The Muppets
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 6:00 pm
A| Lowest Recommended Age: | All Ages |
| MPAA Rating: | Rated PG for some mild rude humor |
| Profanity: | None |
| Alcohol/ Drugs: | None |
| Violence/ Scariness: | Some tense confrontations |
| Diversity Issues: | None |
| Date Released to Theaters: | November 23, 2011 |
| Date Released to DVD: | March 19, 2012 |
| Amazon.com ASIN: | B006JTS5OO |
Let the joy be unrestrained. The Muppets are back. It turns out that deep inside Jason Segal, best known for raunchy Judd Apatow comedies and for playing the monogamous Marshall on “How I Met Your Mother,” is at his core a puppet nerd whose highest and best use is in pushing Disney (which now owns the rights to the Muppets) to let him co-write and co-star in the happiest family movie of the year. And it is accompanied by a “Toy Story” short film that is, minute for minute, the funniest movie of the year.
Segal plays Gary, a sweet small-town guy who is devoted to his brother Walter and his girlfriend of ten years, Mary (Amy Adams), a teacher. Gary and Walter are devoted fans of the old Muppet Show
The Muppet studio is broken-down and covered with cobwebs. The only other people on the tour are a couple who mistakenly thought they were at Universal Studios. Walter wanders off and overhears the dastardly Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) plotting to buy the studio. He will promise to preserve the Muppets legacy and then tear it down to drill for the oil underneath. To save the studio the Muppets have to raise $10 million. But they have gone their separate ways. Can they get the band back together? And if they do, does anyone still want to see them? When Gary gets caught up in helping the Muppets, will he forget the anniversary dinner?
Segal and co-screenwriter Nicholas Stoller have seamlessly continued the story of the the captivating Muppets, with their unique blend of sweetness and self-deprecating insouciance. It’s what Danny Thomas used to call “treacle cutters” that keep the Muppets fresh and appealing, expertly countering every corny joke with heart and every tender moment with humor. With joyously sunny musical numbers composed by “Flight of the Conchords” co-star Bret McKenzie and cameos by everyone from Mickey Rooney to Sara Silverman and Neil Patrick Harris, this film is utterly true to the spirit of the original television series and pure delight for both fans and newcomers.
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is a new film based on the classic story by Charles Tazewell, first published in 1946. A small angel cannot quite seem to fit in until a wise older angel realizes that the little soul will not be able to feel at home in Heaven until he can retrieve his precious box of treasures. So he returns to earth with his dog, Halo, just as Jesus is about to be born. Although he worries that it is not important enough to give to Mary’s new baby, he learns that the humblest gift becomes meaningful if given with a full heart.
, based on the classic Christmas carol. In this version, Junior Asparagus hears the story of a little boy whose heart was filled with bitterness and anger when his home was destroyed until the birth of Jesus inspired him to find hope and forgiveness. They have their own Veggie twist on the story with some gentle silly humor, of course, plus Bebe and Cece Winans on the soundtrack.
