If you thought The Lego Movie was going to be the most fun you’d have in the cinema this year then you’re sorely and rather gratifying mistaken as the sequel to 2011’s The Muppets arrives.

Jason Segel and Amy Adams may well be absent from Muppets Most Wanted but the talented director James Bobin and his co-writer Nick Stoller (who also worked on The Muppets) ensure this is just as much fun as the “first” outing. And Bret McKenzie (Flight of the Conchords) is back to give those songs a perky step, humful melody and a cheeky lyric.

Picking up immediately after “The End” from the The Muppets, the gang discover, and in a rather self-referential fashion, that they’re at a loose end. But fear not, as Dominic Badguy, played by Ricky Gervais (The Office, Derek), is at hand to help the Muppets boost their career and capitalise on their moment by embarking on a world tour.

However, unbeknownst to our furry heroes, Dominic is a bad guy (oops, spoiler) and is also in league with the world’s number one deadly frog, Kermit look-a-like Constantine, and using the Muppets in a dastardly plan to steal our Madge’s crown jewels. To kick start it all off, Constantine takes the place of the gang’s leader whilst the loveable green one finds himself incarcerated in a Gulag prison.

It’s here we’re treated to the delights of the brilliant Tina Fey (30 Rock) as Nadya, a prison guard with a penchant for musical theatre and Kermit, and the menacing, yet slightly hilarious, trio of Ray Liotta (Goodfellas), Danny Trejo (Machete), and Jemaine Clement (the other half of Flight of the Conchords). The talent on display is palpable and hugely entertaining, but it doesn’t end there.

Elsewhere, there’s a pairing up of Sam the Eagle, representing the CIA, with Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon as they investigate the European-wide crimes. Playing the latter is Modern Family’s Ty Burrell, who shines in his French cop parody, neatly displaying how Steve Martin should have perhaps approached his Pink Panther efforts. The duo provide one of the film’s highlights, the ‘Interrogation Song’, which also includes a number of smirk-inducing rhymes (more about the tunes later).

There’s more familiar faces to be seen but we here at CultBox recommend you stay away from any spoilers and enjoy the wide and varied range of frankly amazing cameos from a simply astounding collection of actors, actresses, singers and celebrities.

As mentioned, there are songs; each one an absolute hoot. Bret McKenzie is back on song-writing duties and another Oscar must surely be on its way. ‘We’re Doing a Sequel’ opens the film and sets the tone, as the Muppets get all meta about what’s going on.

Also worth a mention are: ‘I’m Number One’ featuring Ricky Gervais returning to his roots as a singer; ‘The Big House’ led by Tina Fey and featuring the Gulag prison mob; and ’Something So Right’ with Miss Piggy on typically piggy form with a very special guest star singer. McKenzie’s songs are as much a part of the film as the gags and the characters.

If there is a small, a very small, criticism to be made of the film, it’s that it’s perhaps five minutes or so too long and there is a criminal neglect of the 80s Robot. But, these tiny objections aside, Muppets Most Wanted is a triumph proving that the sequel, despite their own claims, is just as good as the original. Considering this is actually the seventh sequel, hearty Muppetational congratulations should be handed around to all concerned.

Quite simply, if you want to laugh (lots) and feel fuzzy and warm for two hours, then this is most definitely for you.

Released in UK cinemas on Friday 28 March 2014.