REVIEW: Moneyball (2011)

Even though I'm not a big sports fan (I do live and die by football, but nothing else really) I love sports movies.  Who doesn't love a good underdog story?  I'm a total sucker for movies like The Blind Side and Invincible, but I get a little queasy around overly saccharine crap like Rudy and Remember the Titans.  Then there are the ones that really stand out as masterpieces such as The Natural, Hoosiers and Rocky.  Then there's dreck like Any Given Sunday and Ali that never should have seen the light of day.


Moneyball tells the story of how the Oakland A's took a mathematical approach to rebuilding a baseball team.  A ballsy (no pun intended) story to try to adapt to film, but with some star power and Oscar-winning screenwriters behind the scenes, why not give it a go?

The Good

• Brad Pitt can take even the most predictable sounding role and mold it into a masterful performance.  What could have easily been a by-the-numbers character is changed into a superstitious, stressed out and skeptical Billy Beane.  Pitt gives the character little nuances and tics to make him seem more human and it results in an unreal performance, easily one of the best of the year.
• More kudos goes to Jonah Hill as well!  If I hadn't seen Hill in anything but this film, I would never know he built his chops as a comedic actor.  He plays the straight man perfectly and even lets himself go a few times (especially when he and Pitt are together in scenes).  Congrats to him on a well-deserved Oscar nod.
• The story is fascinating, even more so knowing that it is true!  Usually when I see a sports movie claim it was "based on a true story" I wince, because it is obvious how many liberties will be taken so that people will see it.  This movie did not have that feeling in the least.  It had a very deliberate and natural flow, and it demanded you pay attention.  Thanks to Aaron Sorkin and Steen Zaillian for writing such a smart and engaging film.

The Bad

• With the exception of Scott Hattenburg and David Justice (and the two leads of course), there weren't any other roles that were really fleshed out.  It makes it easier to keep track, but a movie of this length could have done with some more characters.
• Now that I think about it, even the character of Art Howe (the reluctant A's manager played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman) was relegated to a VERY supporting role.  They really had nothing more for him to do?  I would consider PSH an actor to waste.  Also somewhat wasted in this film?  Robin Wright Penn, who we maybe saw for five minutes as Billy's ex-wife.
• Although expertly written, I did have some issues with the pacing.  Some scenes seemed overly long and pretentious, much like the director's other notable film Capote.

The end result is a throughly engaging film with some dynamite performances and a great original story, something the sports genre desperately needed.

Rating- 8/10

Up next is a break from the Oscar race in the form of Liam Neeson throat punching wolves in The Grey.  Look for that review soon, but in the meantime comment if you get the chance!

REVIEW: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)

A word before the review; I really liked Guy Ritchie's 2009 version of Sherlock Holmes.  Word was the character was very faithful to his literary counterpart, and Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law had some great chemistry on screen, oddly reminiscent of Riggs an Murtaugh.  Some dodgy special effects aside, it was a damn good time.

Since it was a hit, the studio fast-tracked a sequel.  This is usually not good news as it is merely a way to cash in on the success of the first film while making each progressive film in the series worse.  Does SH:AGOS follow this dreaded trend or does it exceed my pessimistic expectations?

The Good

• Three words: Professor James Moriarty.  Jared Harris plays what is arguably the greatest villain in literary history with just the right touches of pretense, joy and douche-baggery.  By no means does he chew the scenery, he's just damn good.  Doesn't hue to be written well either.
• Law and Downey Jr. haven't missed a beat.  Watson and Holmes are as fun to watch as they were two years ago, even more so now that Watson finally ties the knot and Holmes is forced to deal with it.  Actually, one of the funniest moments is when Holmes throws Watson a stag party with no guests, afraid to admit that he actually forgot about the whole thing.
• We see the addition of Holmes's brother Mycroft, an eccentric politician with a major case of germaphobia and OCD.  He's played by Stephen Fry, so it's obvious that it's a great character!
• Gone are the so-so CGI effects from the first movie.  Ritchie stages some fantastic action scenes in this movie, many of them rivaling any I've seen all year (yes, I'm looking at you Ghost Protocol).  There is a chase through the woods involving Holmes, Watson, gypsies, and some heavy artillery that is mind-blowing, and it is only enhanced by Ritchie's unique style of direction.  REALLY good stuff!
• I'm not one to pump up Hans Zimmer, but his score for this film is simply fantastic.  Very different than what you'd expect in a film like this.

The Bad

• There are some quirky moments that don't quite jive with the rest of the film, but they are almost unnoticeable because of the amount of great things happening.
• I loved seeing Noomi Rapace as a gypsy desperately looking for her brother, but the character was dull and did not have much to do but look introspective.  A real shame.

Overall, I was floored by how awesome this movie was.  It easily lives up to the first film, and stood out to me as one of the best action films of the year, even surpassing Ghost Protocol.  I highly recommend it!

Rating- 8/10

Next up, a review of the recently branded best picture nominee Moneyball.  See you soon!

REVIEW: Midnight in Paris (2011)

Man, am I behind!  I've been catching up on some Oscar bait over the past month and have not shared any reviews.  Well, the time has come to fix this problem.  We start with the critically acclaimed Woody Allen film Midnight in Paris.

I grew up with a mother who possesses a strong dislike for Woody Allen.  She claims he never changes his schtick and always makes movies with a neurotic writer/filmmaker modeled on himself.  Well, this is true a good amount of the time.  I'm kind of on the fence with the man.  I seem to like the Woody Allen movies everyone else forgot about.  I thought Annie Hall was grossly overrated but I LOVED Deconstructing Harry.  Match Point is garbage but I adore Mighty Aphrodite.  

The premise of Paris is intriguing; a successful screenwriter/struggling novelist (Owen Wilson, doing his best Woody) travels to Paris to extract some inspiration for his slow-going novel.  One night he gets into a car and travels back to the Golden Ages, hanging out with such great artists as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and even Salvador Dali.  Will they help him find direction, or will he simply marry his bitch finacee (Rachel McAdams) and continue to be successful and unhappy?

The Good

• I truly love the premise of this film.  It affords Allen the opportunity to have some fun with these historical figures, and he does.  The supporting actors truly make this movie worth while.  Corey Stoll plays Hemingway just as I imagined him; a belligerent and cocky drunk.  Kathy Bates plays Gertrude Stein as both motherly and pointedly blunt.  Although he has about three minutes of screen time, Adrien Brody's Salvador Dali is easily the best role he's played since The Pianist.  There are too many more to list, but rest assured they are all a joy to watch.
• Allen REALLY likes Paris, and the direction and cinematography truly show us the beauty of the city.  I never really had an overwheliming urge to see Paris, but this film changed my mind.  
• Michael Sheen has a great role as an a-hole know-it-all friend of Rachel McAdams's character.  You wanted to punch him every time he showed up, but he just has such a gret smile!  DAMN YOU!

The Bad

• The parts are truly greater than the sum.  While I loved the trips back in time, anything in the present having to do with the main character's struggles left me cold.  Simply put, I didn't really care what happened to him, I just wanted to see Hemingway again!
• Rachel McAdams played a truly horrible person, and it made me wonder why Owen Wilson's character would ever really considering marrying her in the first place!  It is a one dimensional role and feels really out of place.
• There were too many instances where Allen was clearly catering to the pretentious arty snobs.  So many references went over my head, and I clearly envisioned myself in a room of English majors getting scoffed at because I did not pick them up.  Way to gain mass appeal Woody!
• The use of music was infuriating!  The same damn song was used for every scene change!  Change it up at least once!  It really took me out of the movie.
• The opening montage of Paris went on WAY TOO LONG!  We get it, it's a nice city.  Can't you run  the credits over this or something?

In the end, I found this movie too pretentious and inaccessible for the common moviegoer.  Some people might say it's for the educated viewer.  Well, f*&^ you, I'm quite educated and I still found it mediocre.  Truly not worthy of it's mass critical appeal.

Rating- 6/10

Stay tuned, becuase I'll have a review of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows up soon.  Thanks, and comment of you get a chance!    

The Tucker Moviepalooza Day 2!

Today we simply went to our favorite Regal Cinemas to view our double feature (and, I might add, only paid for one of them).  Obviously these two films are more mainstream than yesterday's fare, so what were they?   Movie number #3 was...

I have never read the book this was based on, but I did see the Swedish version, so I know the story.  I was hesitant about the American version, mainly because its existence was justified by the fact that dumb American moviegoers (mostly everyone) couldn't stand reading the subtitles in the already excellent Swedish version.  Was it worth the effort to remake it?

The Good

• Hell yes, it was well worth it!  David Fincher and company have crafted a masterful thriller that exceeds all expectations.  Fincher deserves a heap of credit, because the movie rarely drags, even at 160 minutes.  It is wrought with great suspense and deliberate storytelling, and I do not believe any other director could have accomplished this task with this particular narrative.  I've loved Fincher's work since Seven (hell, I even like Alien 3) and I am anxious to see this man win a friggin' Oscar already.  This movie could do it for him.
• Fantastic character development, credited to long time screenwriter Steven Zaillian.  With a cast of characters so disturbed and rich I was very impressed with the time spent on each one of them.  
• Daniel Craig continues to impress me as an actor, avoiding being typecast as James Bond.  He gives a charismatic and nuanced performance, and easily hold the movie on his shoulders.
• MAJOR PROPS to Rooney Mara as the titular character.  Lisbeth Salander may be the most important female character in the past twenty years, and Mara brings her to life with such bravery.  Her fearless performance contains heaps of aggression, apathy and intelligence; depth rarely seen in any character nowadays, male or female.  An Oscar nod is a given.
• All technical aspects of the film are exemplary, from the bleak and beautiful cinematography to the fantastic score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.  Also, the opening credits are AMAZING.
• It is gratifying to see such a great ADULT movie bust into the mainstream.  There is a real lack of these films recently, with most studios catering to the dumb American masses.  However, I know there is a large sect of the public that appreciates a movie like this, where thinking and following are a necessity.  

The Bad

• If you are easily offended or horrified, stay far away.  This stuff is not for the faint of heart.
• Although the majority of the film was paced extremely well, I felt some major dragging during the last 30 minutes or so.  It's really the story's fault, not the filmmakers.

Overall, this is a superb crime thriller that deserves to be seen by any fan of the genre.  If you know nothing about the books or the story, prepare to be blown away by the sheer depth of the characters and the intrigue of the plot.  Highly recommended!  

Rating- 9/10

After a brief rest, we snuck into our last movie in our festival.  What could possibly end this joyous two-day movie extravaganza?  None other than...

I've been a fan of this series of films primarily because each one, for better or worse, has its own feel.  The first one was very story oriented which I felt was very faithful to the original series.  The second one was chock full of Hong Kong style action, thanks to John Woo.  It wasn't very good, but I appreciated the attempt.  The third one decided to abandon the style and substance and shoot for a straight up action film, and it was quite successful.  Did this latest installment carve a new reputation, or do we have more of the previous versions?

The Good

• The action sequences are wonderfully staged by director Brad Bird.  Creative, nonstop and endlessly exciting, I guarantee a good time for action junkies.
• Great lead actors, especially Jeremy Renner and Simon Pegg.  Paula Patton is likable and EXTREMELY attractive, and Tom Cruise is, well, Tom Cruise.  He does his own stunts and looks good when he runs.
• Some fun cameos and great humor mixed in with the breakneck action sequences.

The Bad

• If you're expecting some surprises, you'll be disappointed.  It is an action movie, complete with a predictable and insignificant story.
• The villain, played by the Muppety man Michael Nyquist, doesn't say much, has a pouch, and never really got a chance to be menacing in the least.
• I know one needs to suspend reality while watching an action movie, but there was one moment near the end that I could simply not overlook.  Really, it was RIDICULOUS!
• I usually don't mind product placement in movies, but the constant barrage of BMW got to me.

If you want a good action movie that will surely entertain, you can't go wrong with this.  Just don't expect the next Die Hard because you will be disappointed.  Take it for what it is, a fun action flick that you'll most likely forget about in a few days.  I'm in the minority here, but I still think the first one is the best!

Rating- 7/10

Thus ends the Tucker Moviepalooza.  In conclusion, I still love my wife and the movies.  Here's looking forward to another great year in film.  By the way my podcast, the Price Street Film Club (which I record with my buddy Erich), will be returning soon with brand new features, so stay tuned for some shameless plugging!

The Tucker Moviepalooza Day 1!

There are many reason why I love my wife.  Not to bore you but we've known each other for 16 years now and, I'm proud to say, she's become quite the film buff.  Our first date was Toy Story and our second date was From Dusk Till Dawn.  For a girl who had only been watching Disney and chick flicks for the first 16 years of her life, the latter was quite a system shock.  However, she stayed with me and the rest is history.

Why bring this up now?  Well, two weeks ago we were discussing our holiday plans.  She informed me she would be off the two days before New Year's Eve, and that we should see two movies on each of those days.  Yes, we would create our own film festival, the Tucker Moviepalooza!

We decided to go arty for day 1 of the fest, so we jumped on a train and headed to Philadelphia for some Ritz Theater goodness.  We visited the Reading Terminal Market for lunch, hit the Bourse between films for some hot chocolate, and took in a nice walk through Old City.  We saw movie #1 at the Ritz V.  What was this movie?  Well...

The Artist

I had been hearing some major Oscar buzz surrounding this film, but I was still not completely sure what is was about.  Turns out it's a (mostly) silent film about a silent film star struggling to stay relevant in the transition to talkies.  Was it a gimmicky waste or a treasure?

The Good

• All the positive buzz surrounding this film is well deserved.  Simply put, it is an amazing film.  It may be a gimmick, but it is so well executed you won't care.
• The acting is wonderful, especially since the cast doesn't speak.  It is based solely on facial expressions and movements.  Special mention to the leads Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo.  Dujardin is the title character you cannot help feel sorry for.  What is also nice is he seems to be a pretty good guy overall, not your typical a**hole that gets reformed by the end of the film.  Bejo plays an actress who takes advantage of the silent to talky phenomenon, but is still the nicest person in the world.  You'll recognize a ton of other faces as well, and they're all great.
• The music is some of the most wonderful I've ever heard in a movie.  I was almost brought to tears by the sheer joy of the score and songs.  I could watch this film over and over and never get sick of this fantastic music.  I am currently Ludovic Bource's biggest fan (he wrote the music).
• The directing is great, with some beautifully framed shots and some beautiful black and white cinematography.  Another surprise was the director's choice to shoot in 4:3 aspect to further represent the era of film.
• The dog, possibly the coolest dog in all of film.
• Some wonderfully unexpected whimsical and comedic moments round out the overall spectacular experience.

The Bad

• I'm stretching here, but maybe some shots were a bit too long.
• Some morons won't watch this simply because it's in black and white and silent.  Get over it because you're missing a gem.

I truly hope this gets a wide release before the Oscars so people get a chance to see how great it really is.  If you can find it playing near you, see it.  You will not regret it!

Rating- 10/10

Our next stop was right down the street at the Ritz East.  I heard a funny exchange as I was in line for concessions.  An older gentleman bought a ticket for the only movie playing in the only theater in the place, yet still asked what theater it was in.  The guy n the box office answered, "The only one!"  People are REALLY stupid.  Anyway, movie #2 was...

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

This is another movie people were talking about for a long time.  Based off the John Le Carre spy masterpiece, this is a dense ensemble picture that has been garnering some fantastic reviews over the past few months.  Are they well-deserved?

The Good

• What a cast!  Some of the best British actors of today and yesterday give nearly perfect performances, led by the great Gary Oldman.  Oldman plays George Smiley as both endearing and brutally business-oriented with the skill of the great thespian he is.  It's a tall order to be the standout in a cast like this, but Oldman clearly owns this film.
• If you have any interest in espionage thrillers, you should seek this out.  It is much more densely plotted than the Bourne franchise, but ultimately more rewarding given this is pretty much regarded as what started the whole spy craze in the first place.
• Great directing from Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In), including great music cues, intimate close-ups and beautiful locations.
• People should crave a film like this every once and a while.  You need to pay attention and lose yourself in the sheer brilliance of the writing.  It is a very rewarding experience.

The Bad

• The fact that this was one of the first spy thrillers unfortunately lent itself to being a tiny bit predictable in some spots.
• The director's choice of throwing in seemingly unrelated scenes and unlabeled flashbacks will confuse many viewers, especially those with a short attention span.
• Although masterfully acted and directed, this is not one of those movies you'll watch multiple times.  It's not what I would call an entertaining film.

Don't be immediately turned off by my comments, this is still a wonderful movie that deserves to be seen.

Rating- 8/10

Well, that's day 1 of the Tucker Moviepalooza done!  What's in store for day 2?  You'll have to tune in tomorrow and see.  Until then, comment away!

NEW MOVIE REVIEW: The Muppets (2011)

Yup, it's currently 12:45am, and I just got back from The Muppets.  Honestly, I could not wait to share my thoughts, so it's time to play the music, it's time to light the lights...

The Good

• SO MUCH!  It was very apparent this film was written by Muppet fans.  Not only that, it was written by Muppet fans who truly believe they deserve to come back.  It is a love letter to these wonderful characters, and I am thrilled it was executed in such a benevolent manner.
• Great humor, from the inside jokes to the homages, and also that fantastic adult sense of humor the Muppets have always had.
• The music is fantastic!  Thank goodness they decided on a full blown musical, because everyone gets to show their chops.  The Muppets themselves do a new rendition of "The Rainbow Connection" that is a joyous and heartfelt return to the days of yore.  Yeah, I cried, so what?  It's the Muppets back on the big screen!
• The Muppeteers were on their game bringing some new techniques that looked pretty darn cool.  Take special note of Walter, the new guy, in the beginning song.  They never cease to amaze.
• Chris Cooper raps.  It's awesome.
• It's chock full of great cameos.  I will not ruin them, but just keep your eyes open or you'll miss some.
• Jason Segel and Amy Adams (who looks SUPER cute in this) were great as the token humans.  The writers were also smart enough to make sure they were out of the way once the Muppets were on screen, this being a Muppet movie and all.
• I've been smiling for the past three hours.  Isn't that enough of a recommendation?

The Bad

• I commend all of the newer Muppet performers for their unbelievable work on this movie but, as lame as this sounds, I still have a hard time not hearing Jim Henson's and Frank Oz's voices out of these characters.  Yeah, I know Jim is dead, but Steve Whitmire, as fantastic as he is, just isn't Henson.  I guess it's personal preference.  Also, as a friend of mine said, these are the Muppets for a whole new generation.  Who cares who does the voices as long as the characters are still here?

Honestly, I could not be happier about the Muppets' triumphant return to the big screen.  I hope people go see this and realize the greatness of these characters and the joy they can produce.  This is the ultimate family film, and I hope it makes boatloads of money so we can see the Muppets come back again and again.  Thanks for a great movie guys, and welcome back!

Rating- 10/10

Best movie of the year?  Not quite, Deathly Hallows Part 2 still takes that title, but it's damn close.  Round out your holiday weekend with this movie.  You will not be disappointed.  Happy Turkey Day movie lovers!

Muppet Mania!!!!

One of my earliest TV memories was gathering together as a family on Friday nights to watch The Muppet Show.  Man, it did not get better than that show.  Although it was aimed at kids, it was chock full of brilliant adult humor that sailed over the heads of kids.  The Muppet Movie was released in 1979, and I was told I saw it in the theater, but being one year old, I don't quite remember it.  I do remember numerous viewings of that and The Great Muppet Caper on VHS at my cousin's house throughout the early 80's.  I vividly remember seeing The Muppets Take Manhattan  in the theater, and loving it.

I also remember the death of Jim Henson in 1990.  For me, this marked the end of an era.  The Muppeteers continued on, releasing The Muppet Christmas Carol, Muppet Treasure Island and Muppets From Space in the 90's.  They also created a new, albeit short-lived, TV show called Muppets Tonight.  Most fans and critics agreed these were not up to the usual Jim Henson standard, and the Muppets faded into obscurity once we hit the new millennium.

Then the darndest thing happened.  The Muppets staged there own viral comeback on YouTube around 2008, creating some classic videos such as Beaker's Ode to Joy and their own Bohemian Rhapsody.  Then the rumors started circulating about Jason Segel getting the go ahead to write an all new theatrical movie for the Muppets.  This dude got REALLY excited.

Now we are days away from the opening of The Muppets, and I'm excited for SO MANY REASONS.  One, it looks fantastic.  Two, it's getting some great buzz.  Three, I get to take my kid to see it!  So, in preparation for this historical release, my family and I have been preparing by binging on all things Muppet.  I've decided to share some of these with you, complete with my thoughts on some of the Muppets' great and not-so-great moments.  Without further ado...

The Muppet Movie
I love everything about this movie.  Although all of its parts don't quite gel together, it is still a brilliant technical and emotional accomplishment.  The songs are fantastic and the cameos are numerous and fun.  This is in my top ten of all time.
Best Song- I'm partial to the Rowlf/Kermit duet "I Hope That Somethin' Better Comes Along."
Best Cameo- Steve Martin as a waiter with a real attitude problem.  "Would you like to SMELL the BOTTLECAP?"
Best Line- A loaded question, but I would have to go with Fozzie's line, "Aahh, a bear in his natural habitat.  A Studebaker."

The Great Muppet Caper
The Muppeteers really stepped it up with this one from a technical standpoint, with the gang riding bikes, flying a hot air balloon and Miss Piggy mounting a motorcycle to save the day.  The setting shifts to London and focuses on a jewel heist.  The songs seem to be trying a little too hard and the plot drags a little too much, but the last 20 minutes are a riot, throwing in more self-referential humor and fourth-wall breaking than you can keep up with.
Best Song- "Happiness Hotel" by a long shot!
Best Cameo- I'm partial to Miss Piggy throwing Sir Peter Ustinov out of his truck.
Best Line- Kermit- "You guys live here?"
                  Floyd- "Yeah, but only between gigs, which means we've been here
                  for what, five years?"

The Muppets Take Manhattan
Although it feels more like a postcard for NYC than a Muppet movie, it still retains the heart of the characters.  It also moves a little too quickly in the beginning only to drag in the middle.  However, all is offset with the introduction of the Muppet Babies!
Best Song- "I'm Gonna Always Love You," which is the song during the Muppet Babies sequence.  It's a great throwback to the rock of the 50's.
Best Cameo- Gregory Hines as a Central Park athlete infringing on Kermit and Piggy's relationship.
Best Line- Rich Dog Owner- "Snookums prefers the rubber Wall Street Journal over the rubber New      
                 York Times."
                 Rowlf- "Don't we all?"


The Muppet Christmas Carol
I'm not really qualified to talk about this one because I've only seen it twice.  The reason?  I really don't like it at all.  In my defense, I don' like the original story itself, and this is very faithful to Dickens.  I'm partial to Bill Murray's Scrooged myself.

Muppet Treasure Island
Although not well received by most Muppet fans, I have a real weak spot for this movie.  I saw it in college with two roommates who were also Muppet diehards, and we loved it from the first song (I bet one of them could still sing that song from memory).  Yes, it is very faithful to the source material which sometimes tends to ignore the Muppets a bit, but I still love the wit behind it.  The music is also fantastic!
Best Song- "Cabin Fever" is a nutty romp that could only be pulled off by the Muppets.
Best Cameo- Both Christmas Carol and this kind of did away with the cameo thing and had an established actor take the lead.  So I have to give the nod to Tim Curry, who was the MAN as Long John Silver.
Best Line- Native Pig- "We see you have boom-boom stick... bye bye!"

Muppets From Space
In a desperate attempt to please the diehards, the Muppeteers tried to bring back the fun by putting the focus on the Muppets and giving the story over to Gonzo.  It's amusing in spots and has some great old-school muppet moments, but it is lacking in the overall warm feeling you should get from a Muppet movie.  Plus, I know some fans who were REALLY upset about Gonzo being from space since Jim Henson previously stated what he was (damned if I can remember what that was).
Best Song- Yeah, they also decided not to make this one a musical either.  Not the greatest choice, but the soundtrack is all funk and R&B, so that's cool.  The Muppets sing "Brick House" in the opening scene, so I'll vote for that one.
Best Cameo- There are a bunch, but my favorite is Ray Liotta as a security guard.
Best Line- Ed- "And DON'T say 'I don't know!'"
                 Gonzo- "I know not?"

And then, 12 years of made-for-TV stuff.  Real brief, A Very Merry Muppet Christmas is a fun variation on It's a Wonderful Life, but it definitely screams of TV movie.  Muppet Wizard of Oz was a piece of crap.  Muppets: Letters From Santa is cute, but nothing groundbreaking.

Okay, I have also had the opportunity to listen to the soundtrack for the new movie, and it is FANTASTIC!  The songs hit all the right notes; I even got choked up listening to Kermit singing "Pictures in My Head."  Oh yeah, Chris Cooper raps, and it is AWESOME.

Stay tuned for a review of The Muppets as soon as I see it.  Can't.  Friggin.  Wait!