content and language throughout, and some drug material.

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