The Happytime Murders is a black comedy crime film that was directed by Brian Henson and written by Todd Berger. The movie was released in August 2018 and features an all-star cast of actors, including Melissa McCarthy, Elizabeth Banks, and Maya Rudolph.
The story of the film takes place in a world where humans and puppets coexist, but the puppets are regarded as second-class citizens. The members of a popular children's television show from the 1990s called "The Happytime Gang" are being killed off one by one, and Phil Philips (voiced by Bill Barretta), a private investigator and former LAPD detective, is called in to help investigate the murders.
Phil Philips is a puppet himself, but he is different from the other puppets. He was the first puppet to become a police officer, and he was partnered with a human detective named Edwards (played by Melissa McCarthy). However, a tragic incident occurred during a sting operation, which caused Phil to fall from grace and forced him to leave the police force.
Throughout the movie, Phil and Edwards work together to track down the killer and solve the case. Along the way, they encounter a variety of colorful characters, including a pornographic puppet named Sandra, a sugar-addicted secretary named Bubbles, and the owner of "The Happytime Gang" show, Jenny (played by Elizabeth Banks).
The Happytime Murders is a dark, raunchy comedy that is not suitable for children. The movie features a lot of adult humor and violence, and it makes fun of the conventions of children's television shows. Despite some mixed reviews, The Happytime Murders is a unique and entertaining movie that pushes the boundaries of conventional comedy.