Family Friendly Pick: The Muppet Movie (1979)
When I made my pick for this week, I had to make sure that I didn’t choose it for one magnificent segment. Yet after watching it again with a feeling of wonder similar to the first time I saw it, it’s clear that The Muppet Movie is just plain fantastic. Hitting its 35th anniversary this year, what better way to celebrate than by watching the movie that started it all with your kids?
Tying into the 2011 movie, The Muppet Movie follows Kermit as he meets the rest of the Muppets on his road to Hollywood, hoping to bring happiness to millions of people throughout the world. It’s a simple story full of wonderful moments, performances and cameos that embody the very best of what Jim Henson and company had to offer in their prime. Featuring legends such as Mel Brooks and Orson freaking Welles, it’s amazing that a group of puppets can steal numerous scenes from their human counterparts.
If you’re even somewhat of a Muppets fan, you shouldn’t have to ask what the “magnificent segment” I mentioned earlier is, because the song “Rainbow Connection” has become a phenomenon since this movie’s release. Who honestly could have guessed that a frog puppet playing a banjo in a swamp could create one of the most inspirational, feel-good songs of all time? As it stands, “Rainbow Connection” is just a cherry on top of a movie that stands just fine on its own.
The new Muppets movies have both exceeded expectations, yet as much fun as they are to watch, it’s a blast to go back in time and see a simpler side of the Muppets. Nostalgic fans and newcomers alike owe it to themselves to revisit (or experience for the first time) The Muppet Movie, especially if you happen to be a lover and/or a dreamer.