Muppets Most Wanted (2014)

I think it may also be possible that audiences are not able to effectively articulate their complaints about "CG use". Often any digital manipulation including compositing will be termed "CG". Full-body Muppets composited in post production are not a new realm for the Muppets, however Muppets Most Wanted marks the first time they have been used this extensively and for scenes involving such a significant range of articulation not typically seen from Muppets in any non-composited scenes. I'd argue that part of what makes the Muppets so endearing are their inherent limitations. In spite of significant efforts from a lot of talented people, many of the composited scenes, in particular the "stunt action" sequences come off as a betrayal to those endearing Muppet qualities. The Muppets have more subtly and effectively incorporated compositing effects, however the compositing work in this film was more often sub par, and not just for these full-body Muppet effects. The quality of compositing work was TV movie caliber, not of a 2014 Hollywood blockbuster. I found the compositing work in the final number so terrible that it distracted from all the good things going on there. Movie making technology is continually improving, and puppetry in cinema should certainly embrace those advancements, but perhaps with more subtle incorporation. I believe anything that distracts the viewer from the character and they story negates the effect. "Just because you can doesn't mean you should".