I left work at lunch and saw a matinee today. The theater was half full, mostly of families with young kids. I brought my Skeeter puppet and talked with some of the kids before the show, and ended up posing for a few pictures with them. Working the theater crowd--I oughtta get paid.
I can't get in-depth on the film, as the first viewing of any movie is a blur in my mind. I can't see it clearly enough to analyze it until the second or subsequent viewings. (My father has invited me to see it tomorrow, soooo....) Overall, I enjoyed the heck out of it, and wanted more. That said, here are some disorganized comments and nitpicks.
* The opening, which took a sledgehammer to the fourth wall and lampshaded the sequel device made me happy. That was such a Muppetty way to handle things. And the backstage workings as seen here are so close to what I would have envisioned were I to try to write a Muppet story.
* I was surprised at Celine Dion's song with Piggy. Specifically, I'm surprised that Miss Piggy allowed her to get so much camera time when Miss Piggy was having a moment. When she faded in at the end, covering up what I think was a picture of Kermit that Miss Piggy was looking at, I half expected Piggy to swat her away, barking that this was HER song. Seriously, why was she on the screen so much?
* My favorite song?
The Interrogation Song. I LOVE patter songs. (Ask me about my Gilbery & Sullivan collection.) After that,
We're Doing a Sequel and then
I'm Number One. Oscar bait & love songs don't do much for me.
* I liked The Wall. However, the special effects of the non-Muppets stuck to the wall were really fakey-looking, as if they'd been Photoshopped in. Ouch.
* Some of the Bobby Benson's Baby Band puppets are looking the worse for wear. Are those puppets really old, or were they made to look that rough?
* I think Walter's role was just right. Prominent, but not upstaging the main characters. However, that said, Rizzo's remark and Robin's cameo made me giggle audibly. (I don't LOL.)
* Miss Poogy in the gulag? Thank you. I also liked seeing Big Mean Carl there.
* I want to see the full version of
Moves Like Jagger. Three seconds of Scooter's adorkability ain't enough.
* Is it my imagination, or wasn't it a big news item that Annie Sue would be returning on the arm of Louise Gold, and that she was to be an obsessed fan and/or rival for Miss Piggy? Seems I did, and I remember being nonplussed by the joyous backflips people were turning. I never cared for the character. I saw the puppet, but it looks like her part was removed in the Third Drafting.
* I loved the Spanish theme, which matched the TV opening so very well. That put me in a happy spot. It wouldn't have played well in the movie, but I would love to see as a DVD extra some other international themes. Muppets in lederhosen!
* Sam was intelligent and effectual. What?! I'm not used to this! I guess Sam can get something done if he actually has something to do besides act more patriotic than thou.
* Constantine. Wow. I love his face. The puppet may be nearly identical to Kermit, but the expressions make him into a completely different character. And he is a truly magnificent child of unmarried parents. Bravo.