The Muppets Movie

Let me lay this out right now, I am a huge fan of the Muppets. I've seen the show. I've watched the movies and I love them all. (Except the Wizard of Oz one, that I do not believe should be counted as one of the Muppets movies). And when I heard that they were remaking the Muppets for a new movie, with Disney heading it, I was pessimistic. In almost every remake of something that was funny, wholesome, and classic, the studio has a tendency to, how to I put this delicately? - Obliterate, destroy, ruin, and tear to shreds in a mouth-foaming frenzy the innocence of it. Making it more edgy, darker, and all around stained, thinking that they are appealing to this generation.

But what the Muppets Movie proves is that the best is timeless. You don't need to shade it to try to make it more appealing a generation later. They successfully show that the Muppets are timeless, no matter your age.

Growing up as a puppet in a human family can be rough. You are always the same height, everyone counts you out, and it's impossible to find someone to relate to. That is how Walter felt (get it?). Sure he had a good family, and a brother that loved him more than he loved his girlfriend (an error he balanced out later in the film), but life was for people, not puppets. That is, till a TV show aired. That show, that was new and shiny back then is what is known as the "Muppet's Show" today. The show told him that although you may be out of place, and a bit fuzzy, you can still be loved by millions, and that you have a place.

As the years go by, Walter grows up (relatively speaking) but he never gives up his never ending love for the Muppets. As he soon learns, that is something the Muppets themselves have given up. And as an oil tycoon sets his wrecking balls on Muppet's Studio, it's up to Walter to make the Muppets what they do best, come together in a movie.

I was almost sure when I walked into the theater that Disney would give the Muppets an edge, but as the movie played I learned that they took what made the show great and did.......nothing to it! They kept it in it's golden glory, not even dipping its Hollywood toes in the 80s movies. Sealing the brilliant Muppety innocence in the vacuum sealed goodness of the original show.

I don't know what really more I can say about this. It's a Muppets movie, and if you've ever seen one you can't really describe it outside the phrase "It's great!"

The Muppet's characters were untouched by 21st century's hands, keeping the pure, fuzzy love at it's pinnacle goodness. The added characters convince you that they've been in every Muppets venture, that's how good they blend in. They are charming, funny, and as smart/clueless as the rest of the Muppets.

Using spontaneous dance numbers and moments where the cast themselves point out the hilariousness of the movie they have found themselves in, coupled with brilliant celebrity cameos that the Muppet Movies are known for, this movie gives us great scripts and bellowing laughs as we watch the wonderful Muppets characters do what they do best, just....being.....Muppets.