Uncle Deadly is back. When I was a child, I was deathly afraid of Uncle Deadly, a Muppet that was known for his Phantom of the Muppet's Show episode. I was totally freaked out, but I was able to face my fears knowing that he would reappear in this incarnation of the Muppets. I not only overcame my fear, but entertained as well.
Do yourself a favor and watch the Muppets. The movie is jammed pack with self reflexivity and gags that will keep you laughing, but take you back to your nostalgic childhood as to when the Muppet's Show was televised. The love and passion behind the storytelling is astounding, and that is what the industry seems to lack these days. Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller have crafted a wonderful and rich original tale using Jim Henson's beautifully designed creations. All of the Muppet characters are present in this new adventure.
The narrative opens up with the exposition of Gary (Jason Segel) and Walter (Peter Linz(voice)) as two brothers who grow up watching the Muppet's Show. Walter becomes obsessed with the Muppets buying all the merchandise and dressing up as Kermit for a Halloween. Gary falls in love with Mary (Amy Adams) an elementary school teacher where they plan a vacation to Los Angeles for their tenth anniversary, and Gary invites his brother Walter to go with them. Walter is very excited because he may have the honor of possibly meeting his hero, Kermit the frog (Steve Whitmire (voice)). When they arrive in Los Angeles (after a couple of hilarious song and dance numbers) they immediately take a tour of the unkempt Muppet Studio where the tour guide (Alan Arkin) gives them a cheap and speedy tour of the place, but during the tour Walter sneaks off into Kermit's office and finds out that Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) has plans to drill for oil instead of preserving the studio and turning it into a museum. Walter tells Gary and Mary and they are soon off to look for Kermit in hopes that they can rally all of the Muppets to save the studio as well as their name.
The Muppets' Movie is quite the treat for all ages. There are some innuendos but nothing to really worry about. After watching Forgetting Sarah Marshall, I was a bit apprehensive as to taking my family to watch the film, but I am glad that I left my prejudices at home and embraced this movie. I give this movie an A-, especially, for its heart warming theme and values. All I have to say is, "Manamana." Let's talk about it, please let me know what you think of the Muppets? Which Muppet scared you? Are you happy they made a come back?
Robert Rodriguez does it again. This is a great family movie to not only add to the collection, but one to watch with the whole family because of its wonderfully instilled family values, and moral compass to choose good over evil. The film opens up with a very pregnant Marissa Cortez Wilson (Jessica Alba) fighting a gang of thugs lead by Timekeeper (Jeremy Piven). Marissa zip-lines to safety after a bomb is set off, and she ends up having to go through a high speed chase all the while keeping track of her contractions as she his stalling the birth of her child moments longer to assail the perp.
After the birth of Marissa's baby, she decides to retire from the OSS. One would think that Marissa has it all...married to a famous spy hunting television reporter, a new baby and intelligent twin step kids. Trying to mother Rebbecca (Rowan Blanchard) and Cecil (Mason Cook), who clearly don't want her around, is her toughest challenge yet. Also, her husband, Wilbur (Joel McHale), wouldn't know a spy if he lived with one, since Marissa is a retired secret agent. Marissa's world is turned upside down when the maniacal Timekeeper threatens to take over the planet and she's called back into action by the head of OSS, home of the greatest spies and where the now-defunct Spy Kids division was created.
With Chaos ensuing, Rebbecca and Cecil are thrust into action and a cooperative adventure when they learn that their boring stepmother was once a top agent, and now the worlds most competitive ten year olds are forced to put their bickering aside and rely on their wits with a little help from a couple of very familiar Spy Kids, Carmen (Alexa Vega) and Juni Cortez (Daryl Sabara). Bringing forth some mind-blowing gadgets, as they struggle to save the world and possibly bring their family together. Marissa brings a whole new concept of bringing your child to work as she straps her baby in and goes into battle to save her step children. This is a great way to pass the torch to new characters and to keep the franchise alive. This movie is filled action and adventure that will satisfy the appetites of the young and old. Sure the theme of having all the time in the world to vanquish evil while rescuing the world is good, but the value making time for your children is golden. The Aroma-scope was the only downfall with this pic because it did not work, especially, since the first three scratch and sniff portions of the card smelled the same, but the fact that one has the option to smell it if they want top is a plus. There were a lot of bodily gross out humor sprinkled throughout the film and a tad bit overboard on the fart gags, but all in all, Good film. I sincerely give it a B+. Let me know what you think or what's your take? Do you agree or disagree?
