2011 - Jim Henson's Creature Shop: season one

I actually stumbled upon this and was so happy that I did.  I love pretty much everything and anything Henson, so the chance to go inside of their world and see behind the curtain was so much fun for me as a viewer.  So the gist is 10 creature designers compete for a chance to win a job at Jim Henson's Creature Shop - each week they either work alone or in a team and create something new based on a challenge.  What's really special and unique about this series is there isn't a lot of back-stabbing, these people are more-or-less pretty awesome and lovely people and they are encouraging of each other.  It's a breath of fresh air for the reality genre in general and goes to prove that a show can work well without that fabricated element.  If you're in any way a Henson nerd then give this show a gander - it just wrapped up it's first season and I'm sure you can find it online - try legitimate means first if you can :)

1974 - Muppets Most Wanted

I’m a big Muppets nerd, so I’m programmed to like this by default.  It scored a lot of points with it’s opening number about sequels that eased us in nicely.  I love how this builds upon the previous film, with the ever-present self deprecation the Muppets didn’t actually set the world on fire, and the only reason they’re selling out on their world tour is because it’s all an elaborate cover for a international jewel thief.  Perfect, classic, muppet. 

My son complained about the length of the film, and I guess I noticed it was long as well - but man, what kind of asshole complains about too much Muppet?  Not this guy!  I thought Ty, Tina, and Ricky were perfect as the human companions to our heroes.  I thought the wiring was clever, the jokes hit with a few solid laugh-out-louders.  

If you’ve ever loved the Muppets, it’s well worth your time.  Here’s to many more new adventures with them!

1782 - Muppet's Christmas Carol

This is one of my favourite Christmas films and while it made me feel super old to realize that it's the 20th anniversary of this film it was my delight in being able to share this with my little guy for the first time.  He's a fan of the muppets and his only concern was whether Sweetums would be in the film or not (he has a love/hate relationship with Sweetums).  Ultimately he dug the hell out of it despite the 3rd Ghost terrifying him.  The film ended and he declared "I loved it! And we're NEVER GOING TO WATCH IT AGAIN. EVER!"  We'll see next year...

For me, it's a pure and constant pleasure.  The music, the jokes, it's all working and Michael Caine fits in perfectly with the madness and yet gives it a poignant touch.  Outside of Bill Murray he could very well be my favourite Scrooge, and it terms of the classic approach, I think he safely is.

If you've never seen this version of this classic then you really owe it to yourself to - they put it out on Bluray this year for the anniversary and at $20 it's a pretty good price, although I'm sure you can find it on DVD even cheaper.  If you watch this and don't love it, you have no soul...

1708 - The Muppets

You don't have to know me all that well to know that I'm kind of a Muppet nerd.  Kermit was my favorite doll when I was a kid, and because of him my favorite color was green.  I have a Muppets Take Manhattan poster in my office, as well as an original Muppets lunchbox, and my own customized Muppet from FAO Swartz.  So there it is. 
I'm also a fan of Jason Segal and Amy Adams and so when I saw this in theatres I had high hopes.  I remember feeling weird while watching it.  Almost like I wanted to like it more than I was.  It's full of some great moments, but a lot that are just... well.. good.
I love half of the songs (Everything that I Need, Pictures in my Head, Man or Muppet) and the rest just feel like filler, and not great filler.  Actually there are some songs in this that I downright dislike.  Chris Cooper doesn't fit.  I don't know why, but he didn't add anything to the mix for me, and I HATE the "maniacal laugh" bit.  Did people actually find that funny?
So as a re-introduction film, it was pretty decent.  But I'd like to think that there's still a great Muppet film coming down the pipeline.  This one was just merely good for me.  I'm still glad I sprang for the Wokka Wokka edition bluray! :)

1700 - Being Elmo

My wife got to see this at hotdocs last year but sadly I couldn't go with her.  Those who know me know that I'm a huge Muppet-nerd (my own Muppet Whatnot is on it's way to me as I write this!).  There's something very pure and innocent about the Muppets, and at the same time ridiculously funny and unhinged.  They aren't just toys, and in the hands of someone as skilled as Kevin Clash, they become alive.  Elmo is such a part of pop culture and while it's easy enough for someone else to do an imitation it's hard to imagine anyone else can "be" Elmo quite like Clash.  I think about how Kermit has never been the same since Henson died, how Rolf had not uttered a word until the newest film.  Sure someone else can do the voice, but there's something about making it come alive.  It's a skill set that few have. 
Being Elmo is absolutely one of those warm fuzzy films about a self-made-man who had a dream and kicked it's ass (as opposed to having your dream kick your ass - which is sadly the case for most people).  Clash came from nothing and is now one of the most important people to the entire Muppet Empire.  And he deserves it.
This film is starting to become more available now so check it out.  It's clocks in just over an hour long and it flies right by.  Not to be missed by any Muppet fans, that's for sure.

1691 - The Muppet Movie

I have a feeling like I'll be revisiting this film fairly regularly over the next little bit and so I won't be posting each time (although I could easily keep writing about it)  My son has, to my absolute delight, fallen for the Muppets.  He has a love/hate relationship with Sweetums and Animal where he goes from thinking that they're awesome to scary (he mostly dislikes Animal for his mis-use of instruments - he believes in respecting your music makers).  And so this morning when he got up early and wanted to watch this - who was I to deny him?!
I have an original poster of this film and I have it encased in glass and hanging in his room - it features Fozzie and Kermit in the Studebaker and my little guy loves the hell out of it, and always lets me know that he wants to watch that scene.  Tonight when putting him to bed he asked me to tell him The Muppet Movie story (I tend to tell him film plots while he tries to sleep - works like a charm - I was ten minutes into my 8 1/2 pitch when he was asleep).
Highlights for him were when Animal gets super huge at the end and scares off the bad guys, and then again when Sweetums burst through the screen at the very end.  He also laughed when there were two Kermits in the desert, which he claimed was a magic trick, and loved the fact that Dr. Teeth drove the bus.
Ahhh to be young again.  The Muppets is playing at a theatre down the street from us all next weekend.  I'm super tempted to take him to a matinee… or let my wife take him since she hasn't seen it yet either…

1664 - The Muppet Christmas Carol

It's funny, having revisited a lot of the Muppet collection recently this may very well be one of my favorite among them.  I think the original is still tops, but this might be my second favorite (will confirm that when I revisit the newest film...).
I was a teenager when my mother passed away at Christmas time and so it was always a bit of a gloomy time of year for me, but if nothing else this was one of those films that could always put a smile on my face and get me into the holiday spirit.  I really do need to find a DVD version of the film as my VHS is starting to get a tad worn...
If you've never seen this it's a real treat - it stays extremely true to the Dicken's story and is easily the Muppet's best (and probably only good) adaptation of a classic work.  Full of catchy and delightful music, and a really solid performance from Michael Caine, this is a holiday classic that you just can't miss.  I love it to pieces!

1653 - The Muppets Take Manhattan

Found the above photo and couldn't help but use it.  Ephraim and I got through these a lot faster than I thought we were, even though we watched them in sections.  I remember not being particularly fond of this one as a kid.  It's my wife's favorite, and I think it was the first film she saw in the theatre.  I guess for me it just didn't feel big enough - most of it takes place in a diner and the gang is more or less broken up for the majority of the film.  Not to mention they all disband and leave Kermit to carry the heavy load, essentially saying, "We're all going to move on with our lives, but give us a shout if you so happen to find a way to make us all rich and famous".  Kind of makes them all assholes, really... and there are just too many easy plot moves at the end.  Kermit's amnesia is great but them finding him is way too easy.  I know this is a kid's film, but I still think the storytelling was just a tad weak in this one.  Also... I kind of think Miss Piggy is annoying... there, I said it.  And so any time she's mad at him for being with another woman, I kind of like it... :)
I'm railing on this one a bit, but I still enjoyed it enough, it's just not a great film.  I still think that the first one is the strongest of the original three, and I've got a better appreciation of the newest one as well, which I'm going to try and revisit sooner rather than later...

1648 - The Great Muppet Caper

One benefit to our two-year old being an earlier riser is that I can revisit some of my favorite childhood films, and he's really starting to take a shine to the Muppets, in particular Sweetums :) (no, I don't park my kid in front of the television as a first resort - and when I do I watch with him and we talk about what we're watching - which is even more fun to get the commentary from a small child).
I still prefer the original film to this one, but what this one does really well is steps up just what the Muppets can do and how they can function in the real world (almost to the point where it seems like they might be showing off just a little bit - nothing wrong with that). 
I've never been a Charles Grodin fan and he just feels awkward here.  He's probably the only weak spot to the entire film for me.  The songs here are really quite good.  I didn't get to really intensely watch the film as I was also playing with blocks at the time :)  But from the majority I was able to focus on it's still as good as it ever was.  Lovely to be able to revisit these films :)

1645 - The Muppet Movie

This is easily one of my favorite films is all time - I can (and will) rewatch the original three Muppet films with ease.  Partially because I saw the new one last week I wanted to revisit this one, but also we're starting to allow our two and a half year old to watch stuff and because we've got Muppet dolls (and an original poster from this film in his room) he's been asking more and more about the characters and so I decided to let him watch this over the course of a few sittings.  Nothing makes you fall in love with this film all over again than watching it through the eyes of a child experiencing it for the first time.  The scene near the beginning where Kermit is rolling towards a asphalt roller was terrifying for him, and then when he heard Kermit talk about hopping out of the way he laughed his ass off.  Likewise the sequence at the end where Animal becomes huge and saves the day had him reacting in absolute amazement and delight.  These films literally engage multiple generations and they replay so damn well.  Ephraim loved the music, loved the characters.  I'll probably throw the other two at him at some point in the near future as well, and maybe even the Muppet Show since we have it on DVD (the ones they've released anyway - hopefully this new film will cause them to get their butts in gear on the last two seasons).  If you've never seen this film then there's absolutely no excuse - get on it.  And if you don't like the Muppets then... well... I'm just kind of sad for you...

1643 - The Muppets

It's time to start the music...
I'm a big Muppets-nerd.  I grew up with them, loved the toys, the shows, the films, the dolls, you name it - I loved it.  One of the main characters, Walter, is very similar to that.  He grew up identifying with the Muppets (he happened to be one).  So on top of that it appears that this is set to be one of the best reviewed films of the year - currently at 97% on Rotten Tomatoes (with over a hundred reviews in!)  So with all that, combined with all of the hype, publicity, and press that's been going on the bar has been set pretty damn high for our fuzzy friends.  So, did the film reach it?...

I think so.  I have to be honest, it took me a little while to warm up to the beginning.  I started to worry that this would be a Jason Segal film co-starring the Muppets (not that I dislike Segal - I like him a lot), but what I wanted was the reverse, and eventually it became that, and that's when the film really started to work for me (although the opening dance number worked pretty damn hard at winning me over).  What's really quite interesting about this film is that it's really geared towards the adult Muppet fans.  Sure, they're clearly trying to introduce the Muppets to a new generation, but it really feels like the film is made for us (how awesome is that?).  After being subjugated to a series of pretty terrible made-for-TV films they have finally been given the proper love and treatment.  The film is about how no one cares about the Muppets anymore, and how cynicism has taken over, and that's where the heart lies.  There is a series of really funny moments, and a few that aim high and miss (I might be in the minority, but Chris Cooper was... not great... he tried his best but it just wasn't a good fit to me...). 
The biggest issue that the film faces, and the thing that keeps it from being a perfect Muppet film to me, is just that it's really really hard to service all of those characters that have accumulated over the years.  If you look at the original Muppets film it's just filled to the brim with these tender moments that really identify and make you pull for the characters.  Rolph's "I Hope that Something Better Comes Along" and Gonzo's "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday" are not only two of the best Muppet songs ever, but they work so well emotionally for the story and the characters.  We don't really get anything like that in this film, and that's what I feel is missing.  It feels like we round up all the characters and have a bit of fun with them - kind of like a 'best of' album, but it's hard to say that any of the characters really get a 'great moment' here.  So as a re-introduction to the Muppets I think it's pretty damn great and works well - but for their next outing (please please please let them make more quality projects) I really want it to focus on these guys, their hopes, dreams, flaws.  Sure, get the celebrity cameos in there (there are some brilliant ones in this film), but I want the Muppets front and center the whole time.
Okay.  So I think I did a good job of not giving anything away.  I realize that my review might not seem the most positive, but know that I really loved this, I smiled the whole time, laughed a lot, and got emotional at a few moments.  It's not perfect, but it's pretty goddamn great.  If you're going to give someone your money at the theare in the near future, give it to a Muppet!

Muppets: The Green Album

First off, as you've probably noticed I don't tend to do a lot of music reviews.  I love music, but I'm just not a big music geek - I wish I were - I often find myself having to get my more music-hip friends make CDs for me just so that I can stay even remotely current with what's good.  However, when I heard about this CD a while back, and then had a chance to preview it last week, I just couldn't let the actual release go by without talking about it.
Full disclosure:  I fucking love the Muppets.  And it's the kind of love where if someone says that they don't like the Muppets, I just have to question if I have anything in common with them, if I could even remotely be friends with them.  On our first date where we stayed in my now wife suggested that we watch The Muppet Movie.  It wasn't hard to know that she was 'the one' :) 
So it goes without saying that growing up with these songs that they have a special place in my childhood - and there's an old rule where you don't mess with a nerds childhood.  That shit just ain't done.  But when it's done properly, it's delightful.  And that's what this album is - pure delight.  I don't buy and listen to enough new music to make any kind of accurate ruling, but for me - this is the album of the year.  A lot of it has to do with the source material and how strong it is - these songs have been covered over the years, and some, like Cake's version of Mahna Mahna are probably better, but this collection is inspired.  Allow me to geek out on some of the songs:

Muppet Show Theme: OK Go does this version - and to really appreciate it you need to see the music video - easily found on YouTube.  It's trippy, and it's a really nice way to lead you into this album.

Rainbow Connection:  One of my favorite songs.  It's a really lovely inspirational song, and Weezer actually grasps onto that and makes it go even further with the accompaniment of Hayley Williams.  This could be a wedding song.  Screw that - this should be someone's wedding song.

Movin' Right Along: Alkaline Trio gives this song the extra energy and it's awesome.

Our World:  Honestly, I'm not as familiar with this song as I am the others, but this version by My Morning Jacket is really really lovely. 

Wishing Song:  In a weird way this could become the new 'Adam's Song'.  Listen to it and you'll know what I mean...

I Hope That Something Better Comes Along:  This is easily one of my favorite (amongst a bunch of awesome songs).  Matt Nathanson's vocals really make this into a ballad for men who really don't want to settle for the wrong bitch (you'll appreciate that wonderful pun if you're familiar with the song).  And on top of this really great cover, I almost forgot just how clever the writing on this is.  It's really really awesome.

I'm Going to Go Back There Someday: So this is probably my favorite Muppets song ever.  Gonzo breaks my heart in The Muppet Movie when he sings it.  I absolutely hated the redo of the song for Muppets From Space, but this version from Rachel Yamagata is just spot on.  I think what I love so much about this song is how poignant it is, and it represents exactly what I love about the Muppets.  That they're goofy, but they have a heart, and they're smart, and they aren't trying to be anything amazing - they just are amazing.  I love this song.

So that's a pretty glowing review - and I would have been the first to trash this if it sucked.  I think my only regret is that there's no cover of Can You Picture That - there is no shortage of awesome bands that could have done a number with that.  If I thought about it enough I'm sure I'd think of others.  And if any of you are curious, there are over 800 Muppet songs that have been performed over their various television and film outings.  Click here to see the full list.

So that's all I've got.  Pick it up or buy it on iTunes.  If you're a Muppets fan it's a must have, and if you're not a Muppets fan... I feel badly for you.  What happened in your childhood to make you this way?!
Muppets: The Green Album  Muppets: The Green Album