The Happytime Murders hit controversy well ahead of its scheduled August 24th theatrical release date. If these puppets you’ve seen in the advertisements look a little familiar, there’s a very good reason for that. Brian Henson, son of the late Muppets creator Jim Henson, became entangled in a legal quarrel with Sesame Street creators over the usage of visually similar puppets in the far-from-child-friendly crime comedy that’s sure to ruffle some feathers along the way. Typically with these types of movies, any type of news, especially of the dubitable variety, ends up boasting awareness which often leads to an influx of what I like to call, curiosity cash.

It a fictitious world (obviously…duhhh) where puppets are people too, we are about to see just how similar sewn souls are to their flesh and blood counterparts. Phil Philips (voiced by Bill Barretta) has had a far fall from grace due to a egregious error he made while on the job. Phil was once a proud member of the police force, until a mishap landed him where he is today, working as a self-employed private eye. When Sandra (voiced by Dorien Davies) seeks out Phil’s investigatory skills, he’s thrust into the seedy underbelly of the puppet world as well as unwanted memories of his past. As it turns out, someone is killing puppets and Phil finds himself smack dab in the middle of it. The only way he stands a chance of solving these murders is by teaming up with his old partner who is still on the force, Detective Connie Edwards (Melissa McCarthy).

To say that Phil and Connie have bad blood between each other would definitely be an understatement. At any rate, the pair must tolerate each other if they’re going to put a stop to these slayings. The Happytime Murders will take you to the darkest corners of the seedy underworld of prostitution, drugs and anything else that you can imagine (and some things you can’t), all in the pursuit of truth, self-discovery and to absolutely leave viewers speechless while slowly shaking their heads.

Hey, The Happytime Murders is not for kids. There, I’ve done my part to preserve young minds. It’s not like I should have to tell anyone this but clueless adults see puppets and think, “hey I’m going to take little Bobby and Sarah to see a cute movie.” No, no, no, nooooooooo. I’m not sure most adults will be able to comfortably handle what’s thrown at them in this VERY adult-themed feature.

Director Brian Henson goes out of his way to ensure shock value is first and foremost in everyone’s mind after sitting in their seats for less than five minutes. This content is harsh, H-A-R-S-H, so be warned. If you happened to have seen South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999) and thought that was excessive, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Henson and his team of creative writers go that extra mile to eradicate any pure thoughts or feelings you may have thought you tucked away safely.

So, is The Happytime Murders a movie worth seeing or is it a cheap shallow gag-filled farce of a film? The answer isn’t so simple. For as silly and brash as this movie is, there are some truly funny moments that will have many laughing out load. I won’t lie, it feels like part of your childhood is being ripped away from you and no matter how hard you try, you’ll never be able to look at puppets in a safe innocent light again. Melissa McCarthy, Elizabeth Banks, Maya Rudolph, Leslie David Baker and Joel McHale bring some humor to the human side of things, but it’s the puppet power that really gives this comedy the jolt it needs.

The language is strong, the imagery is stronger. I laughed but I realize that many won’t find humor in such a twisted flick. This is another case of buyer beware. Know that you’re going to see a movie filled to the brim with vulgarity that’s not going to let up. There’s a decent amount of entertainment packed away in The Happytime Murders but unfortunately it’s not enough to score an overall positive feel about it. See it in theaters if you’re brave enough or wait and watch it at home in a judgement-free environment. Be offended, repulsed and guiltily entertained in theaters now.