The Muppets - A Review

Why are there so many songs about rainbows, and what’s on the other side? And is there any other song that can bring up a well of nostalgia, sadness and happiness all at the same time? And how absolutely perfect was it that Kermit sang the Rainbow Connection in their recently released movie, The Muppets? So. Perfect.

And that, my friends, could also be said for the movie as a whole. It was, well if not absolutely perfect, then awfully darn close. I have never seen a movie that treated its characters and its history with so much reverence and so much humor at the same time. It was absolutely touching.

I saw The Muppets today with my husband and our four kids, ages 8 – 16. Every one of us loved it. Now, like any good Gen-Xer, I raised my kids with a healthy knowledge and love of the Muppets. We had the “best of the muppets” VHS videos when my older kids were little, and later bought the full seasons on DVD. My kids have “The Rainbow Connection” on CD and know all the words by heart. So all of us went in to the theater today with the proper background to appreciate the movie for all it was worth. Even so, my 16 year old commented that she knew all the Cameo’d stars – where, honestly, I did not. Teenage demographic – check! My younger two laughed and giggled through all the slapstick humor. Elementary age demographic – check! There were photos and references to the original Muppet show guests throughout the film. Walter, the main character, watches old episodes on video. And then there’s the reuniting of all the Muppets and a really poignant talk about how no matter how long it’s been or how “washed up” we might feel, our best days are still in front of us. HELLO MID-LIFE CRISIS PEP TALK. So yeah, that over 30 crowd demographic? Check, check and double check.

I laughed. I cried. It moved me, Bob.

Seriously, The Muppets is a great movie. It’s rare that a movie can live up to the hype (and holy cats did this movie have a lot of hype! Those Muppets were popping up everywhere in the last couple of months gratuitously hawking this film.) – but this movie actually found a way to exceed my expectations. Oh and did I mention how flat out funny it is? So. Funny.

Do yourself a favor. Grab a kid and go see this movie. If you don’t have a kid to take, grab a friend. And if you don’t have a friend, go as a Party of One. (you’ll get that reference when you see the movie.) Just whatever you do, don’t let this one pass you by. It is the Most Sensational, Inspirational MUPPETATIONAL... this is one very good show.