Glad I Bought a Ticket to "We Bought a Zoo"

Let me start off by saying that I really didn't have any intentions of seeing this movie. It looked kind of cute and the fact that Cameron Crowe directed it was a bit appealing, but after iffy reviews I figured I'd sit this one out. But then my mother and little sister wanted to see it so I decided to tag along. And I'm pretty glad I did.
Now I really don't have to sum up the plot here. I mean, it's in the title. We Bought a Zoo. But my usual viewers know me so I'm gonna do it anyway. Matt Damon's character, Benjamin Mee's wife has recently passed away, making him a single parent to a teenage boy and a little girl. He feels that his family needs a fresh start so he begins to look at new houses and the last one he comes across has a zoo as a backyard. That seems like a deal breaker, but when he sees his daughter light up, Benjamin gives in to his "20 seconds of insane courage" attitude and buys the house much to his son's dismay (but he's a curmudgeon about everything nowadays, so whatever).
Matt Damon and Colin Ford, who plays the son Dylan, are the actors who really carry this film. We Bought a Zoo is truly as corny as it looks and sounds, but Damon is as likable as ever and the constant feud between his character and the son is so powerful it brings the audience to tears. Crowe looks for every bit of sympathy he can from the viewers with every scene starting off with almost the same depressing song. And thanks to the subtitles on the screen at Regal Cinemas for whatever reason, I know the name of all of them. I thought that would ruin the movie (although I already thought I wouldn't like it) because I simply cannot ignore words on a screen. I have to read them. But whatever, I got over it. And although Crowe squeezes your tear ducts and it's so obvious that he's doing it, you can't help but feel the impact of everything Benjamin is going through. That's entirely thanks to Damon's performance. And as I said, him and the son really battle it out and one scene in particular involving them screaming at each other over what's right for them now that the mother is gone really triggered a big emotional response. The daughter, Maggie Elizabeth Jones as Rosie, is cute too so you can't resist rooting for this small family.
Scarlett Johansson also graces us with her presence and she's adorable as usual. Some of her lines are as cheesy as the rest of the film, but for some reason it all works. Her character, Kelly Foster, is the head zookeeper and is there with Benjamin throughout the whole "adventure" as he likes to refer to it. In addition, Thomas Haden Church is funny as the accountant brother who complains about Benjamin throwing away all his money.
The animals are cool to see as well, which is why my sister was interested, although some things were a bit inappropriate for her. Zoo ended up with a PG rating, but there are a lot of curses. No F bombs, but s*** is in there a few times, but not in the most obscene manner, which is okay I guess.
As predictable and obvious as this movie is with the title and all, some things aren't so. Sure there are the two teenagers on the farm, Dylan and the girl who already lives there, Elle Faning as Lily, and we all know how that ends up. But the foreseeable relationship between Benjamin and Kelly isn't as it seems, which is nice. Benjamin keeps thinking back to his wife, again bringing the river of tears.
I really didn't want to give a great review to this and didn't think I would. I don't want to be known as the guy who likes everything, but We Bought a Zoo really got to me. I'm telling you straight up that it is a cheesy film and does everything it can to make you cry, but thanks to great performances all around, especially Damon as the lead, a troubled father you want to see connect with his children, and Ford as an equally troubled teenager who is lost in his own emotions and dark artwork, Zoo manages to soar. They make Crowe's mushy screenplay and direction something we can get behind. And we all need one of those "feel good" movies every now and then anyway. As I do with all movies I enjoy, I leave the theater thinking I can be more like the protagonist, so for right now, "20 seconds of insane courage" is something I'm gonna live by. Probably not for long though. Oh well.

So it seems that I've viewed just about every movie released this holiday season, with a few exceptions (Tintin), and it's been a very entertaining and enjoyable one (besides The Descendants).
Let's hope the new year keeps us just as satisfied at the theater.
We Bought a Zoo: 3/4 Stars
Entire 2011 Holiday Season: 3.5/4

"The Girl" Has A Lot More Than Just A "Dragon Tattoo"

David Fincher captivates audiences once again with his adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo just in time for awards season. Fincher's latest work since the best motion picture of 2010 (I don't care what the Academy says) is dark and quite often brutal to watch, but also a great piece of cinema due to his direction and Rooney Mara's portrayal of the lead character, Lisbeth Salander, that will certainly keep people talking, and hopefully the people that really matter: members of the AMPAS.

Getting into the plot would be too complicated and a bit repetitive since the award-winning novel and Swedish films have been out for years, but I'll provide a brief explanation for those who have no idea what this whole story is about. It follows Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig), a journalist for Millennium magazine in Sweden who has just lost a libel case to a crooked businessman. Despite this, he is hired by Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) to investigate the case of his niece, Harriet, who has been missing for 40 years and may in fact have been murdered. Eventually, Mikael hires Salander as an assistant after learning that she performed the background check on him before being chosen by Henrik. Up to this point, we also witness what is going on in Salander's life at the same time as we see Mikael deal with the entire wacky Vanger family on Henrik's property.

Although the whole story is a mystery, I found that the conclusion and the discovery of everything was a bit expected. I had a few hunches and they were all correct. Fincher could have done a better job at building the suspense for the actual mystery, but his attention in other areas allows for the film to shine regardless. Although "shine" might not be the right word since it's so very dark and ominous. 

It was extremely difficult to find someone to join me in the theater because everyone is aware of the rape scenes in the film. Normally, I can handle anything on screen, but this was pretty hardcore. Rooney Mara really makes you feel her pain. And although she's supposed to be a complete freak in this film, there's still something oddly appealing about her. She's also naked a lot more than I expected, but then again I never read the book aside from a bit of the beginning and a few major sequences that my girlfriend had me look at, so what do I know? Fincher didn't want Mara in this part at first, but now I think he's aware that changing his mind was a very good idea. Mara definitely deserves recognition and her full commitment to the role defines her as a wonderful actress. She's still kind of sporting the odd haircut in real life too.

Other than the mystery being a bit predictable, the only other problem with the movie is that the girl cast as Harriet looks exactly like Rooney Mara. When they first showed her picture, I thought it was a relative of hers or her with a different hairstyle. It would have been much easier to follow if the two actresses didn't look so similar to one another. Maybe that is something that is explained in the other books or maybe it's just a coincidence, but either way it was a little confusing.

I have also heard that the original film is much better than Fincher's version, and since this one is so well done and has received much critical acclaim, the original must be spectacular. I'll have to check it out. Nevertheless, the latest Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is very entertaining particularly thanks to Fincher's directing style and Mara's outstanding performance. I don't mean to leave Craig out of the loop because he's always entertaining, but it's just his standard acting as usual, which is fine. I'm not sure how fans of the Swedish film or of the book itself will feel about it, but overall it's a great movie. We'll see these guys at the Oscars, and then hopefully all three major players (Craig, Mara, and Fincher) on board for the sequels.

Stars: 3/4

Multiple Yays And Minimal Neighs For "War Horse"

There is certainly no question that Steven Spielberg is one of, if not the best filmmaker of his or any generation. He served as an inspiration for me as a child while making movies with my friends, feeling that my S.S. initials meant I could be just like him. And I've been a fan since that time, but have grown very skeptical, watching him make millions as executive producer for below average alien projects like Transformers, Cowboys & Aliens, Falling Skies, and more. Tacking his name onto these things for a paycheck made me lose some respect. But now, seeing him return to serious filmmaking has made me remember the true talent this man has. However, I had zero interest in War Horse. I laughed along with the SNL skit mocking the play, but experiencing the film was actually quite similar to the way the audience members react in the sketch. If you don't understand what I mean, you should check it out. At first you may think, "Really? It's just a horse" and then you get emotionally attached and understand. War Horse started off as a children's book, then an award-winning play, and now a future award-winning film.
The film begins with the birth of the majestic horse and shortly after we see it purchased by a man who cannot help but fall for it's beauty and uniqueness. He also buys it in spite of his landlord who tries to outbid him. This leaves the old man and his family with no money, but the son, Albert (Jeremy Irvine) adores the horse and raises it, teaching it how to work on the farm. Albert proves how strong the horse, Joey, truly is despite his size and breed. When the weather destroys the family's crops, the father must sell Joey to the army, hence War Horse. Albert is obviously heartbroken, but he ties his father's regimental pennant to the horse, which we follow throughout the film, and vows to meet him again.
I like the fact that every time a stranger saw how emotional the boy got over his horse, he or she would say, "It's not a dog." That's how I felt at first, but I'm a city boy so I've never had a chance to take much of a liking to horses. But this horse is something special and touches multiple lives in very meaningful ways throughout its journey. I didn't have much interest at first because the main character is an animal and it doesn't have a celebrity providing the voice for it so you know, who cares? But Joey should be nominated for Best Supporting Actor or something. I don't know how Spielberg captured half of the shots in this film, but well done, sir. It really makes me wonder what the people behind the play must do. I'll have to check it out. And the rest of the cast, the humans, are superb as well. Not many recognizable faces other than Tom Hiddleston from Midnight in Paris and Thor, and Eddie Marsan from Sherlock Holmes, but everyone does a great job. The standout performances though are Irvine and Emily Watson who plays Albert's mother.
There are some faulty points, however and surprisingly, the long running time isn't really one of them. All of the characters speak English which certainly isn't a complaint, but a man and his granddaughter in the French countryside speak English as well as the German soldiers. They ignore it for a while like in Valkyrie, but then in one scene, which was still my favorite despite this flaw, an English soldier says to a German soldier, "You speak English pretty good" to which the soldier replies, "I speak it well." That'd be fine if the Germans weren't casually speaking it amongst themselves when you'd think they would speak their native tongue.
War Horse isn't Spielberg's greatest work, but it's a fine piece of cinema. He captures elements of war like with Saving Private Ryan and ties in great emotional story lines. If at first you think, "Why would a boy go into war for an animal?" take a second and consider what you'd do for your favorite pet. My dog Oakley is pretty awesome. Jumping into the First World War is a bit of a stretch, but it works. I think Spielberg will nab Best Director. Regarding the films considered in the current Oscar race, War Horse absolutely trumps The Descendants. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo will be my next review.

Stars: 3/4

"Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" KICKS ASS

I don't even know where to begin with this one. Just wow. I was a huge fan of Mission: Impossible III, but Ghost Protocol completely blows it out of the water. The story and the new cast definitely make this a fresh and stylish installment, but a lot of the praise has to go to director Brad Bird whose skills in the world of animation where anything can happen result in impossible ideas and stunts being somewhat believable with real people. And even if you chuckle to yourself about how ridiculously insane some of the action is, it's still cool as hell.

The movie starts off with Josh Holloway (Sawyer from Lost) on a mission gone wrong (just one of several, so I guess some things are impossible even though every mission ends up being probable, but I digress). And it's a shame because let's be honest, this guy should be in more stuff. Then we find Ethan Hunt, you know Tom Cruise, in jail. The hilarious and now man in the field Benji, played by the always delightful Simon Pegg, helps get him out. Then we meet Agent Carter, played by Paula Patton. Hot damn. Good addition to the film. Anyway, they must recover a file containing launch codes that could start a nuclear war. They're about to fall into the hands of some Russian psycho code-named "Cobalt." So then they break into the Kremlin to get info about him. Other guys are there and blow their cover so the IMF is blamed and thus disavowed, hence Ghost Protocol. I'm giving away too much information that you can probably already tell from the preview, but long story short, they have to clear their name and stop the bad guy. But my God, do they do it in style. Also, Jeremy Renner joins in as William Brandt, the Secretary's analyst...or is he? And if you're wondering where the usual teammates are like Luther Stickell, played by Ving Rhames, you'll find out.

I saw this in IMAX, which for $18.50 really isn't worth it, but I had a gift card so whatever. Although only a handful of scenes are actually filmed with the IMAX camera, they're mind blowing. I was jumping and cringing feeling like I was hanging from the Burj Khalifa in Dubai (world's tallest building). I felt engulfed in a sandstorm. I felt like the Kremlin was blowing up around me. Just super intense. Full immersion! Leave it to Brad Bird to completely push it to the limit. It was literally The Incredibles on speed and with real actors. 

Only someone with a movie like that on his resume could create and make full use of the amazing technology in this film. Sure there are iPhones and iPads, and if you don't think the iPad is an incredible device, it's in a Mission Impossible film, so it's pretty sick, but there's so much more. There's a giant screen that unfolds from a pocket-sized device producing the image of a hallway Hunt and Benji are in and can hide behind. I mean, what?! How do you even come up with that idea. And a hovering magnetic suit. And gloves that allow you to climb a building. Those actually suck though, hence Cruise's amazing stunts, which he actually does himself. I've noticed that multiple devices are quite faulty. But hey, you need conflict to drive the story.

In conclusion, Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol is pure action, but not in a crappy Transformers way, although it is a big budget film. This film incorporates multiple locations, a very entertaining story line, awesome characters, and amazing stunts. I wasn't bored for a second. There's even a little mystery going on. It has it all. It won't be nominated for any Oscars or anything, except probably sound and those ones you don't remember that the Bourne movies won, but this is why we go to the movies. Entertainment. And trust me, you won't find anything in the theaters more entertaining than this mission. A tip of the hat to Brad Bird and Tom Cruise who give it their all and pull it off splendidly. And a wink to Paula Patton.

Stars: 4/4

Don't Want To Pass Along Anything Nice To These "Descendants"

WARNING: Although this is my little website full of my opinions about movies, I try my best not to ramble on about how I, personally, feel about the latest film I've seen. I do what I can to find the things that others may enjoy even if I couldn't care less. That being said, I'm informing you ahead of time that I have a serious bone to pick with The Descendants and all similar films that the Academy and other motion picture award organizations seem to regard as extraordinary work. I will rant, and I may even curse (I'll use asterisks when necessary) . Prepare yourselves. Don't worry though because I will (hopefully) never write another review like this one and it's a little unprofessional, but for right now it's just my blog so deal with it. After I see Mission Impossible and Dragon Tattoo and all that, I will right my usual awesome reviews.

F*** George Clooney. Am I right? The guy really isn't that good of an actor. He's half the reason why everyone is saying this will win Best Picture. Him and Alexander Payne (director and co-writer). Now, I don't want to drop a deuce on him because I've never seen Sideways and I've heard it's pretty good. But his style of directing is what makes Clooney look good in this movie to those who don't know better. Let me sum up the movie before I get too crazy.

So Clooney's wife is in a coma after a boating accident, but they've had trouble before that. He learns that she will never come out of it and the doctors have to pull the plug. Clooney is left with his younger daughter, and then decides to pick up his older daughter, Shailene Woodley of ABC Family's "Being Pregnant and a Teenager and S***" or something, from the boarding school she attends. (Rumor has it that she'll be nominated for Best Supporting Actress. I'll dispute that nonsense in a bit.) This gem of a daughter alerts Clooney that his wife was cheating on him with Shaggy Rogers (Matthew Lillard whose character is actually Brian Speer, but he was in Scooby-Doo so you know). So then Clooney tries to hunt this guy down to see his face, then eventually tell him about his wife so he can visit her in the hospital before she passes (how nice). All the while, here's where the title comes in, Clooney is trying to decide whether or not to sell a huge piece of Hawaiian land for millions of dollars that his family has passed down to him and his like 7,000 cousins, the descendants.

Tough dilemma for Clooney, right? You feel bad for him? Well don't. Every character in this movie is an ass****. It's hard to care when everyone is so awful. Let's critique the acting.

George Clooney does not deserve Best Actor or even a nomination. Up in the Air I can get behind, but not this one. By playing really depressing Hawaiian music while zooming in on his sad face, way too many times I might add, isn't good acting. The Academy falls for that garbage though. When you get a reputation like Clooney you can do anything. And he's so god**** unlikable in this movie.

Now Shailene Woodley. I've learned that it's okay for me to consider her attractive because now I know she's my age so I got that going for me. But if people think she deserves an Oscar nom for this role, then she should've won every Emmy Award for her performance in that Secret Life show. She may capture the angst of a teenage girl, but I think she's supposed to be a little older in The Descendants. She goes from complaining about everything and cursing in front of her kid sister to acting like a mother around her. And the little girl is terrible. As bad as the rest of them. When she cried in the hospital, I couldn't feel bad at all.

And then Woodley has to drag along her buddy to stay sane or whatever and this kid is a complete tool. He's a stoner who claims to be smart and we've all met someone like this, but even the most dirtbag of kids knows to shake a man's hand and say "Nice to meet you" as opposed to "'Sup bro?" Then he laughs at his friend's grandma who has alzheimer's. Really? Compose yourself in public bro.

Just when I thought I couldn't hate this movie any more, that redhead who is literally in everything shows up. This is the first time I've bothered to look up her name. It's Judy Greer. She was actually pretty good though. And surprisingly, so was Shaggy.

When I first heard about this movie, I had zero interest. I thought Ides of March would be Clooney's Oscar movie, and The Descendants would be just another paycheck. They both received good reviews from critics, but I enjoyed Ides of March a hell of a lot more. The Descendants does not deserve all the praise it's received. At first I thought, "Oh okay, it's kind of real, but in a way where people you barely know tell you everything going on in their life and you just don't care, kind of like how you sort of know these actors." Not all movies have to be entertaining so I get that, but this wasn't real. Would people actually do all this jibber jabber? (Best part of the movie, by the way, when the grandpa says that...but he's a d*** like everyone else.) 

In conclusion, I refuse to fall for the bull style of filmmaking that the Academy deems superior to all else. Obviously, the Academy hasn't come out with its nominations yet, but the Golden Globes pave the way. This type of movie has Oscar written all over it, but it really shouldn't. The reason The King's Speech won over The Social Network last year is because Speech had that Oscar scent to it. Both movies were fantastic, but everyone knows Network should have won.

I apologize for ranting like an old man, but then again I think all the old men in the theater with me enjoyed it. I know the old ladies behind me with constant commentary, even discussing how nice Clooney's feet are, enjoyed it, so maybe I'm not an old man, but actually too young to appreciate it (I don't actually believe that, I'm just saying it). I thought it was a great idea for a movie, but I had zero genuine feelings for any of the characters. I could just be looking for a negative review after seeing several excellent movies lately, trying to mix it up, but I simply cannot get behind this one. I didn't like it from the beginning with Clooney's narration that lasts 20 minutes then disappears (lazy writing) and thought it would pick up, but sadly it did not.

Just to be a bit of a follower and to avoid sounding like a dumb kid who didn't get the complexity of the film, I'll give The Descendants 2/4 Stars. I know it sounds like I should give it less, but the only reason why I hated it so much is because everyone else thinks it's amazing when it really isn't. I wouldn't be this angry if people didn't put it on such a high pedestal.

The Game Is Afoot With "Sherlock Holmes" And It's A Fun One

Just two years after the original, Robert Downey Jr. returns to his Golden Globe Award winning role in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.  The sequel involves Sherlock hunting down the mysterious man behind all the mischief in the first film who was revealed to be Professor Moriarty, played by Jared Harris of Mad Men who looks like Conan O'Brien's twin with that red beard.  Back by Holmes' side of course, and not exactly by choice, is his reluctant yet trusty pal Dr. Watson (Jude Law) who has recently set a date for his wedding.  Luckily for him, among all the chaos brought about by his inconvenient best man, the wedding goes as planned, but the honeymoon is a different story.

Moriarty is aware that the intelligent Holmes is right on his tail after figuring out all the clues left behind throughout his various evil plans, but his brainpower just about equals that of Holmes.  With ideas of corruption in his mind and a plethora of henchmen, Moriarty always remains a few steps ahead of our hero.  At one point, we even see Holmes truly suffer and we learn that he is indeed human and not some ingenious 19th century robot.  

To reveal Moriarty's plan would give away too much of the mystery.  You may find yourself confused as hell for a while due to the Mulroneys' screenplay and Guy Ritchie's direction, but therein lies some of the fun.  Plus, when you figure it out 2/3 of the way in, you'll feel like a young Sherlock yourself.  What I can tell you is that this film is as entertaining and thrilling as the first.  It may not necessarily be superior, but it's a hell of a good time.

The chemistry between RDJ and Jude Law is still incredibly enjoyable and the action still packs a punch.  One of the only disappointments is that we've seen it all before.  In the first film, the slow motion effects and planning of every move in Holmes' head had a very unique style.  Now it's a bit overplayed and one scene even involves Moriarty doing the same thing, which is a little over the top.  The slow motion scenes outside of Holmes' mind may get a tad goofy, but they're pretty damn cool.  The entirety of the train scene as well as the one set in the forest with bullets flying everywhere (both played in multiple promotions for the movie) truly captivate the audience.  The action and the mystery will surely keep you entertained.

Besides the recurring Ritchie style in some fight sequences and newcomer Noomi Rapace's mundane performance as some gypsy woman dressed like Jack Sparrow, Game of Shadows is certainly an acceptable sequel to Sherlock Holmes.  Downey, Law, Harris, and Stephen Fry who plays Sherlock's brother, all deliver the goods.  And the comedy kept me laughing pretty hysterically during all the non-action scenes.  Brace yourself for Stanley the butler and Holmes' Li'l Sebastian-like horse.  Overall, a very pleasing film and a great start to what looks like a promising holiday season for cinema.  However, I'm glad I saw this before Mission Impossible because those stunts look f'ing intense.

Stars: 3/4

The Most Sensational, Inspirational, Celebrational "Muppets" Movie Ever

I could write this review in one sentence if I wanted to, and that one sentence would go a little something like this: The Muppets is one of the most entertaining, smile-producing and basically greatest movies I've ever seen.  But since I am committed to writing thorough reviews, I will do the same for The Muppets.  But seriously, it was amazing.  Go see it.

It has been twelve years since the last Muppets movie, Muppets From Space, and leave it to one of the most likable, hilarious guys in the business to revive the franchise: Jason Segel.  After seeing several talk show interviews featuring Segel, I've learned about his obsession with puppets.  He applied this interest to one of my favorite comedies ever: Forgetting Sarah Marshall.  This was just a stepping stone for the puppet-loving comedian that would lead to this wonderful version of the Muppets.

Teaming up with the director of Sarah Marshall, Nicholas Stoller, Segel co-wrote the movie full of funny, catchy, happy songs that fans of all ages will be humming as they exit the theater.  The story within the film relates to what Segel and Stoller are doing off-screen, which is bringing the Muppets back into pop culture.  Segel's character, Gary, is related to a new Muppet named Walter who is the number one fan of Kermit and the gang.  When the two of them, along with Gary's girlfriend Mary, played by the lovable Amy Adams, leave Smalltown USA for a trip to Los Angeles, they find out that the Muppet Theater is not as remarkable as it used to be.  If this discovery wasn't bad enough, they soon learn that it is going to be demolished by an oilman named Tex Richman, perfectly played by Chris Cooper, in order to reach the oil located beneath it.  This leads to an important mission initiated by Walter that involves getting the whole group back together and saving the theater.  To do so they must stage "The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever" and raise $10 million to get Richman off their former property.

As Gary, Mary, and Walter work their way from Kermit to Miss Piggy, picking up every other Muppet in between, they come across a batch of celebrity cameos.  Unlike the unbearable A-list filled movies like Valentine's Day and the upcoming New Year's Eve, these cameos don't feel forced at all.  You can tell that these stars are not in it just for the paycheck, but are there for the Muppets.  Most of them probably grew up with Jim Henson's classic characters and their comeback is as special for them as it is for your Average Joe.

Although I didn't grow up with The Muppet Show, I had my VHS tapes of Muppet Treasure Island and Muppets From Space, and since I had these films growing up, the new movie triggered my nostalgia for the Muppets.  Plus, I recently attended the Jim Henson exhibit at the Museum of the Moving Image for my Understanding Television class and I learned everything about them from Henson's start in college to Mahna Mahna and more.  And just as Henson set out to do, the Muppets truly feel like real live creatures and not just pieces of fabric wrapped around hands.  I couldn't help but tear up when Kermit came out on stage on a log ready to sing "Rainbow Connection."

It seems as if this movie was made more for fans like Segel who grew up with them, but I imagine that children who have never seen anything involving the Muppets will enjoy it as well.  There are certainly multiple things that will go over their heads, like the barbershop scene with a rendition of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," but they'll still get a kick out it.  

The magic of The Muppets is that it can bring out the child in even the biggest curmudgeons like Statler and Waldorf.  Although it focused primarily on Kermit, Fozzie, and Miss Piggy, leaving out the rest of the gang, it was still near perfect.  And this just leaves more room for future films (but I'd be fine without them because we don't need sequels ruining something like this).  

I'm not lying when I say watching this film was the happiest hour and 42 minutes I've had in a long time.  I'm not sure if that's a sign of my pathetic life or that this movie is simply that good. I could go on and on about The Muppets, but those of you who are reading this and haven't seen it need to open up a new tab and check the times at your local theater.  Get there early too because there's another Toy Story short before it begins.  You may think you can't get any more Disney wonder than what comes along with any Pixar production, but believe me, The Muppets will leave you as happy if not more so than when you left the theater showing Toy Story 3.  Movies like these help us realize that sometimes "life's a happy song."

4/4 Stars