It’s been 12 years since we last saw the Muppets on the big screen, but their return in “The Muppets” proves to be a welcome one.

Featuring plenty of self-aware nostalgia, this is like receiving a surprise visit from an old friend – although this friend happens to be a group of well-known puppets created by the late Jim Henson.

“The Muppets” begins with super fan (and newest Muppet creation) Walter heading to Hollywood with his brother, Gary (Jason Segal), and Gary’s best gal, Mary (Amy Adams), to visit the old studio that the muppets used to inhabit. When Gary overhears a plot by an evil oil tycoon (Chris Cooper) to buy the old studio and tear it down so he can drill for oil, he finds Kermit the Frog and convinces him to reunite the old gang and put on a show to raise money and save the studio.

Muppet fans will appreciate all the familiar bells and whistles, with the fourth wall constantly being broken. There is a playful running joke about the Muppets no longer being relevant in pop culture and the film is full of some fun musical numbers, ranging from duets by Adams and Segal to an impromptu rap from Cooper.

Segal, who also co-wrote the screenplay, clearly has an affection for the characters (you need only to see “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” to know that) and he has a lot of fun here. Adams, who is so adorable she could be a Muppet, is also really good, channeling her “Enchanted” charm.

There are also a number of clever cameos, from Dave Grohl to Jack Black to Zach Galifiankis to Emily Blunt.

It all adds up to a film that works well as a nostalgic piece, but also serves as the perfect comeback piece – introducing these characters to a new generation.

That includes my son, who never heard of the Muppets before seeing ads for the movie. He left the film hoping for a revival of “The Muppet Show.” If this movie is any indication, I predict that could happen very soon.

Also in theaters

While the Muppets are a welcome return to theaters, the same can’t be said for “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1” (D+). The latest installment in the enormously popular series may satisfy its large legion of fans, but it will surely provide more fuel for the detractors of the series. It’s easily the worst yet.

“Breaking Dawn” begins as Bella (Kristen Stewart) is about to wed vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson), much to the dismay of the modern-day teen wolf Jacob (Taylor Lautner).

Bella and Edward head to South America for their honeymoon, where a night of passion leads to an unexpected pregnancy that puts Bella’s life in jeopardy.

I actually liked the last “Twilight” film, which I thought finally put the hokey romance on the backburner for some real fun. But “Breaking Dawn” returns to the silly love story with a vengeance.

Director Bill Condon tries to keep it interesting, with a few nice comedic touches here and there, but this is a film where the material goes all-in on the mush, and it just isn’t very watchable. It’s one thing to pound home the celibacy message that has dominated the series, but when it jumps onto the pro-life soap box as well, I couldn’t help but wish it would all just go away. (I’m told this is something that has been added to the film and is not part of Stephenie Meyer’s novel, which the movie is based on).

Stewart plays it all with that annoying one-note blank stare (she does manage to smile once!), while Pattinson continues to be the most uninteresting vampire in celluloid history. I still contend that Lautner has the most promising future of the trio of lead actors, but he fails miserably when asked to show a little dramatic range here.

I realize I’m not the demographic this film is aimed toward, but I think “Breaking Dawn – Part 1” could have at least tried to keep non-fans interested. With the finale set to arrive next November, the “Twilight” series gets one more chance to do that. I’m not very optimistic that will happen.

“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1” is rated PG-13 for disturbing images/sexuality/partial nudity and some thematic elements and is now playing at the Great Escape 12 and Highland Cinemas in Glasgow.

— To get sportswriter/movie reviewer Micheal Compton’s up-to-the minute thoughts on all things movies, visit his blog at mcompton.wordpress.com or his Twitter page at twitter.com/mcompton428. You can also email him at mcompton@bgdailynews.com.