Whenever we watch The Muppet Movie together, Mrs. Otter loves to tell me how she saw it in theatres just as she wrapped up the tenth grade, and was so psyched to see the Muppets on a big screen for the very first time.
I lived in a small town that was too far away from a movie theatre, so I didn't have that opportunity, but I have loved The Muppet Movie since I first saw it (on a Canadian TV broadcast) in early 1982 and will always treasure it, for reasons far too numerous to list here.
I will say this, though: The movie has really picked me up when I've been at my lowest. I came home from a bad night at a call-centre job (getting literally screamed at by abusive customers half a continent away) and lay in bed after midnight, watching my VHS copy of The Muppet Movie. This week, my sister and her family were going through a horrible period and Mrs. Otter knew how to cheer me up at the end of it all - posting a YouTube video of Kermit's original performance of "Rainbow Connection" on my Facebook wall.
Thank you to everyone involved in this incredible film for giving generations of Muppet fans - and moviegoers in general - a movie so full of laughter, colour, heart and spirit.