Outside of the Star Wars universe, nothing made a bigger impression on my childhood than Jim Henson’s Muppets. Starting with Sesame Street and continuing with The Muppet Show, Henson’s creations were, and remain, very “real” to me. The Muppet Show felt like a throwback to old variety shows and they taught me an appreciation for musical theater and planted the first seeds of a lifelong love of the bad joke, the pun, and the breaking of that 4th wall.
For a child who had long conversations with his teddy bear, the Muppets were the ultimate anthropomorphization. They talked back. They had their own personalities. They functioned in their own version of a real world setting and interacted with human beings. And while I was old enough to know from my first exposure to them that they were puppets being controlled by humans, the real talent of Jim Henson and his crew was that they made it all too easy to get swept up in the magic and believe. I find it intensely gratifying whenever I hear the stories about people who interview/interact with the Muppets that they quickly find themselves actually making eye contact and talking “to” the puppets and not the puppeteers.
The early death of Jim Henson brought me profound sadness. His spirit and spark are not easily imitated. However, with few exceptions I have enjoyed the post-Henson Muppet adventures. A particular favorite film of mine during the holiday season is A Muppet Christmas Carol. When it was announced that the Muppets would be returning to the big screen, any screen, after such a prolonged absence, I was possibly more excited than a man in his 40’s should be. I recently read an Entertainment Weekly article about Jason Segal’s own childhood Muppet obsession and the passion with which he and director James Bobin (also a Muppet fanatic) approached this project and I knew that I would have to support my favorite frog by seeing this on the big screen. So date night tonight was, you guessed it, The Muppets. Thankfully my wife is also a fan.
The Muppets has gotten rave reviews from the start and having just left the theater with a huge smile plastered on my face I will add my small voice to the that of the masses: It is very much the Muppets! Right from the beginning (after a great Toy Story mini-cartoon) the groan-inducing corny jokes, frequent asides to the audience, and surprisingly fun cameos make it apparent that these guys “get” the Muppets and their love for the characters is not feigned. The film sees the Muppets reunited to resurrect The Muppet Show in order to save their dilapidated theater from destruction. And spearheading this reunion is a new character, Walter, who is the Muppet embodiment of young Jason Segal. Jason Segal and Amy Adams are the primary human characters and their musical numbers with and without the Muppets are great fun. And does anyone look cuter in June Cleaver fashions than Amy Adams?
The voice work for the characters was frankly the best I’ve heard in the post-Jim Henson era. I was saddened upon reading the EW article that Frank Oz had chosen to bow out of doing the voice work because he felt that the script was being disrespectful to the spirit of the Muppets. The article later states that the direction of the story changed quite a bit before the end as the puppeteers and other Henson folks helped remind the writers of what the Muppets would and would not do/say. I cannot help but wonder if Frank bowed out too early, because the movie as it exists is one huge love-fest for the original show and is jammed full of visual and spoken homages to the original television series and films. Steve Whitmire voiced Kermit so well that several times during the movie I could not believe that it wasn’t Jim Henson voicing his iconic frog. Eric Jacobson voiced Oz’s most famous creations, Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear and Miss Piggy was another spot on performance, while Fozzie sounded like his old self 90% of the time. I was amazed.
The Muppets probably isn’t must-see-in-the-theater for most people, but I had to agree with my dear wife as we walked out when she said that she was glad we saw it on the big screen and felt that Muppet fans would be glad of doing so as well. Our audience was a great mix of adults and kids and the kids were laughing at certain parts and the adults, us included, were laughing uproariously at others. The Muppets is good sweet positive family fare. It doesn’t hold back on the bad jokes, it tugs at the heart strings, and it is packed to its felt gills with nostalgia. I must admit that my eyes got a bit watery when they re-created the opening theme to the show, a theme that I’ve known by heart since my childhood and that has been dancing around my head all week in anticipation.
I love the Muppets. I have from the very start. The television shows are a strong part of my childhood identity, and the Muppet films, including movies like The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, are films that I have watched over and over again through the decades since their release. How successful their return to pop culture will be remains to be seen, but if this turns out to be their swan song, it is a delightful way to say goodbye. When I drive to work tomorrow morning I will again smile upon the new billboard situated near the start of my drive that showcases Kermit and says, “Eats Flies. Dates a Pig. Hollywood Star” and is subtitled, “Live Your Dreams.”
I’ll do my best, Kermit. I’ll do my best.
I am guessing it would be very difficult to ever meet someone who didn’t at one time or another see the Muppet Show.. be it for theirself like you.. or for their kids, like me. But way back then they captured me along with my very small children and it was listed as one of the best shows on television for kids. They learned. They laughed. and the were quiet for a whole hour!! lol
I’ve always loved Miss Piggy and Kermie. but as I look at that photo up on this post.. was Big Bird not in the movie?? That would be a surprise since he also was one of the originals.
so.. I am glad you both enjoyed the movie!
Sometimes it’s good to step back and not always have action packed movies..
(did you see that Super 8 was released in dvd? fyi)
No he wasn’t. Other than the occasional in-joke I think they’ve always kept the Sesame Street characters and the Muppet Show characters pretty separate in the films.
As a kid the two shows I looked most forward to were The Muppet Show and Star Trek. I was glued to the set during both of them.
And yes, I believe Santa is bringing us the DVD/Blu-ray combo pack of Super 8 this Christmas. 🙂
LOL I knew you’d want to see that movie again! lol Hooray for Santa! lol
I saw it twice in the theater and knew right away after the first time it would be one I wanted to own.
I loved the Muppets as a kid and even as an adult if I find one of the movies on late at night I watch. It just brings out the kid in me. I’m not sure if I’ll see it in the theater, even though I did finally find a theater near me, but I will see this at some point. It feels good to remember being a kid.
Yes it does, and it feels good just to act like a kid once in awhile and enjoy the simple things. I picked up a copy of The Muppet Movie on DVD recently and I may have to pull that out and watch it this weekend.
Enjoy!
I’ve only seen clips of the Muppets. Do you think I’ll like the movie? I have several friends wanting me to go with them to see it.
I think it largely depends on the kind of humor you like. If you like the kind of really bad jokes common of vaudeville acts and musical numbers that are meant to make you groan then I suspect you will enjoy it. The show is saccharine sweet, as all the Muppet movies are, though they all have a hint of the subversive about them. Less so with Jim Henson being gone, but there is still a bit of it there. If you didn’t watch The Muppet Show enough to be familiar with it I think some of the “wow” factor will be missing for you. The theater won’t mean anything to you and you won’t get all the visual references to older shows so that may lessen your enjoyment of it.
My best advice is that any time spent with friends is worth while and you can probably enjoy their enjoyment of it and will have some fun with it yourself.
If the right friend wants to go I’ll accept then. And see what it’s all about.
It will certainly be entertaining to know your thoughts if you get around to seeing it.
The Muppets were (and still are) just wonderful. The theme song is almost always playing around in my head, so simple yet so beautiful. I’ve not watched the film and have actually heard mixed reviews. One of my friends really liked the Muppets growing up, but felt this movie was a bit too cynical and too human-populated. I’m planning on watching as soon as it hits home video.
Oh, and I agree. The Muppets Christmas Carol is truly magical. Possibly even my favorite.
I didn’t find it cynical at all, personally. It was pretty much your standard “we’re down on our luck, lets pull together” story. There were a lot of human extras but I think it really plays into the “what is a man” storyline (won’t say more as it would spoil the funny musical number).
I’m with you on the Muppet theme show music. So great! Muppet Christmas Carol is my favorite as well, but that is because I am as much of a sucker for Christmas as I am for the Muppets.
Oh Carl, this was a beautiful, smile-inducing, positively wonderful review!!! As I’ve likely mentioned before, I’m somewhat theater-phobic, but you’ve got me wanting to just grab the gang and head right to the theater immediately. I simply loved feeling the sheer joy radiating from your words. 🙂
I’m sorry that you don’t like going to the movies. That is a pleasure that I haven’t grown tired of. Now I don’t go on Friday or Saturday nights very often any more as I don’t like sharing the theater with a bunch of rowdy teenagers, but the experience itself of the big screen and the smell of popcorn and the surround sound is still a thrill for me, despite the new home theater systems.
And thank you. It was easy to write about the Muppets, I’ve adored Henson’s creations for decades.
Rich and I were just talking about the movie theater experience the other night after he’d taken the boys to see Arthur Christmas. He’s so like you in just loving the whole experience. In fact, I told him he really needed to make more time to read your blog, because he would absolutely love reading your movie reviews (as well as your book reviews).
I can certainly understand why he doesn’t have the time, you guys have busy lives, more so with a big family. I always enjoy his comments when he can visit and am thrilled every year when you all participate in the reading challenges as a family.
Was the Swedish Chef in the movie? If so I’ll definitely have to see it.
Oh yes, and he was hilarious as usual. I liked how they used him.
Awesome! Now I must see this!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKULi72yUko
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1yDIvOTUUM
Burnt into my memory FOREVER.
Those are both great, Stuart. And they do a really fun Manamanah tribute in the movie.
an absolutely fantastic post Carl! now I really really really can’t wait to see The Muppets!
Sean is a massive fan (of the Muppets, Jason Segel, and Amy Adams), as am I, so we will definitely see this in the theater (with a kleenex on hand). and Natalya will be with us. these kinds of things are a must on the list of cool things to pass onto the children. [actually, her friend zoe was coming home with us after school a couple weeks ago and she says to nate, “hey-have you heard of the muppets?” nate turned to her and said “yeah” -like only the coolest people have. anyway, zoe’s dad was gearing them up to see the film, too, as he is a big fan as well.]
I have to admit that I am a really big Amy Adams fan as well. She is my Meg Ryan for the 2000’s. Just love her in whatever film.
And I agree, it is fun to pass on our pop culture icons to our children. I’m really hoping the Muppets take off again as I would love to see them do more stuff with them.
I can’t wait to read about your family’s experience with the Muppets!
OMG – or ‘pigs in space’, I didn’t know there was going to be a movie! (Where have I been hiding?) I love the muppet films and will definitely be watching their Christmas Carol film in the next week or so, plus (and I know that this isn’t probably the most popular choice but can’t help it I just like it) – The Grinch!! Plus you like the Labyrinth – oh I love that film – you just have to love hogs’ head, hoggle, hog wart! (not to mention the little dog knight (who I cannot remember the name of) and his trusty stead (a real dog) Ambrosia! LOL
Thanks for that eye opener.
Lynn 😀
Pigs in Space, one of my favorite parts of The Muppet Show. That and Veterinarians Hospital. I’ve got the first season of The Muppet Show, I need to get the rest!
Sir Didymus! Yes, he is a treat. My family is one who loves to quote lines from films in our day to day existence and we often quote lines from Labyrinth, especially Sir Didymus’ lines from the bog of eternal stench scene. “I smell nothing! The air is sweet, and fragrant..”
I am not kidding you when I saw that the one movie I’ve seen more times than any other is Labyrinth. I can quote huge chunks of that movie. Probably not the best use of my limited brain space, but there it is.
It’s against the rules to throw other people’s heads!
You’re only allowed to throw your own head!
LOL! Yes, exactly!
Yes, this is something that my family also do – constantly quote from favourite films – usually nobody understands what we’re doing but every now and then the penny drops – ‘Ambrosia, come here at once’. Or out of Muppet Christmas Carol ‘Light the lamp not the rat!’ don’t know why I find that so funny…
Its fun to have little family things like this. And it is obviously catching because we all do it.
I’m with you on this one.. I haven’t seen it yet, but I love the Muppets. In fact, I just watched the first half of The Dark Crystal again just the other night. I might have to go watch this, even just by myself, to see it on the big screen.
I watched The Dark Crystal again not long ago myself. I hadn’t seen it in a long time and it was fun to experience again. I hope you enjoy this one when you get a chance to see it and hope you are doing well.
oh I like the Gelflings! That was a fantastic movie!
I thought the movie was great too. I was surprised by how many jokes about it being a movie there were, I loved it! (Like, “Oh no, it’s impossible, well this is going to be a really short movie.”) I loved the travel by map bit too.
I know, we lost it during that part. 🙂
I can’t wait to see this! I’m waiting to go when my mom can go with me, which won’t be until next week sometime. I don’t think I ever saw the original Muppet show, but somehow I’ve always known the Muppets. Perhaps A Muppet Christmas Carol is to blame…
If you ever get a chance to check out the original show I hope you take it. At least to watch a few episodes just to get an idea of how entertaining it was.
Nice review of the film. I have been debating going to see it at the theater or just waiting to see it when it comes to DVD. There has been so much hype around the film I think I am going to go and see it on the big screen.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Thanks Adam. It certainly isn’t a film one “has” to see in the theater, but given the fact that it is the holidays and my wife and I have been fans since childhood it just seemed too fun to pass up.
I have been so excited about this movie since it was announced. When it comes to television my first love was ALWAYS The Muppets. I saw it tonight and I really really enjoyed it! I don’t see a lot of movies on the big screen, but this seemed like a must for me and I am so glad that I did. 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed it, especially since you don’t see many films on the big screen. We see far fewer than we used to, which is a shame. Just too much time and better uses for our money. I do hope to catch some of the movies coming out later this month though.
I’m so happy a friend suggested that she and I go see this, I loved it! Especially all the in-jokes. Although I may have been the only person in the theatre laughing their head off at the “travel by map” joke.
We were that way as well, Andrea. We were cracking up at some things and only a few adults were as boisterous as we were.
I’m looking forawrd to the movie arriving Down Under. I watched the original Muppet shows as a teenager. It was the only programme my parents, my much younger sister and I all enjoyed.
I can’t recall if my parents liked it or not, but they were at least nice enough to let my brother and I have the television time when they could have been watching something else. I hope you enjoy the film when it gets down your way.
I think you hit the nail square on the head – several times, in fact.
First of all, the Muppets and Star Wars were the outsized, seminal creations of their time, as Mickey Mouse was for an earlier time, as Chaplin was for his time. Nothing else came close, though many tried.
Second – the importance of Jim Henson. As Family Guy pointed out, though the Henson characters soldiered on, those who followed in Henson’s stead could not even get Kermit’s voice right! Imagine that. It took decades to find the (apparently) right hands in which to entrust these characters.
It’s no wonder that so many investors predicted the demise of Apple after Steve Job’s untimely death. And who knows – after the iPad craze abates, Apple may yet go the way of Sony.
We probably use the word ‘genius’ too liberally, but in cases where it points to a je ne sais quois that cannot be properly replaced, the term is no exaggeration.
I couldn’t have said it better myself, Jeff. I too think ‘genius’ is bandied about far too often, but in his field Henson was just that. He was a true master of the art and brought such creativity and vision to his work. I would have loved to have seen what he would have done with the technology available today.
I Lurve the Muppets! I have read nothing but good things and am thinking that I do need to see it on the big screen!