Tag: Jim Henson

Visiting The Magic Store–45 years later

Visiting The Magic Store–45 years later

by MichelleMcHatton

When “The Muppet Movie” was first released in 1979 I saw it in the back of a station-wagon at a drive-in theater with my mother and siblings. Fast-forward forty-five years and today I saw it in a decently crowded air-conditioned theater with my daughter and husband. Not that I haven’t seen it numerous times in the past on DVD. But when my daughter learned Fathom was going to be showing it in theaters to celebrate the 45th anniversary, she said she had to see it on the big screen. And see it we did.

As many times as I’ve seen it, “The Muppet Movie” never gets old. It’s even good to know that all these years later there are a handful of guest stars in the movie who are still alive.

I never grow tired of hearing “Rainbow Connection”. Along with the “The Muppet Movie” itself, that song, to me is the epitome of Jim Henson. He had finally “made it”. His “Muppet Show” was a great success by this time and “The Muppet Movie” was a symbol of that proof. That you can take a kid (frog) out of the swamp in Mississippi and if you keep believing and keep pretending, you’ll accomplish just what you set out to do. As the lyrics go:

Life’s like a movie, write your own ending
Keep believing, keep pretending
We’ve done just what we set out to do.
Thanks to the lovers, the dreamers, and you.

I couldn’t agree more.

My Thoughts on “Jim Henson: Idea Man”

My Thoughts on “Jim Henson: Idea Man”

by MichelleMcHatton

The newly released Disney+ documentary, “Jim Henson: Idea Man”, directed by Ron Howard, is a well put together dive into the behind the scenes of Henson’s life. But for someone who grew up with The Muppets and especially for someone who lives with a self-professed Henson/Muppets/Fraggles connoisseur (my daughter), many of the clips they incorporated into the documentary have been seen before. Many times.

Some of the stuff was new, to me, anyway, such as the interview with Orson Welles, and it was nice to see interviews of Jim and his late wife Jane from years ago. It was essential for Howard to include interviews with as many people that Jim worked with as possible (and he did) because many of them (Frank Oz especially), were there from nearly day one. Working interviews in with Rita Moreno (the first guest star on “The Muppet Show”) and Jennifer Connelly from “Labyrinth” was a nice touch as was showing clips from “Sesame Street”.

But I feel the most important part of this documentary were the interviews with Henson’s children. Many Muppets fans are grateful for their continued contributions to what their father created and left behind. They could have all chosen other fields but instead decided to walk in their father’s footsteps to continue providing Henson entertainment for future generations to enjoy.

Christmas Movie 7: “A Muppet Family Christmas”

Christmas Movie 7: “A Muppet Family Christmas”

by MichelleMcHatton

What do you get when you gather Kermit and Company from “The Muppet Show” with almost every imaginable Muppet from “Sesame Street”, toss in a brief visit from The Fraggles and a human named Doc (Gerard Parkes)? You get the zany and entertaining “A Muppet Family Christmas”.

The plot revolves around Fozzie Bear driving out to the country with his Muppet friends (Kermit, Gonzo, the Electric Mayhem, etc.) to his mother’s house (Ma Bear voiced by Jerry Nelson) to surprise her for Christmas. Meanwhile, Ma Bear has already rented out her house for Christmas to Doc (Parkes) and his dog Sprocket (Steve Whitmire) so she can go to Malibu for the holidays. Change of plans, Ma.

So The Muppets are arriving at Ma Bear’s house and slipping one by one on the icy patch…which becomes a running gag throughout the film.

Then the gang from “Sesame Street” arrive and you really start to wonder where the hell is Ma Bear going to put all these Muppets?

And Doc is getting frustrated because he just wanted to spend a nice quiet Christmas alone with his dog. But everyone settles in and deals with it because, after all, it is Christmas.

The biggest problem seems to be that Miss Piggy is delayed in arriving because of a snowstorm, causing Kermit to worry.

Meanwhile Swedish Chef is trying to convince a turkey that he’s a turkey and will be dinner for everyone. The turkey isn’t having it and reveals the ultimate turkey to Swedish Chef: Big Bird. But in his true innocent way, Big Bird talks to Chef and gives him some birdseed. So, not sure, but maybe that’s what was served for dinner? Who knows!

Somewhere between the Swedish Chef trying to cook Big Bird and Kermit worrying about Miss Piggy, Robin discovers a Fraggle hole and lo and behold, we meet Gobo, Boober, Wembley, Red and Mokey Fraggle, hear them sing “Pass It On” and they present Robin with a nice, yellow pebble that has been passed on among them for years.

With Doc worrying about Kermit worrying about Piggy, he goes out to search for her and miraculously returns safely with her to the farmhouse where all is finally just perfect.

The film ends with a Muppet family singalong and a special final scene of Jim Henson himself in the kitchen washing dishes with Sprocket.

It really is a sweet film that’s been around since 1987 and not too well known about except mainly among Muppet fans. Definitely worth a watch.

Christmas Movie 8: “The Muppet Christmas Carol”

Christmas Movie 8: “The Muppet Christmas Carol”

by MichelleMcHatton

You know it’s always going to be a good time when you have humans and Muppets acting together. And a good time is what you get in this 1992 version of Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol”. This is the third version mentioned here on the Christmas movie rundown on this blog and in my opinion, the best version. And, of course, the only version involving Muppets.

This film would be Brian Henson’s directorial debut, released two years following his father’s death and eleven months following the death of Muppet performer Richard Hunt. The film is dedicated, rightfully so, to both of them.

The film opens up the same way any movie about Scrooge begins: with a blue, furry whatever (Gonzo–voiced by Dave Goelz) and a rat (Rizzo-voiced by Steve Whitmire) depicting Charles Dickens (Gonzo) and sidekick (other than Rizzo being a rat, he doesn’t actually seem to have a name in this flick other than co-narrator. But he does make us aware that he is there for the food).

The Jim Henson Company somehow managed to wrangle Sir Michael Caine into playing Ebenezer Scrooge for this film. Then again, what classic actor wouldn’t want to perform with The Muppets? Many have.

Of course you know the tale by now of how Scrooge is visited by three ghosts (not including Marley & Marley (Waldorf & Statler– Dave Goelz and Jerry Nelson). And how he has a clerk named Bob Cratchit (Kermit the Frog–Whitmire) and assistant “meeces” (really just a slew of rats trying to stay warm) that Scrooge treats like dirt. Cratchit has a family including Emily (Miss Piggy–Frank Oz), daughters Belinda and Betina (Whitmire and Goelz), and sons Peter and Tiny Tim (David Rudman and Jerry Nelson).

Along the way the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future and all the Muppets sing us through meeting Fozziwig (Fozzie Bear-Frank Oz), naturally the Cratchits and Mrs. Dilber (voiced by Louise Gold)

This film is a great family film and one that should be seen every year. There are so many humorous and memorable moments and Gonzo and Rizzo are the perfect hosts.