Sunday, December 25, 2011

Monday, December 12, 2011

The Muppets

Nostalgia can be a dangerous thing. Nothing is ever as good as you remember. That being said, I don't blame Jason Segel for using his power to bring the Muppets back to glory. I commend him for it. But it does make me sad to realize that the ship has sailed for me. That's not to say I didn't like the movie. It is great. When I have a rugrat to take to the movies, I will be happy to have stuff like this over Puss in Boots.

After three movies where Muppets play classic characters from other stories (Muppet's Christmas Carol, Treasure Island and Wizard of Oz) it was time for a classic comeback. And this is a great story to tell. The Muppets have all moved on. The old studio is rundown. An oil tycoon is looking to buy the property to turn it into a "Museum" (with alternate secret plans of course).

Gary (Segal) and his puppet brother Walter have to round up the old gang to put on a show and raise their own money to save the studio. Its a great way to kick start the series again and not only return to form, but show the old studio (from the TV show, never in any movies). It's a great way to keep things fresh without being a rehash of worn territory.

They also did a smart thing (the creators, not the muppets themselves) by hiring Bret McKenzie (Flight of the Conchords) to write the songs. He might not be my favorite, but he brings the right tone to the proceedings. This will get hipsters and kids singing the songs after they've left the theater (I may have hummed "Man or Muppet" a couple times since seeing it).

If you're a fan of the Muppets or have children (or both) this is a can't miss viewing.

Did you enjoy it?
Yes

Would you see it in theaters again?
If I had kids to take

Would you buy it?
No

Would you rent it?
No

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Yes