The Muppet Movie
Dir: James Frawley
1979
*****
Life has very few constants but for me, watching a Muppet film, particularly the original three, has always given me instant happiness and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy every time. By 1979 the TV show was in full swing and was a global phenomenon. While the chaotic madness of the show was still present in the film, the structure was new and it really did look the business. What I've always liked about the Muppet films is the fact they always acknowledge they are making a film within the film. This helps the Muppets stick within a familiar and comfortable formula while spoofing many a genre at the same time. Celebrities were clambering over each other to get a guest spot on the TV show, so when the movie came along they had the pick of the bunch and it is fair to say that The Muppet Movie can boast one of the greatest cast ensembles of all time. Guests included; Charles Durning, Edgar Bergen (in his last ever role), Milton Berle, Mel Brooks, James Coburn, Dom DeLuise, Elliott Gould, Cloris Leachman, Bob Hope, Steve Martin, Richard Pryor, Telly Savalas and Orson Welles. Interestingly directors Tim Burton and John Landis were also guest puppeteers. James Frawley was hired as director after the successful and rather funny The Big Bus (a spoof of the popular disaster genre that actually pre-dated Airplane which is credited as being the first of its kind) and his style matched the film perfectly. The Muppet Movie is so many things, it's a very funny comedy, it's a highly regarded musical and it's the ultimate film about positivity, the American dream and friendship. The jokes are hilarious, the songs are beautiful and the script is quick-witted and sharp as a knife. The Muppets themselves are so lovable that they could have just sat there for 90 minutes but they travel across America on the ultimate road trip, meeting all kinds of life along the way. It doesn't have dud second within the whole film, the opening scene that sees Kermit the Frog singing 'The Rainbow Connection' is one of the greatest in the history of cinema (I know I'm not alone in thinking this) and the last scene is one of the most glorious conclusions to a film ever. Everything in-between is Gold (and fuzzy). One of the greatest films of all time. I even had a line from the film put into my wedding vows, that is how much I love it.