Jim Henson: Idea Man (2024)

A retrospective on the life of Jim Henson, chronicling his rise as a filmmaker and puppeteer to the creation of his Muppets and Sesame Street all the way to The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. A lot of focus is spent on his wife, Jane, who helped to support him throughout. I found it enjoyable, but as an overview, it merely scratches the surface and doesn't quite capture the full spectrum of Henson's life and career. It focuses a lot on the early years and glosses over the latter period. I would have liked to see it go even deeper, but it functions well as a primer to the man and his legendary career. In particular, all of the behind-the-scenes footage of Jim and Frank Oz ad-libbing is gold. (That was always one of my favorite special features on The Muppet Movie DVD.)

3 ping pong balls out of 5

The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)

The last of the Jim Henson Muppet movies before he passed (though he also directed Labyrinth and produced A Muppet Family Christmas for TV). This time, Frank Oz takes the reins in his solo directorial debut (having previously co-directed on The Dark Crystal). This one is full of so much heart and soul, you don't mind that it's of inferior quality to the first two. As always, the songs remain top notch. I think the key to the Muppets' longevity has always been the music. This film also provides our first look at the Muppet Babies, which became an animated hit on TV that same year. It's light-hearted fun for all.

3½ inter-species weddings out of 5

The Great Muppet Caper (1981)

While not quite as memorable as the original, Jim Henson's directorial debut is full of so many fun bits, one-liners and irreverent humor that you don't really mind. Taking the shape of an old fashioned movie musical with giant setpieces and film stars of old to complete the effect, the chemistry between this cast is like capturing lightning in a bottle. While the rest of the Muppet movies would vary in quality, these first two films remain the funniest and most quotable, and the songs are some of the best. Fun for kids and kid-shaped adults alike.

4 "we're making a movie!" out of 5

The Muppet Movie (1979)

Made at the height of their television domination, the Muppets' first foray onto the silver screen is all at once funny, heartwarming, weird and magical. This "origin story" of sorts is a musical road trip buddy comedy adventure where Kermit the Frog must make his way from the swamps of Florida to Hollywood, while he meets the rest of the Muppet crew along the way. Having recently experienced it in a movie theater, I can attest it still delights audiences five decades later. This movie persists because of the partnership and endless chemistry between Jim Henson and Frank Oz, who inhabit their felt characters with humanity and wit. Full of fun cameos from movie stars of old, this film still feels timeless 50 years later. While it may not be "perfect," it's still a joy to behold from beginning to end. For the lovers, dreamers, and like-minded.

5 rainbow connections out of 5

I AM BIG BIRD: THE CAROLL SPINNEY STORY [2014]

I Am Big Bird tells the loving life-story of a man whose work people of all ages have enjoyed over the past six decades but few know his name or would even recognize him on the street.
Caroll Spinney, the man who gave life to Sesame Street's Big Bird & Oscar the Grouch, as shown in this film, was quite clearly the most thoughtful and sensitive of the original core group of Muppeteers.  Through animations, archived footage and multiple interviews with Spinney and the many people that surrounded him, we're given a surprisingly deeply heartfelt look into the man's life.  With documentaries I come to expect that they almost always have a huge effect on me but this one took me for an emotional spin and more.  Like many others, The Muppets have had a profound effect on their lives, so hearing about Big Bird contemplating suicide was worse than discovering Santa wasn't real.  What's probably most endearing about the man and the film about him is it's will to smile and continue to do so as long as it generates the same reaction from it's audience.

4 tearful reunions out of 5

THE DARK CRYSTAL [1982]

There really is nothing like Jim Henson & Frank Oz's morbid children's fantasy puppet extravaganza The Dark Crystal.
Heavily influenced by Tolkien and the spirituality of Seth Material, Henson & Oz based their story around Brian Froud's artwork and resulted in a stunning visual masterpiece with groundbreaking animatronic effects.  Unfortunately it's the story and characters that lack any real memorable personality and that's where it really hurts the film.  Regardless of it's heavy faults, the film remains a childhood favorite and is something I hold dear to my heart.

3½ podling slaves out of 5

LABYRINTH [1986]

Jim Henson, George Lucas and Monty Python's Terry Jones team-up for the bizarre fantasy film Labyrinth.  A complete box office failure that nearly destroyed Henson's drive, the film gained a heavy cult following over the years with it's dazzling visuals, amazing puppetry and of course David Bowie's lump.  Sadly the story is pretty thin, lessened even more with the blandness of Jennifer Connelly's leading character and a narrative that never quite gets on it's own two feet.  Still, Henson's ambition and creativity can't go unnoticed and raises the film above its heavy faults.

3 rooms of Relativity out of 5

The Witches (1990)

The Witches is a movie I'd all but forgotten about, and I'm glad that I was recently reminded of it. Based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name, it tells the tale of a boy and his superstitious grandmother who unintentionally encounter a frightening group of witches. The movie alternates between being darkly funny and downright chilling, and features some fabulous puppet work. It's the last film that Jim Henson ever worked on personally, and it makes me long to see what else he might have brought the world. Anjelica Huston gives a masterful performance, and while the child stars aren't incredible actors, they avoid being annoying, which is a feat in of itself. The ending is drastically different than the one in the book, and a lot less effective overall, but the original ending hurt my heart a bit, so I can let it slide.

3.5 unorthodox weight loss methods out of 5.

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas (1977)

Combining traditional puppetry and marionette work, this intimate production from Jim Henson Company crafts a beautifully lavish setting for the world of Emmett Otter. It's a sentimental, well-told story, however it lacks the brand of humor that gave the Muppets their edge. Still, it's full of fun, toe-tapping jigs and deserves to be considered a classic in its own right.

3.5 Riverbottom Nightmare Gangs out of 5

A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)

This is probably the best Muppet special ever made. It marks one of those rare occasions where the Muppet universe has crossed over with Sesame Street (lending to an awkward moment where the Swedish Chef tries to cook Big Bird), as well as cameos from Muppet Babies and Fraggle Rock. I forgot how truly funny these guys could be and the wonderful chemistry that Jim Henson and Frank Oz shared on camera. Features a delightful cameo near the end from Henson himself which just makes me feel even more warm and gooey inside.

5 icy patches out of 5

Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (1978)

I hadn't seen this movie in over 20 years.

Niagara Falls.

I'm still the same kid I've always been.

4 Feliz Navidades out of 5