Movie: 'The Muppet Movie' (1979)

Oh, 'The Muppet Movie', you are one of the treasures of the cinema. It's astonishing what you do and how you affect us. Strangely I didn't see this properly until I was an adult and it still struck me as magical. That's the thing about the Muppets: They are magical. In those first two movies - this and 'The Great Muppet Caper' - they took the power of the still-running television show and condensed it into film form with an attending mass of cameo power. Once Jim Henson moved on it descended into far more formulaic fare but for those two instants of film legend there was... magic.

'The Muppet Movie' functions as a fake prequel to the television show, a meta sendup of movie-making, a mockery of advertising, a buddy movie, and a joke fest of the first order. It was also a state of the art movie with respect to puppeteering. The most famous example of that is Kermit's cycling which was expanded to everyone cycling in 'Caper' but if you watch it and try to remember to think about the puppeteering - which I never do - then you'll realise it's a monumental achievement! There should be books written about these movies! Perhaps there are. I don't know.

Note: This is being written in the aftermath of Eurovision 2013 and my mind might be a little addled by now. Sheesh, it wasn't as rough as usual but it was still rough.

Now, back to this half-baked assessment. Did I mention there were songs? Well, of course there are as this is from the classic Muppets era! 'Rainbow Connection' rules supreme and the Electric Mayhem are still rocking like the addled troupers they were always meant to be. Rowlff is still the best though, the most musical and funny Muppet there is. Rowlff has not been shown the spotlight over following years and it's sad as he is the awesome one and one of the earliest Muppets. Some of the fondest 'Muppet Show' moments come from his piano playing paws. Oh, how could anyone not love Rowlff.

I could go on about the plot and the lovely little ways each of the Muppets is introduced into the story and into the company of the other Muppets, and how the day is saved by a giant Animal scaring off Doc Hopper of fried frog legs fame but it would be redundant. Charles Durning and Austin Pendleton (Yay!) are the antagonists and do sterling jobs.

Ultimately every Muppet story comes down to Kermit. As much as Ray is the heart of the Ghostbusters, Kermit is the heart and soul of this troupe of furry and fuzzy entertainers. This time he finds his calling, and his pig, and brings happiness to millions of people. Who can ask better than that? 'The Muppet Movie' is a fantastic family movie, which layers more than enough content for people of every age to enjoy, and can even dissolve a few cynical hearts in the process.

O.


PS Incoherent ramblings are excellent, aren't they?