Russian amphibian Constantine stars in Disney's new Muppets film. Photo / AP
Russian amphibian Constantine stars in Disney's new Muppets film. Photo / AP
Interviewing British comedian and his Kermit-like friend about their musical comedy is a surreal experience.
Strange things happen in Hollywood. We all know that.
Take this recent situation in a Beverly Hills hotel.
Ricky Gervais is sitting on a chair in a beautiful suite with views over the mansions of Beverly Hills and up to the Hollywood Hills, but at the British comedian's feet isa strange man in a red shirt.
On first impression it feels like a scene from a new Hangover movie, although there are no empty bottles of booze, roaming tigers or abandoned babies in sight.
Matt, who will later be revealed as actor and veteran puppeteer Matt Vogel, can't shake with his right because it is buried inside a familiar looking green frog.
The frog looks like Kermit, ringleader of The Muppets, but on closer inspection it is not.
This frog speaks with a Russian accent and has a mole on the right side of his face, just above his mouth.
Suddenly it is clear.
The frog is Constantine, the evil Russian jewel thief who broke out of a Siberian gulag and wreaks havoc, alongside Gervais, in
Muppets Most Wanted
, the new family-musical-comedy film starring Kermit, Miss Piggy and the rest of the beloved puppets created by Jim Henson back in 1955.
Constantine is bad news and it is an uneasy feeling sitting so close to him, particularly with Vogel flat on his back below.
"Ricky, are you scared of this guy because with one flipper he could maim both of us?" I ask Gervais.
"He's a one-man frog," the British comedian replies.
"It is a little dirty. It is not all happy go lucky," Constantine says of Gervais' 2001 UK comedy TV series.
Gervais, as executive producer of the nine season award-winning US sitcom based on the UK series, disagrees. "I like the American version," he says, rubbing his fingers together to demonstrate he made millions and millions of dollars from the long-running US update.
"I like the American version because Ricky get paid more. It is his vision. He make vision in brain and vomit it out," Constantine says.
"Exactly. Because I'm human I have a huge brain," Gervais says.
"You are making fun of my brain size? I was supporting you. You are saying my brain is small," an irate Constantine, ready to launch a karate kick at Gervais, responds.
"No, I'm not saying that," Gervais, holding his ground, says. "Your brain is small, but that is not a bad thing."
Constantine is furious.
"You are saying I can't make worldwide phenomenon television shows in multiple countries?" Constantine asks.
"No, I'm saying we are all different and, viva difference," Gervais says.
