I loved the shit out of this Jason Segel and the Muppets SNL monologue, not just because they directly addressed my pet peeve: "When people go see a Muppet movie, of course they say, 'I can't wait to see the human!'" This was one of the best Muppets presentations I've seen in a while.
REALLY!?! with Seth and Kermit was even better! No one does a better REALLY!?!? than the Frog.
(edited by John Orquiola on 20.11.11 0743) @BackoftheHead
This movie ROCKED. Well, not ROCKED, but it was awesome. Lots of fun stuff for the kids, enough stuff for the adults to laugh about. Great story, great songs, great finish, and Chris Cooper rapping is one of the most pleasant surprises in this flick, along with the Dave Grohl cameo.
The wife and I took our 7yo daughter and 5yo son to see it this afternoon and we all loved it for a myriad of reasons. I was a bit worried given the post that started this thread, but figured after the SNL monologue that the human actors wouldn't overpower what I was going to see, and that proved to be right.
A fun story, some funny jokes, and some good cameos made for an enjoyable experience for all of us at least.
"Under Control"
"What the Wakka?" (Loved the Moopets as what the Muppets might have become if "the world - or new Hollywood - had gotten to them")
Edit: and forgot this one "Maniacal laugh . . . Maniacal laugh"
(edited by DrewDewce on 24.11.11 1539) "You are going to get a certain amount of snarkiness on the Internet no matter what, and my rule is that you don't post anything that you wouldn't say to someone's face." Marc Andreyko (Writer of DC Comic's "Manhunter")
Having seen it, I agree with John, though his review may have colored my response to it. The overly talky songs really didn't do anything for me; "Life's a Happy Song" had a nice hook, but the choruses seemed a little forced. Full disclosure - I'm not a fan of Flight of the Conchords.
Probably not wise of them to put that Toy Story short in front of it, as it was like eating a really great appetizer and then being let down by the entree.
"Tattoos are the mullets of the aughts." - Mike Naimark
I can see Orq's point, but it didn't bother me as much as him. I didn't dislike Walter even though he was kind of the Wesley Crusher of this movie. And he gets one of the best gags in the movie when when get to see his "man" version.
Two beefs:
The celebrity guest host was anticlimatic because we saw him earlier in the film. Should have been a huge reveal. And should have been a huge star. Michael Jackson would have been a PERFECT choice if he was still alive.
My other beef falls in line with Orq's criticism of Walter saving the day. I didn't mind Walter finding his talent, but there is NO WAY he should have followed Rainbow Connection. That should have been the climax of the show.
John O's review was also the very first review I read about the movie. Saw it today (apparently so did almost everyone I know online) and I can see his POV, but I don't think it really became the Walter Show until the final act of the movie. Once Kermit et al show up, Walter & the humans kinda receed into the background for a bit.
More [spoiler-y?] comments:
That was Jack Black's best role in years! But our theater went nuts for Jim Parsons' cameo...
I'm guessing Segel was sticking to nostalgia for the 'classic' Muppet Show cast, hence very small (pun intended?) roles for Rizzo and Pepe and no sign of, say, Clifford. (But we did get Bobo the Bear.)
Nice to see so many of our NBC Thursday night friends show up.
The subtle appearances of Jim Henson in posters were a nice touch.
Originally posted by ScottyflamingoThe celebrity guest host was anticlimatic because we saw him earlier in the film. Should have been a huge reveal. And should have been a huge star. Michael Jackson would have been a PERFECT choice if he was still alive.
Let's see, Michael Jackson in a kids' movie....anyone else want to take this one?
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." --- Bart Giamatti, on baseball
Originally posted by ScottyflamingoThe celebrity guest host was anticlimatic because we saw him earlier in the film. Should have been a huge reveal. And should have been a huge star. Michael Jackson would have been a PERFECT choice if he was still alive.
Let's see, Michael Jackson in a kids' movie....anyone else want to take this one?
Ignoring the fact that this seems more like an "everyone" movie than a "kids'" movie, sounds like a good idea to me. Was there a point you were trying to make or did you just want to help someone inflate their post count?
Originally posted by wmatisticThis movie was absolutely outstanding. My family had a blast watching it. Can't imagine why anyone would find a reason to dislike this one.
This. I had very high expectations and they were blown away. Probably my favorite movie of 2011 thusfar (with the full disclosures that I am a huge Muppet fan and that 2011 hasn't really been a great year for movies.)
Another nitpick, wish there had been more cameos from celebs from the Muppet era. I liked the gag with Kermit's outdated roladex, but would've like to have seen them bring in more to reflect the theme of the Muppets being timeless.
Cameo wish list:
Paul Williams Florence Henderson Steve Martin Stallone John Cleese Alice Cooper Rich Little
I saw The Muppets again and took my 9 year old niece. I wanted to give it a second look, and I feel exactly the same way about it as I did the first time.
Gonzo was established as being financially successful with a thriving toilet supply business. He could have ponied up part of if not all of the $10-million the Muppets needed. This never occurred to Kermit or anyone. Instead, they simply asked Gonzo to join them in the show, and Gonzo immediately blew up his business to do so. Weird writing.
The Muppets have grossed $42.5 million (estimated) for the five day Thanksgiving weekend period. Unfortunately, they couldn't knock Twilight: Breaking Dawn from the number one spot. A Muppets sequel is very likely, and I'm all for more Muppet movies. But you know what I'd like more? Another Muppet Show.
(edited by John Orquiola on 27.11.11 1212) @BackoftheHead
Originally posted by John OrquiolaI saw The Muppets again and took my 9 year old niece. I wanted to give it a second look, and I feel exactly the same way about it as I did the first time.
Gonzo was established as being financially successful with a thriving toilet supply business. He could have ponied up part of if not all of the $10-million the Muppets needed. This never occurred to Kermit or anyone. Instead, they simply asked Gonzo to join them in the show, and Gonzo immediately blew up his business to do so. Weird writing.
The Muppets have grossed $42.5 million (estimated) for the five day Thanksgiving weekend period. Unfortunately, they couldn't knock Twilight: Breaking Dawn from the number one spot. A Muppets sequel is very likely, and I'm all for more Muppet movies. But you know what I'd like more? Another Muppet Show.
(edited by John Orquiola on 27.11.11 1212)
The plot is incidental. I mean, if you are gonna go there, then you have to bash the cliche' plot of Evil Oil Barron buying the Community Center. In fact, making fun of that trope is kind of the point. Same reason I had no problem with Cooper changing his mind during the credits.
A new Muppet Show would rule. I know they did the whole Muppets Tonight thing in the 90's, but they should just go with the basic formula.
Gonzo was established as being financially successful with a thriving toilet supply business. He could have ponied up part of if not all of the $10-million the Muppets needed. This never occurred to Kermit or anyone. Instead, they simply asked Gonzo to join them in the show, and Gonzo immediately blew up his business to do so. Weird writing.
Gonzo "Automatic Plumbing Business Self-Destruct Button" was one of the best jokes in the movie. Also, Gonzo doesn't really think things through.
(edited by Big Bad on 27.11.11 2257) "It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." --- Bart Giamatti, on baseball
Originally posted by ScottyflamingoThe plot is incidental. I mean, if you are gonna go there, then you have to bash the cliche' plot of Evil Oil Barron buying the Community Center. In fact, making fun of that trope is kind of the point. Same reason I had no problem with Cooper changing his mind during the credits.
Exactly. They kept lampshading how ridiculous the entire premise was the whole time, and it was perfect in that regard. And maybe it was just me, but I wasn't so put off by the human element in it. Muppets and humans were established as being on the same level, and even though Segal et al got that much screen time, it was in service to the Muppets. They were the central figures, as it should be.
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You wanted the best, you got... the Out of Context Quote of the Week.
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Lady Gaga, Katy Perry Muppets' Cameos: Why They Were Cut From the Film
Lady Gaga was poised to make her big-screen debut in 'The Muppets' movie, which opened to $42 million in box office earnings since it's Wednesday (Nov. 23) debut. But Mother Monster's Muppet scene was cut from the fuzzy film, as was that of fellow pop queen Katy Perry.
In Gaga's cutting room floor cameo, LG and her all-star entourage reportedly squared off against Miss Piggy. But sadly for the self-proclaimed Muppet fan, her small role was edited out when director James Bobin was forced to drop a number of scenes in order to bring the three-hour movie down to 98 minutes.
The movie's writer and producer Clint Morris wrote on his website MovieHole.net, "Stefani Germanotta's [aka Lady Gaga] big moment from the film was cut. With her entourage, including Ed Helms, Eric Stonestreet ... and John Krasinski, Gaga would have gone head-to-head with Miss Piggy in a sequence. Rumor has it Madonna's 'Vogue' was somehow involved (which makes sense considering Piggy is the editor of Paris Vogue magazine in the film)."
And Gaga wasn't the only pop star to miss out on a Muppets movie cameo. Katy Perry's big musical sequence, in which she spoofs her hit song 'I Kissed A Girl,' also failed to make the final cut. Screenwriter Nick Stoller told MTV.com, "At one point we had squirrels singing, 'I Kissed a Squirrel,' or it was Miss Piggy singing 'I Kissed a Squirrel and I Liked It.' More and more squirrels are lining up to kiss her, and she's getting weirded out."
Hopefully it will make the DVD extras.
"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." - Winston Churchill
Gaga is a perfect fit with the Muppets. If they do a new Muppet Show, she should be one of the first hosts (and I'm not even a Gaga fan).
Saw this again with a friend. The problems I had with it are really outweighed by all the great moments:
-80's Robot -Amy Adams in full adorable Enchanted mode. -Pictures in My Head - Damn near got misty during this one...hell, who am I kidding? -Man or Muppet - I was thinking "This is like a Flight of the Concords song" and then I found out that Bret wrote it. -"Under control"
Thread ahead: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Next thread: The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn Previous thread: New DVDs coming out 12/27/11 (99)
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