I took the night off from Skyward Sword yesterday to go see The Muppets. On my way to the theatre I was jonesin’ for some Zelda, but forgot about that before the movie proper started.
Firstly, two previews really grabbed my attention. There’s a new Studio Ghibli/Disney production on the way, which looks really good. The animation quality alone made the animation love in my quiver in delight. I can’t remember what it’s called and damned if I’m going to bother looking it up, but absolutely keep an eye out for the cartoon about little people living under the floor. The other was the new Pixar flick, Brave, which doesn’t seem like it’ll be as good as Up but no less is a movie I’ll need to see.
After the previews came a Toy Story short which alone would have justified the outing. It’s hilarious, and will keep you laughing the whole way through. While Pixar could have taken it and fleshed it out into a complete movie, it’s probably best as a short. I lamented its brevity, but know deep down that a feature-length version wouldn’t have been as great.
Our feature presentation was up against some fierce competition there, but the Muppets and Jason Segel pulled it off and Super 8 had finally been dethroned as my favourite movie of 2011. The Muppets was amazing. It was everything I’d hoped it would be and more. It was hilarious almost the whole way through, and when I wasn’t laughing I was on the verge of tears. Oh hell, the ending actually did bring a tear to my eye. The way the movie was so easily able to manipulate my emotions is uncommon, and I love it all the more for being able to crack my tough exterior. Not only that, but somehow The Muppets was able to slip by my distaste for musicals. That’s how you know you’ve done something special.
The film warmed my heart like nothing else can, and kept me laughing with a constant barrage of slapstick, one-liners, and brilliantly placed celebrity cameos (their use of Jim Parsons was exquisite). It left me completely satisfied, with a smile on my face and a song in my heart. I was ready to sing and dance my way out of the theatre, and I’m very strongly considering going to see it again this weekend. I cannot wait to get this on blu-ray so I can watch it every single day for the rest of forever.
My only lament is that those are not the Muppets’ voices! I guess maybe some had the same actors, but the big names (Kermit and Fozzie specifically) were just ever-so-slightly off, and it bugged me to no end. But that’s a minor quibble, not nearly annoying enough to tarnish my opinion of the movie as a whole. In conclusion, go see The Muppets. And tell me when you’re going so I can tag along.