The Muppets' Wizard of Oz

For the finale of “The Muppets Month,” I will be looking at the 2005 TV movie, “The Muppets' Wizard of Oz.”

Kevin Carr started his review out by saying, “It’s kind of a shame what’s happened to the Muppet movies. I remember the days when they were the event films of the summer. The first “Muppet Movie” broke new ground and was a rousing success at the box office. However, when Jim Henson died in 1990, some of the magic died with him. “Fraggle Rock” and “The Bear in the Big Blue House” didn”t quite continue the magic of Kermit and friends. (And don’t get me started on that hideous “Muppet Babies” cartoon!)”

After a while, the Muppet movies were downsized to made-for-TV status. Even the Sesame Street movies like “Follow That Bird” and “Elmo in Grouchland” were better done than the Muppets. Maybe the reason was because of the Disney purchase years ago. The Muppets were no longer a property of someone. They are now another part in the corporate kids programming business. Besides, who needs a frog in love with a pig when you’ve got talking mice and ducks?

However, when you look deeper and actually find (and watch) the new Muppet stuff, some of the creativity is still there.

Carr said, ‘The latest Muppet movie is “The Muppets' Wizard of Oz,” which follows in the great steps of Jim Henson by turning a story on its ear. In a strange way, the Muppets have gone full circle, considering their earliest film were TV movies of classic stories like The Frog Prince. (I happen to be a big fan of the old Frog Prince movie that introduced us to little Robin the Frog years before “The Muppet Show” hit the airwaves.)”

In “The Muppets' Wizard of Oz,” the Muppets are now supporting characters in their version of “The Wizard of Oz.” Famous singer Ashanti is the main actress as Dorothy, a young girl from Kansas who is trying to get out of her small town and become famous. She misses an audition with the Muppets and gets stuck in a tornado on her way home. Her trailer is picked up by the twister and sent to Oz.

This is where the Muppets arrive. Dorothy’s prawn shrimp Pepe (Bill Barretta) comes to life as a Muppet (which mimics Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots from “Shrek 2”). Every Muppet stand-ins play characters from the land of Oz. The Munchkins are rats, led by Rizzo (Steve Whitmire), Miss Piggy (Eric Jacobson) plays all four witches, Kermit (Whitmire) is the Scarecrow, Fozzie (Jacobson) is the Cowardly Lion and Gonzo (Dave Goelz) is the Tin Thing.

There’s a nice amount of Muppet humor, which outdoes the type of simple kids shows. For instance, when Scarecrow is introduced, Kermit says to a crow that it reminds him of the film “The Passion.” The crow angrily replies by telling him to not spoil the ending of the movie. That joke will go over the heads of most children, which is fine. It’s those things in the film that make it fun for adults to watch.

The movie is smart enough, and there aren’t too many songs to slow down the pace. Ashanti does a fine job working off of the Muppets. It’s sad that Queen Latifah and David Alan Grier as Aunt Em and Uncle Henry never get to enjoy with the Muppets but Jeffrey Tambor does as the Wizard.

Carr noted, “The DVD is a little weak on special features. However, the little that we’re given is a lot of fun. There’s a hilarious outtake reel, which is always a treat with Muppets. Watching them flub their lines and stay in Muppet character reinforces the feeling that they are real. There’s also a behind-the-scenes tour with Pepe the shrimp. Finally, there’s an extended Quentin Tarantino interview with Pepe that is pretty funny. Of course the kids aren’t going to know who Tarantino is considering he has yet to direct something that isn’t rated R, but it’s fun to watch for the parents.”

When I saw this with my sister, we both agreed that this movie did not look like it was meant for children. However, if children see this film, I don’t think they will be harmed by it. Then again, if parents want to check it out first before showing it to their children, that would be a smart idea. As a TV movie, I don’t think it’s that bad, but I would also say that it wouldn’t hurt to watch it, so definitely see it when you can.

Alright everyone, that concludes “The Muppet Month.” I know that there were a few really famous ones that I left out, but have no fear, I will be looking at those soon enough. Look out for what I have in store for every one next month.

The Equalizer

Special treat today: I just came back from seeing “The Equalizer 2,” one of my most wanting to watch movies this summer. Before I talk about that, I have to talk about the first movie, released in 2014, and what I thought about that.

Retired secret agent Robert McCall, played by Denzel Washington, helps innocent people in danger. When a young prostitute, played by Chloe Grace Moretz, gets assaulted, McCall kills her pimp and goes after the Russian Mafia section.

Kim Newman said in her review, “The premise of the 1985-’89 TV series The Equalizer was less important than the star casting, and this big-screen reboot cannily substitutes Denzel Washington’s brand of quiet, controlled, middle-aged cool for the late Edward Woodward. Washington’s McCall holds down a job in a home supplies depot in Boston and spends his nights reading great works of literature in a diner copied from an Edward Hopper painting... until he spots an injustice being done in the neighbourhood, and turns into a deadly, calculating action man.”

The story is nothing special, with something that feels like a romanticized version of “Taxi Driver” and a guideline demonstration of tattooed Russian Mob man and sneering crooked cops effortlessly surpassed by the protagonist. Newman said, “At 132 minutes, it plays like a slow-motion version of the sort of caper Steven Seagal or Chuck Norris used to wind up inside an hour-and-a-half, with added philosophical brooding. Director Antoine Fuqua, calming down after the ludicrous Olympus Has Fallen, plays up the star’s slightly stiff, almost smug presence — even the action scenes are steadily paced and a trifle pompous.” When McCall does his awesome slow walk away from an amazing explosion he made, it gives attention to the fact that this protagonist wanders everywhere at a slow pace, even in race-against-time epics. Newman mentioned, “Chloë Grace Moretz does something with a conventional tart-with-a-heart part and Marton Csokas seethes as the hero’s ex-Spetsnaz doppelgänger, but this is all Denzel’s show.” After “Man on Fire,” this type of hired avenger isn’t really up to par, but Washington is not even close to not being watchable and his intensity gives power that the script doesn’t really provide. Newman said, “There’s a pleasant low-tech aspect to McCall’s vigilantism, with household and garden tools used to fashion death-traps — though he’s so omnicompetent that there’s seldom any suspense unless innocents are dragged in as hostages, whereupon Washington moderates his stare to suggest he’s especially ticked off.”

Despite being strained and a little tedious, this is a nicely acceptable star film with more than enough honorable vengeance for a time of exclusive pleasures.

I know this movie is basically the usual Denzel Washington revenge plot, but it was still nice and stylized with the way the action was done and thought out. If you’re a Washington fan, like I am, then you should definitely check this one. You will absolutely love this one.

However, what can be said about the sequel, released last month? Let’s find out:

Denzel Washington playing a Lyft driver? Nobody would have thought of that decision. However, in “The Equalizer 2,” the first sequel ever in Washington’s acting career, he gets behind the wheel and picks up riders in the Boston area. Beware of ticking him off. Washington’s character, Robert McCall is still a retired special-ops agent with a mission on equalizing the criminals he meets on the job. His disguise last time was a job at Home Depot, but the Lyft job gives him the ability to see the worst of people. Peter Travers said in his review, “Edward Woodward, who starred in the 1980s series on which The Equalizer is based, never got to lay on rough, R-rated justice like Denzel does.” You’re probably thinking, isn’t the two-time Oscar winner going way down low in a vigilante movie? Yes, but that doesn’t lower his famous strength.

With director Antoine Fuqua returning, the sequel to the first thriller gives Washington a trusted teammate. Being superfluous to tell the description for the character like the first time, the sequel is faster than before. Travers said, “Yes, Richard Wenk’s threadbare script still insists on showing us McCall dispatch a few baddies just to give us a taste of his MO. There an opening scene on a train in Turkey in which the hero makes mincemeat of baby traffickers who’ve stolen a infant from her American mother.” Bet on this man, who wants to help those helpless people, to equalize the criminals.

Just don’t think you’ll get anything original. Remember in the first movie when McCall murdered the Russian pimps to save Teri, the teen prostitute? Now he helps out Miles, played by Ashton Sanders from “Moonlight,” an African-American art student who’s letting his desire to be friends with criminals and drug-addicts. McCall, the main father figure, is not going to let that happen. He gets interrupted when he is visited by his former Agency coworker Susan Plummer, played by Melissa Leo, who still cares about him.

Then something happens to her in Paris that gets McCall worked up. To know more, he goes to his intelligence friend Dave York, played by Pedro Pascal, who thought McCall was dead all these years. Not even close. This builds up to a really violent shootout with the villains (and a kidnapped Miles) in a violent storm near the beach house McCall once lived in with his wife. This is where you get the nicely choreographed bloody gunfight. Fuqua doesn’t waste the violence. Travers said, “It’s just the moral issues that go begging.”

Travers goes on to ask, “Yet the question persists: Why would a quality actor like Washington (who just gave a titanic performance on Broadway in Eugene O’Neill’s classic The Iceman Cometh) waste his time with B-movie bang-bang? You could theorize that this son of a Pentecostal preacher identifies with these Equalizer stories about young people in danger of falling through the cracks of society. He has publicly stated he was once in that position himself and got help.” Regardless of why, Washington brings a sympathy and a significant dramatic weight to the role of McCall that the movie he’s in can’t really match. “The Equalizer 2” feels irregular and not equal. However, Washington isn’t, regardless of the bad accessories, there’s not one better to watch in action.

Now the first one felt like a simple, straightforward plot, but this one felt like two or three stories in one movie. Certain characters you forget were in the movie, but come in again when you forgot about them, and it feels similar with Washington now trying to save the boy like he did with the girl in the first one. However, it’s still nice to see Washington in action and being ninja-like with his murders, so I say definitely check this one out, despite it not being as good as the first one.

Alright, thank you for joining in on today’s review. Look out this Friday for the conclusion of “The Muppet Month.”

Crazy Rich Asians

Tonight at work I watched “Crazy Rich Asians,” which came out 12 days ago, and now I will be telling everyone what I thought about it.

Peter Travers started his review out by saying, “In the guise of a bouncy romcom about insanely gorgeous rich kids enjoying their privileges, Crazy Rich Asians is making history: It’s the first Hollywood film in 25 years to feature an all-Asian cast. (The last one: 1993’s The Joy Luck Club.)” Singapore-born author Kevin Kwan said that he wrote the 2013 bestseller that the film adapted from “to introduce a contemporary Asia to a North American audience.” The adaptation, which is being labeled as the comedy to watch this summer, is giving it all in a hilarious, heartfelt enjoyment that wants to change the cultural representation in mainstream, complex-friendly cinema.

Constance Wu from “Fresh Off the Boat” brings so much acting skills to the role of Rachel, a Chinese NYU economics professor. Her history-teacher boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding), invites her to come to Singapore with him for the wedding of his best friend, Colin Khoo (Chris Pang) to fashion star Araminta Lee (Sonoya Mizuno). Raised by a single mother, played by Tan Kheng Hua, the modest Rachel has no idea that her boyfriend comes from old money and is informally known as the “Prince William of Asia.” Nick responds, “That’s ridiculous. I’m much more of a Harry.” She sees herself suddenly plunged in the lifestyles of the country’s rich and famous. Then we have Nick’s mom Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh), who tries to send this American away with the help of her son’s jealous ex-girlfriends (Jing Lusi).

Here start the culture clashes. Rachel’s lucky that the beautiful Astrid Leong-Teo (Gemma Chan), Nick’s cousin, sides with her, but she has her own problems with her proud husband (Pierre Png) who doesn’t want any part of her money. Thank goodness for Rachel’s college friend (and the movie’s comic relief) Goh Peik Lin, played by Awkwafina. Peik Lin won’t let Rachel to be beaten by Nick’s family. Travers said, “It all leads to a showdown between Rachel and Momma bear that brings out the alpha female in Rachel.” “Nasty,” says Peik Lin, in immersed respect.

Travers noted, “It’s a tribute to Yeoh’s layered performance that the film, directed by Jon M. Chu (Now You See Me 2, the Step Up franchise) from a script by Peter Chiarelli and Adele Li, refuses to demonize Eleanor.” Instead, we see that she went through the same thing with her husband’s mother, Shang Su Yi, played by Lisa Lu, letting the matriarch basically raise Nick so that he might one day take over her giant fortune. Travers said, “It’s the war between the bonds of family vs. the pull of wealth — a global theme across wide borders and cultures — that gives the film heft. But even when the script drifts into moralizing, it’s the emotions that hold sway.” People might cry as easily as laugh. For laughs, you can expect Ken Jeoung as Peik Lin’s rich dad and Jimmy O. Yang from “Silicon Valley” as Bernard, Nick’s crude college friend who throws Colin a bachelor party and makes a new low for lethal manhood.

Casting Golding, who’s half-white and half-Malaysian, has got some hairs, but the likable chemistry between the actor and Wu gives warmth to every noticeable spending. (Travers was funny when he said, “Even the Kardashians couldn’t keep up with this.) The film makes sure every extravagant detail pops, and some will probably dismiss this as a revel for shopaholics, consigned to being a guilty pleasure at best.” Why feel guilty around such tempting fun? Besides, if it scores for depiction, that’s so much better. Kwan wrote two sequel novels: China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems. You might walk out “Crazy Rich Asians” wanting the people to adapt both novels into movies as hilarious as this one.

In all honesty, I had never read the novel before I saw the movie. When I first heard the title, I thought it was going to be a bad comedy, as comedies nowadays don’t really work. However, when I saw how good the reviews were, I thought of checking this out. This film proved me wrong because I had such a fun time watching this, along with seeing some real drama that makes you feel sad for certain characters and mad at others. Definitely see this movie because you will love it, especially if you have read the novel. I can’t say how closely it follows the novel, because I never read it.

Look out this Friday for the conclusion of “The Muppets Month.”

The Meg

Man, I’m not very happy right now. Because of a little problem my cousins, my siblings and I had with deciding what movie to go watch tonight, we ended up watching “The Meg,” which came out 16 days ago. As you probably might have guessed, I didn’t like it.

Scientists have thought that 95% of the world’s oceans have not been looked at. Hannah Woodhead said in her review, “For decades we’ve turned to the stars for signs of unchartered life rather than the seabed, and as such, the limitless potential for beasts of the deep has inspired luminaries such as Hermann Melville, Guillermo del Toro, and er, Anthony C Ferrante to create their own mythology.” The main villain for these sea explorers is giant-sized sharks.

Woodhead said, “Swimming in the wake of toothy romps like Deep Blue Sea and The Shallows – as well as inevitable point of comparison and sub-genre overlord Jaws – The Meg sees a team of scientists based in the Mariana Trench attempt to uncover the mysteries of the deep.” Because of that, they accidentally awaken a 75-foot prehistoric shark (Meg is short for ‘Megladon,’ in case you didn’t know). The only man who can stop this shark is Jonas Taylor, played by Jason Statham, a grumpy rescue diver living in Thailand after a failed mission. “I don’t dive anymore,” he scowls when the team tries to call him in again. However, that doesn’t take too long for him to think about it.

Along with Jonas is a mixed team of half-hearted models, from tough-talking tomboy Jax (Ruby Rose) and strange billionaire Morris (Rainn Wilson) to spirited scientist Suyin Zhang (Li Bingbing) and her gifted eight-year-old daughter Mei (Shuva Sophia Cai). Too much cast leaves characters shoved for screen time, and a romance between Jonas and Zhang ends up being hilarious for the wrong reasons, but it’s hard to blame the actors, who look like they’re trying to bring something to a really dry script.

Even though this can be a comedy for this story, the only person who looks like he’s cracking a joke is Statham. Woodhead credits, “He plays his character with a world-weary charm and provides most of the film’s intended laughs.” Everything else about “The Meg” is very serious, from the delivery of unintelligent dialogue (“It’s already proven aggressive to boats”) to an overcomplicated story. Woodhead said, “Yet there aren’t enough thrills and spills to elevate it into genuine thriller or pulp horror territory either – thanks to its family-friendly rating the film is even light on gore, and with no characters to root for other than Jonas, you’re left not really caring who the shark actually chomps on.”

Despite “Jaws” proving that you don’t need to give the shark a lot of screen-time to make an effective shark movie, “The Meg” is cheap with its shark-on-Statham action. Woodhead said, “Dithering on whether or not it’s a comedy, thriller, or meditation on climate change, The Meg attempts to do a number of things while succeeding at very few of them. So much wasted potential leaves director John Turteltaub’s film feeling like a toothless effort, floundering in the shallows of the multiplex ocean.”

I’m sorry to say, but I didn’t enjoy this movie at all. It’s predictable, the characters I didn’t care for, and I just feel that people should stop making shark movies. After “Jaws,” what’s the point? Too many people have tried to make a good shark movie, but they have all failed, and this one is no exception. Please heed my advice and don’t go to the theaters to watch this. “The Meg” will just be a giant waste of your time and money. If you want to watch it, wait for it on DVD to rent it. Everyone else was saying that it was fine, but I was probably the only one who really thrashed it because I didn’t like it at all. There was nothing in this movie that was saving it from being so horrible.

Alright, enough of all that, I’m going to sleep this off. I’ll see everyone this Friday for the finale of “The Muppets Month.”

Muppets from Space

Out of every Muppet movie since the first 1979 one, “Muppets From Space,” released in 1999, is probably the least best in the franchise. That’s not an easy choice, since the movie has a number of hilarious one-liners and a basic Muppet anarchy that’s enjoyable. It’s a nice movie, but when looking at the Jim Henson-style amazement and overall intelligence, “Muppets From Space” lacks that. It’s entertaining enough, but doesn’t have the formula the Muppets are masters at doing.

Gonzo, played by Dave Goelz, sees he’s having a difficult time with who he is, taking time to think about where he came from, scared that he’ll always be a “whatever.” Brian Orndorf said in his review, “When an alien civilization attempts to communicate with the depressed blue daredevil, Gonzo is puzzled, driven to comprehend this mysterious development.” Also looking interested is K. Edgar Singer, played by Jeffrey Tambor, a member of a secret government team looking to investigate alien incidents. With every sign saying to communicate, Gonzo goes to meets his own people, while Kermit, played by Steve Whitmire, and the Muppet gang go to support their friend, called in to rescue him when Singer brings him in for severe interrogation.

Orndorf said, “There’s an absence of inspiration floating around “Muppet from Space” that director Tim Hill (“Alvin and the Chipmunks”) can’t seem to suppress. It’s a flat Muppet feature with an exciting premise, handing Gonzo a rare opportunity to hog the spotlight, giving him a poignant story of belonging that seems ripe for a meticulous investigation. Instead, the picture is a mishmash of dark and light moods (with a dash of hallucinatory imagery) struggling to squeeze humor out of pedestrian situations, supported by a soundtrack of funk hits from the 1970s that’s just completely wrong on all levels. The tunes fit as comfortably as a cable knit sweater in July, creating a crater in the picture where a thoughtful run of musical numbers should rightfully be.”

Orndorf continues, “There’s a gloominess to ‘Muppets from Space’ that’s disconcerting. While Gonzo’s story is remote enough, dealing with existential concern and violent outbursts from Singer (Tambor is miscast here as a frustrated threat), the script heads in a few puzzling directions,” mainly Rizzo, also played by Whitmire, and his story as a tortured lab rat trapped in a cage. The Muppet tricks are wonderfully crazy and hilarious, yet a few twists add a little meanness that loses interest. Nothing’s really violent, but the typical Muppet insanity is a little unkind for this movie, which doesn’t go well with climatic moments for an emotional relating.

Orndorf noted, “Making beautiful music together are the Muppet performers, with this 1999 film merging the classic line-up with personalities from the short-lived ABC program “Muppets Tonight.”” Rising from the once in a while strange onslaught unharmed are Pepe the Prawn (Bill Baretta), a moving addition to the Muppet ranks fine, and Bobo the Bear (Baretta), who plays Singer’s bumbling assistant (“The goat?”). While familiar faces are put in the back for this movie (Kermit and Fozzie Bear just cameo), the new generation of Muppets give nicely hilarious moments to the weak movie, giving an unusual feel to the proceedings.

Also there are placements of late ‘90s pop culture influences, including a running joke with Rizzo and him being a fan for the girl group “Mice Girls,” “Independence Day” and “Shawshank Redemption” parodies, and many cameos from actors of the decade, including the worst insult comic Kathy Griffin, “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan, Joshua Jackson and Katie Holmes, here reprising their “Dawson’s Creek” roles, Ray Liotta, Andie MacDowell and David Arquette. Orndorf is right when he said, “Nostalgia fanatics will have a blast with many of these cameos.”

Orndorf mentioned, “After an hour of amusing, occasionally uproarious shenanigans with Gonzo and his frantic friends, ‘Muppets from Space’ dies an unnecessary death once the moment that pays off all the alien suggestion arrives. Subduing the comedy to stage some vibrant extraterrestrial pageantry, the movie loses focus, reaching for awe with a lackluster conclusion. A shame, really, but the climax is a harsh miscalculation that ends the film on an unsatisfying note.” Even though the laughs it gets right and the memorable characters it shows around, “Muppets from Space” is only a little note in the franchise proving once again just how badly Jim Henson’s careful direction is missed.

Despite all of this, “Muppets from Space” isn’t really all that bad as some people say it is. I personally thought this was a nice addition in the franchise, and entertaining enough that it will keep your kids attention. Especially with Kool and the Gang’s classic song Celebration playing in here. If you have children who love the Muppets, or if you are a Muppets fan yourself and want to see all of their movies, don’t miss the chance to see this one. Don’t listen to all the negative reviews this movie got. See it for yourself and decide on your own.

Alright everyone, look out next week for the exciting conclusion to “The Muppets Month.”

The Muppets Take Manhattan

Jim Henson’s Muppets are back for their third film, “The Muppets Take Manhattan,” released in 1984, an enjoyable time which continues the tried-and-true method used in “The Muppet Movie” and “The Great Muppet Caper.” Kermit, played by Jim Henson, and the gang are seniors at Danhurst College, where they perform a highly successful musical called “Manhattan Melodies.” The students at the college are so passionate about the show that the Muppet friends convince Kermit that they should perform it on Broadway. This is really striking to Miss Piggy, played by Frank Oz, because Kermit promised to marry her once he made some money. Sadly, once they come to the Big Apple they’re met with disappointment and rejection, and are forced to sleep in storage lockers at the Port Authority Bus Terminal. By September, the team is tired and lost all hope. Seeing that Kermit is blaming himself for failing them, they choose to look for work somewhere else and leave Kermit to go on alone.

Kermit becomes friends with Jenny (Juliana Donald), an aspiring fashion designer whose father, Pete (Louis Zorich), owns a diner which is busy despite that the waiters are talking rats (Richard Gallagher said in his review, “the lead rat is named Rizzo (Steve Whitmire), an inside joke which will be lost on younger viewers”). Jenny tries to help Kermit find a producer who will take on his musical, but what he doesn’t know is the Miss Piggy stayed in New York because she thinks that Jenny is trying to steal Kermit from her. Gallagher noted, “The story’s arc is fairly predictable, but there are enough amusing bits and bright musical numbers to satisfy both children and adults.” Adult audiences will enjoy the cameo appearances by Linda Lavin, Liza Minnelli (daughter of Judy Garland), Gregory Hines, the late Art Carney, James Coco, the beautiful Brooke Shields, Elliott Gould, John Landis and particularly the late comedian Joan Rivers teaching Miss Piggy cosmetic sales and Dabney Coleman as a creepy Broadway producer.

Gallagher stated, “’The Muppets Take Manhattan’ benefits greatly from a surprising number of effective exterior scenes which were shot on location on New York City streets and in Central Park.” The film even has appearances by New York locals such as Mayor Ed Koch and Vincent Sardi, Jr. (the owner of Sardi’s Restaurant, where a famous scene happens). Fans of the Muppets are really going to enjoy the film. On the converse, if Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie Bear, the Swedish Chef and crew are not your interest, well, then you shouldn’t even bother reading this review or watching the film.

“The Muppets Take Manhattan” is in some ways a usual “Let’s put on a show” musical, but it is filled with Muppets charm and humor and is increased with so much fun and energetic songs. There are enough smart moments to keep adults interested and entertained, and children are sure to be satisfied from beginning to end.

Now in all honesty, this is actually a really nice movie, especially with the saddest song in Muppet history Saying Goodbye, which is probably going to make kids and, maybe, adults cry when listening to it. Besides that, I think it actually is a good movie for the whole family to watch, so if you saw the first two Muppet movies, or are a fan of the Muppets overall, then never miss out the chance to see this movie.

Alright everyone, now with that one done, check in next week where I skip ahead to what people have considered to be the one that was the nail in the coffin that ended the Muppet movies out with, but in actuality, is not that bad, in “The Muppets Month.”

The Great Muppet Caper

If you don’t bring realism in this to think a frog and a bear could be identical twins, that a pig could be a fashion model, and that an assortment of unusual animals could bring themselves to be regular citizens of a big city, then this is the movie for you.

In this movie, Kermit the Frog, Fozzie the Bear and Gonzo the great (put together by Muppet performers Jim Henson, Frank Oz and Dave Goelz), play newspaper journalists trying to help their jobs after making a headline story. Specifically, they need to know who stole Lady Holiday’s, played by Diana Rigg, jewels while they were distracted by taking pictures of a chicken on the other side of the road.

To make sure they interview the successful fashion designer, the three need to go to their main office in London. Trying not to spend a whole lot, the Muppets travel in an airplane’s baggage compartment and book a room at the rundown Happiness Hotel. Donna Gustafson said it best in her review, “Best known as a place where they can “park their carcasses for free,” the money-strapped reporters fit right in with the establishment’s local residents (composed of the other Muppet characters we’ve all grown to know and love.”

However, the investigation starts really bad when Kermit mistakes Miss Piggy, voiced by Frank Oz, an aspiring model who is working as a receptionist, for her really famous employer. Gustafson said, “Smitten by his amphibian charm, the pretty pork-chop doesn’t correct the identity mix-up until the real Lady Holiday falls victim to another robbery.”

When everyone starts to blame Miss Piggy as the one to blame for the crime, Miss Piggy goes to Kermit and the Muppets to clear her name by solving “The Great Muppet Caper” and capturing the real thieves.

Gustafson noted, “Like all other Muppet movies, this one relies on the popularity of the zany personalities, crazy antics and running gags.” Parts where the Muppets ride bicycles and motorcycles, drive taxis and buses, along with swim and dance, also show the amazing skills of their creator Jim Henson and his team. Insert for hilarity are cameo appearances by Robert Morley, Peter Ustinov, Jack Warden, Peter Falk, John Cleese and Oscar the Grouch, voiced by Carroll Spinney.

Despite the story having portrayals of robbery, property damage, telling lies and gunplay, nothing are more believable than Kermit and Fozzie’s striking resemblance. Neither are the small moments of supermodels in small clothing, some water ballet performers, or a comment about betrayal any more interesting than Miss Piggy in a swimsuit.

Silly from the start, “The Great Muppet Caper,” released in 1981, is not really about heroes and villains. Instead, it’s about having fun and bad puns. The only mystery the movie ever shows is “The Muppets.”

As a Muppet movie, this one is just perfect. The fourth wall jokes in this movie really hit the right mark, and I think everyone who loved the original movie will really get into this one. Definitely do not miss the opportunity to see this movie because you will absolutely love it.

I’m really sorry for posting this late, as I had a long day. Check in next week for the next installment in “The Muppets Month.”

Mission Impossible - Fallout

Tonight at work, I got a chance to check out the latest film, “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” released last Friday, and I feel like I should let all of you know what I thought about this.

Neil Soans started his review out by saying, “Some things age like fine wine and in the cinematic world the ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise is a great example of the adage.” Maybe it’s because Tom Cruise, now 56, who forgets age and goes all out for his fans? The answer is very clear in this film as the character Ethan Hunt is amazing as a comic book superhero in the sixth film in the franchise. The story isn’t really new with the twists and turns. However, the latest film builds on the last films in the franchise by bringing back previous allies and enemies, along with some new ones. Henry Cavill as August Walker is perfect in this franchise as the villain to Ethan Hunt. Soans commented, “His presence is looming enough to fill the entire screen whenever he appears.” Simon Pegg takes on the role of a series regular along with Ving Rhames, whose Benji and Luther respectively play more than just simple sidekicks as they add comic humor and heart. Alec Baldwin and Angela Bassett also make a mark in their small appearances but look out for great returns by Rebecca Ferguson and Michelle Monaghan along the way. Sean Harris and Vanessa Kirby are also amazing in their roles.

Writer and Director Christopher McQuarrie allows each character equal time while building on their story with each other, which makes them engaging to the audience. This only makes the stakes increase while they’re in danger. Soans said, “McQuarrie also lets the story breathe by bringing some calm before the storm hits.” This brings us to the most important part of the series, and one that McQuarrie clearly masters at in this film – the action sequence. Soans said, “Not only are they meticulously planned; they are executed with precision, even when the fist fights are gritty and gruesome. Rob Hardy beautifully choreographs the camerawork following these intricate set-pieces, either allowing you to take in the expanse or bringing you up close and personal when required.” This comes with a soundtrack by Lorne Balfe that adds to the intensity by giving the iconic “Mission: Impossible” theme a creepy sense of importance.

McQuarrie has now directed two “Mission: Impossible” films. His understanding of the franchise and its characters prove to be the important aspect of the franchise. Seeing how the stunts are hugely done with practical effects with the cast, and the most importantly Cruise himself, gives an entire new level for action films. “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” is a great mix of plot, pacing and performances that is obviously the best in the franchise, while it re-establishes Cruise as an action actor.

Like I have already stated, this one is the best of the franchise. Each installment got better and better, but the only one that I didn’t like was three. Besides that, you will love the action scenes, car chases, special effects and set pieces that really has you on the edge of your seat. Sure, you might predict what’s going to happen, but you will absolutely love this movie. If you haven’t seen it, go see it in theaters, it’s worth seeing it, especially in IMAX.

Ok everyone, thank you for joining in on this review. Check in next Friday for the next installment in “The Muppets Month.”

The Muppet Movie

This month is going to be a very special month because I will be dedicating it to the Muppets. I think I might have mentioned them briefly, but now I will talk about some of the films they have done. Let’s start this month with the 1979 classic, “The Muppet Movie.”

There was a time where doubters thought a Muppet film couldn’t work and only humans could be in successful films. Jim Henson and his team proved them wrong. “The Muppet Movie” was really successful when it was released and had several sequels in the coming years.

“The Muppet Movie” is basically a road movie. After meeting a Hollywood agent and hearing a big film studio has auditions, Kermit the Frog, played by Jim Henson, gets in his car, picking up all his friends on his way. First he meets Fozzie Bear, played by Frank Oz, telling jokes in a bad café. Then they meet Dr. Teeth (Henson) and the Electric Mayhem (Oz, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz and Jerry Nelson), then Gonzo (Goelz) and his chicken friend Camilla (Hunt), then the unique Miss Piggy (Oz), and finally Rowlf the Dog (Henson). All of these Muppets decide to drive to Tinseltown to make it big. However, there is a problem with the shady Southern businessman Doc Hopper. He wants to open a chain of frog-leg restaurants and wants Kermit to be his spokesman. Doc won’t take no for an answer and tries about everything he can think of to get what he wants.

The Muppets themselves are great, Charles Durning as Doc Hopper is, as Tom Stockman says, “a suitably hissable bad guy,” and the celebrity guest actors who cameo are all great, mainly Mel Brooks as a mad scientist and Steven Martin as an incredibly ironic waiter. The best part of the movie is hands down the songs, the main ones being the Oscar-nominated Rainbow Connection and Gonzo’s song I’m Going To Go Back There Someday (which gave the plot for “Muppets From Space”). “The Muppet Movie” is great for the whole family and Jim Henson smartly had jokes that both adults and kids would enjoy. Stockman admitted, “For instance the joke, “Turn left at the fork in the road” cracks me up every time.” The sad part about watching “The Muppet Movie” 39 years later is seeing how many of the cameo actors (not to mention Henson himself) have passed away. In fact, most of them have: Orson Wells, Edgar Bergen, Milton Berle, Richard Pryor, James Coburn, Bob Hope, Telly Savalas, Dom DeLuise and Madeline Kahn have all passed. Fortunately Steve Martin, Mel Brooks, Elliot Gould, Cloris Leachman and Carol Kane are still alive. Also Rainbow Connection should have won the Oscar for “Best Original Song” in 1979. Stockman asked, “I mean does anyone remember the winning song from NORMA RAE?!”

If you are a fan of the Muppets and have not seen this movie, why are you reading this review? What were you watching in your childhood instead of this classic with the whole family sitting together? You have to see this movie, especially if you grew up with the Muppets. Then again, who hasn’t seen the Muppets in their childhood? Everyone that I know of grew up watching the Muppets and Sesame Street, as they were the ones who introduced everyone to the Muppets. This one is a family classic that everyone will adore, I promise.

Now that we have talked about this classic film, check in next week when I look at the first sequel to The Muppets franchise in “The Muppets Month.”