Muppets – They’re back

We watched the new Muppet movie with a bit of apprehension.  Writers Jason Segel and Nicolas Stroller were better known for their bathroom humor in films such as Get Him to the Greek and Forgetting Sarah Marshall.  Their version of the Rat pack includes Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd and Judd Apatow.  So you have to wonder how these guys will pull off The Muppets.  However I am not one of those people who mistakenly state that the Muppets are kiddie-fare.  Hensen had quite a sense of humor - watch the first season of Saturday Night Live and you will see.  Even the original Muppet TV show has some subversive humor.  I loved it all.  I have loved everything Hensen and Frank Oz created (even Labrynth).  So, Jason and Nicolas had a hurdle with me.

Jason Segel is a Muppet fanatic and has wanted to do a movie for years.  Having read some of the incarnations over the past few years, I am glad it took a while to get the movie into development.  Everything had to be just right.  Although I had my doubts about his writing, I thought Jason as one of the stars was great.  His character Marshall on How I Met Your Mother is the perfect simpleton and goof-ball.  So we have to problem believing he has a muppet for a brother (Walter).

I was pleasantly surprised – this movie was fabulous.  Amy Adams is the sweet, mechanically-talented grade school teacher who is in love with Segel’s Gary.  They travel to LA for their 10^th dating anniversary.  They bring Walter, Gary’s muppet-obssessed brother with them and they visit the Muppet Studios.  There they discover the studio is in disrepair and a bad guy (Chris Cooper) is about to implement his dastardly scheme.  The rest of the movie is about bringing the Muppets back together and raising the money needed to save their studio.  There is singing, dancing, waka-waka jokes, and a lot of nostalgia.  The songs are often goofy and sometimes bittersweet.  I had a blast.  We all laughed, including my teenage son.  The audience we were with was obvious all having a good time. There are a dozen cameos and several inside jokes which will keep you watching.

Living here in Reno, there are some interesting jokes just for us.  Fozzy Bear is performing in Reno in a bottom-of-the-barrel casino.  His dressing room is the alley behind the casino where you hear gun shots followed by rain (boy, did that bring howls from the audience here).  Then when Fozzy is depressed and says he doesn’t want to go back to Reno there is an unexpected laugh I don’t think the writers planned.  Everyone in our audience had a good sense of humor and there was no offense taken (I think you need to have a certain amount of self-deprecation to survive in Reno).  FYI - the movie makers clearly have not been to Reno (except to get the fabulous shot of our arch).  It was cool though, almost like being in the movie (hee hee).

So, go see this movie.  Those who grew up with the muppets will enjoy the nostalgia and kids today will discover the amazing world of Jim Hensen.  GO!

Once Upon A Time...Maybe

I have been watching ABC's new TV show "Once Upon A Time" with a smidgen of hope and a dash of anticipation.  As a huge fan of Grimm's collection of fairy tales (the real ones not the tamed down versions) I found the premise compelling.  Reminiscent of Brigadoon, there is an enchanted town in Maine filled with story book characters...lost in time and space.  The "fairy tale" story is told in flashbacks to explain the modern-day actions of characters.  There are some familiar names, Snow White, Prince Charming, Wicked Queen, Rumpelstiltskin, Red Riding Hood, Grandma, etc.To avoid spoilers, I won't delve deeper.

I really like the fairy land story - more than the modern tale.  In general the acting, writing, and characters are fine but it's taking too long.  I might have liked the story better as a mini series a la "Tin Man" the SciFi channel produced a few years back.  I am finding myself exasperated by the drag factor.  Still, I plan on giving it some more time to grow on me.  I don't often watch episodic TV any more (primarily documentaries and fun stuff like Mythbusters) so maybe I am just not used to waiting for a plot line to finish.

I do hope it gets better. I still like the premise.

The Countdown

Only 56 days until Disney Land.  I don't care what anyone else says...DL is the happiest place on earth.  In the past 10 years I have been lucky enough to go 3 times...2001, 2007, and 2009.  In 2001 I was able to get a sweet deal because no one was travelling after 9-11.  In 2007 and 2009 I saved up and did extra side work to pay for the trips.  This year we saved and saved...I wasn't sure we would make it (I had yet another pay cut and could not work as much after hours due to my health).  But we cut back (a lot) and put every penny aside. Whoo hoo the trip is booked and I am overjoyed.  The boys like DL but not nearly the obsession of mine. Hee hee. I expect this to be our last DL trip for awhile.  William is more important and that boy is going to college!!

I am Number Four...NOT

We rented this sci-fi story based on a novel of the same name.  Aliens hiding on earth, running from an evil oppressor seemed right up our alley.  Alex Pettyfer plays John Smith, a young alien hiding with his guardian (Timothy Olyphant) from Mogadorians - a species who are violent like Klingons and obsessive like Borg (except they seek annihilation not assimilation).  Dianna Aragon plays the John's love interest Sarah; Callan McAuliffe is the geeky buddy Sam.  Teresa Palmer rounds out the cast as Number 6 (another alien).


I wanted to like this movie.  The story itself is fine, some of the dialogue is stilted and over-the-top obvious.  The dramatic pauses between the characters and also within the action are way too long.  Something which could have been accomplished in a glance in stretched out to an awkward moment.  Half of this film could have ended on the cutting room floor and been a much better piece.    I would expected more from director D. J. Caruso.


I liked Alex's John - although he brooded just a tad too much (maybe he should of watched James Dean in A Rebel Without a Cause for some hints on just the right amount).  I couldn't see what John saw in Sarah and Sam's character was a stereotype and should have been developed more (especially since he becomes so crucial).  The Mulder-wannabe is so much more than comic relief.  The character I really enjoyed was Number 6.  She is not on the screen much but has the most to say (figuratively as she barely speaks).  Plus, she really kicks butt!  The ending battle is by far the best part of the movie.


There is so much potential and but not enough is delivered.  I don't recommend this movie.

Broken Silence

So I haven't written anything in a while.  It's that horrid combination of tired and busy.  My health issues and it's medications certainly make "crazy-Vicky" a tad less hyper.  The asthma affected my voice, making it hard to sing and even talk.  Ironically, it seemed to affect even my hands and my ability to write my words.  It truly silenced me.  Hard to believe for I am rarely silent.

Silent no more :)