Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie, the Swedish Chef and all the rest of the Muppets are back on the big screen for the first time in more than a decade, and what an awesome sight it is to have the whole gang together again.

All-American good-guy Gary (Jason Segel) loves the Muppet Show almost as much as his brother, Walter (Peter Linz), who himself is a Muppet. When Gary decides to take his girlfriend, Mary (Amy Adams), to California, he wants Walter to tag along so that the three of them can visit Muppet Studios in Hollywood.

But alas, when they arrive at Muppet Studios, they discover that it has been shut down for years, and is being sold to a greedy oil tycoon named Tex Richman (Chris Cooper).

From then on, it is up to Walter, Gary and Mary to round up Kermit and the gang and put on a big show that will raise enough money to save Muppet Studios and put the Muppets back on the map.

Everything about this movie exudes pure joy and nostalgia for longtime Muppet lovers. It connects an entirely new generation to the warmhearted, meaningful creations of Jim Henson, and breathes life into his characters that have been shelved for too long.

Keeping in tune with the original show, “The Muppets” contains several song and dance numbers, including some old favorites and some new ones as well, many of which written by Bret McKenzie (“Flight of the Conchords”), including “Life’s a Happy Song” and the ultimate Muppet rock ballad, “Man or Muppet.”

Jason Segel really is the ideal supporting man for this kind of project, as he is able to find his inner child and dance, sing and sincerely interact with his furry friends. He is one of the most sincere actors around, and I look forward to seeing more and more of his work.

Considering Segel’s love for the Muppets, it is not a surprise that this film turned out so well—this is a passion project if I’ve ever seen one, and it’s great to be able to see how much fun everyone must surely have had making it. Everyone involved should be proud.

“Flight of the Conchords” co-creator James Bobin breezily directs, and thanks to writer, star and Muppet fanatic Segel (“Forgetting Sarah Marshall”) the reunion is a success, making “The Muppets” the least cynical, most unapologetically exuberant film of the year.