Muppets: The Movie

I was finally able to watch “The Muppets” on the big screen today. The screening is four months delayed here in our city – I don’t know the reason why, maybe the mall people were prioritizing the blockbusters which were often advertised on TV.

I have originally planned to watch it yesterday with two of my friends but the only theater showing the film had to close early for some repairs, so I ended up going to the same theater today, all by myself *sniff*

I went to the theater at 1PM (an hour early than the scheduled screening) bought a ticket and went off to grab a bite – went back to the theater and walked inside, following the dark corridor, expecting a crowd of noisy children and doting parents…

Only to find the place empty. OTL

I was alone - the entire theatre, with a seating capacity of about 500 people, all to myself. I grinned and took a middle seat on the upper box. A minute later, my initial delight turned to sadness. Where are all the Muppet fans? I know it’s a Monday – but it’s already the start of the Summer vacation for some schools, there ought to be people in the theatre. L

Ten minutes later, a family of three walked in: the boy eagerly holding on to his mother’s hand. I know they’re only watching because this is the only ‘cartoon’ show on the marquee, but at least, there are now four people…

Sometime later two high school girls came in and seated themselves in the front row. One was a foreign exchange student – probably American.     Six people: and the screen started showing trailers of upcoming movies.

Then, I recognized a figure coming in: Dennis, (a friend who I used to work with in the Student paper, back in College) He was being led by a little girl. I waved at them, and after recognizing me, they sat beside me. The little girl, who told me later that her name is “Rain”, sat in the middle. I arranged our things, and I knocked over my bucket of popcorn in my efforts~ ugh there goes my hard-earned money: rolling in the deep(est) recesses of the movie house.

Dennis, I believe, is a fulltime rockstar, playing (bass?) guitar for one of the famous bands in the city – their fanbase has also extended to the entire country – after winning a national band competition. Anyway, we chatted while trailers of Titanic 3D, Battleship and Avengers were shown.

After the movie: Rain, Dennis and a Muppet wearing a striped shirt and a hat

 

 The movie then started and I found myself squealing as each muppet came out~ Gonzo, Scooter, Rolf, Animal and the Band, Fozzie, the Swedish Chef, Camilla and the chickens, Dr. Honeydew and Beaker, Statler and Waldorf, Pepe and the rest of the Muppets. Of course, I squealed like crazy when Kermit showed up, and later, Miss Piggy.

Something tugged at my heartstrings as the story progressed: the Muppets had disbanded, and they are not as famous as they used to be. TV shows are mostly showing crap, and for the Muppets, well, just like the early scenario I narrated, only a few are paying attention.

The Muppets Show: Timeless 

Being a die-hard Muppet fan, I fought back a tide of tears as the gang played their signature heartwarming song, “The Rainbow Connection” – I sang along and had nostalgic flashback of my childhood years, eating dinner with my family while watching Gonzo fearlessly fly though hoops of fire, Miss Piggy breaking into a song while throwing lightning fast punches and good ‘ol Kermit dispensing nuggets of wisdom. I could have grown up to be stuck-up, pessimistic and hateful, if not for these Muppets who taught me to appreciate the simple pleasures that life can offer. I might be labeled as a ‘goody-two-shoes’ but I’m happy about who I am and I believe that’s just who I’ve become after finding my own Rainbow Connection.

I'm a sentimental fool - and the song "The Rainbow Connection" - and the inspiration for this blog, reduces me to mush

 

 The movie ended and Rain sang along to “Mana Mana” – and I said to myself, there’s still hope for the Muppets, the generation today would still be able to experience the happiness brought by these beloved Henson creations. The children who used to sing along to Kermit’s banjo may have already grown up, but somehow, their children would still be able to meet the muppets – and somehow, they’ll find themselves singing along until they’re able to make melodies of their own. #

 

Notes:

1. Jason Segel and Amy Adams are adorable - Segel did a wonderful job singing "Muppet or Man" with Walter (the new muppet who can whistle a storm), and Adams, with her irresistible charm and terpsichorean  talent is amazing as always.

2. The songs! Bret McKenzie (the songwriter) is a genius! "Life's a Happy Song" and "Man or Muppet" are beautifully written and executed in the movie. The latter even won the Oscar for Best Song. (So, I'm still bitter that Kermit's "The Rainbow Connection" didn't win the Oscar when it was nominated back in the 80s.)

3. Miss Piggy is a blond bombshell! - she can even upstage Selena Gomez in this movie~ :P 

I think the only muppets I haven't seen are Johnny Fiama and Sal Minella~ 

4. I have downloaded the soundtrack, and while  listening to the songs again, I was delighted to discover something I have overlooked in the movie: the song that the Barbershop Quartet were singing; the one that Jack Black was referring to when he said, "You're ruining a good song." is in fact Nirvanan's "Smells Like Teen Spirit:". The Muppets version is now on 'repeat' in my playlist, :P

5. I love the cameos of stars: NPH! Jack Black! Whoopi! and Jim Parsons as human Walter! Beat that.

6. The receipt from the ticket I purchased in the movie house, reads "The Muffets". XD

7. Finally, I learned a new word: "Maniacal" - I used to pronounce this as "man-yakal", thinking about the way "maniac" is pronounced ("main-yak"), but in the movie, the antagonists pronounce it as "ma-na-ya-kal". So there. I'm ending this post by doing exactly that: *maniacal laughter*