Phil sees THE MUPPETS at the Camera 12 Downtown San Jose-November 26, 2011

OK, every now and then, you have to indulge your inner child! It is a requirement that we adults must do to remain young, or at least feel young. So today my friend Amanda and I traveled to the Camera 12 located in downtown San Jose to visit some "old friends" from our childhood. So ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages, it's time to raise the curtains! It's time to light the lights! It's time for you to see THE MUPPETS on the big screen tonight!

Theatrical Movie Poster (2011)

Before the film, there was another TOY STORY TOONS short film before the main feature. Entitled SMALL FRY, the film's about a mini "Happy Meal" Buzz Lightyear toy who switches places with the real Buzz. However Woody and the rest of the gang realize this and try to rescue their friend. Another great Pixar short!

Now about the main feature! Jason Segel stars as Gary, who has a great girlfriend named Mary (Amy Adams) and has a younger brother named Walter (voiced by Peter Linz), who also just happens to be a huge Muppets fan! The three of them take a trip to Los Angeles for Gary and Mary's 10 year anniversary. The also stop by the old Muppets studio, where they learn that oil tycoon Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) plans to tear down the studio and drill for the oil that is underneath it. Soon they track down Kermit the Frog and inform him of Richman's evil plot. The guys (and gal) manage to reunite the Muppet gang to put on one last show, The Muppet Telethon Show, to save their beloved studio.

The film also boasts appearances from Rashida Jones (CDE Executive), Alan Arkin (Tour Guide), Bill Cobbs (Grandfather), Zach Galifianakis (Hobo Joe), Ken Jeong ('Punch Teacher' TV Host), Jim Parsons (Human Walter), Kristen Schaal (Moderator), Emily Blunt (Miss Piggy's Receptionist), and Sarah Silverman (Mel's Drive-In Hostess). Also appearing as themselves are Whoopi Goldberg, Selena Gomez, Neil Patrick Harris, Judd Hirsch, Rico Rodriguez and Jack Black, with cameos by Dave Grohl, Mickey Rooney, and Fiest.

Once again, the Muppets are back, thanks to a very clever script by none other than Segel (a die-hard Muppet fan) and Nicholas Stoller. Their love for this franchise is evident; fun sing-a-longs, random humor, self-parody, mocking pop culture; keeping the spirit of Muppets creator Jim Henson alive. But the film also touches on such important issues such as self esteem, believing in yourself, and whether or not you are relevant still, which Kermit struggles with, along with Walter. Do the Muppets still matter in the 21st Century? Does anybody care about them still? Will they be able to save their studio? But the big question is this: Will Kermit and Miss Piggy get back together? What? I'm not gonna tell you! You have to go see the film for yourself!

Granted the Muppets are not exactly as they were when I was a kid, but with good reason. Many of the voices are not the same, which happened with the passing of Mr. Henson (he died on May 16, 1990 from walking pneumonia at the young age of 54). Ironically, he passed away on the weekend that he was going to sell his company to Disney (he also died on the same day as Sammy Davis Jr.). Also Frank Oz didn't participate in the film.  Oz was one of Henson's longest collaboraters and former performer of some of the more popular Muppets, including Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and Animal. Oz, who reportedly had been working on a script of his own for a new Muppets movie when Disney made the choice to go with one by Segel and Stoller, was offered a chance to work on the movie but turned it down. As a result, Oz and his trademark "voices" are no where to be found, and to be honest, it's a real shame. Hopefully this little dilemma will be solved before the next Muppet movie is made.

THE MUPPETS is great fun for the whole family! Kids will have fun watching it, meeting these great characters for the first time, while the adults will reminisce about watching the original TV show when they were their kid's age. Like I said, I had a blast watching these guys again, and hopefully we'll be seeing more of them very soon!!

THE MUPPETS is currently playing in theaters nationwide, including at the Camera Cinemas. To view showtimes, visit their website at www.cameracinemas.com

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!