The Muppets vs. Hollywood

I'm sure a lot of you have noticed a trend in modern Hollywood; some of you have even mocked it with me: the philosophy that dark and gritty equals better. Of course, as an incurable optimist and a firm believer in happy endings, this just doesn't fly with me... and guess what, it doesn't fly so well with the Muppets either.

Yes, they're back. All your favorite fuzzy and fozzy friends are making with the jokes and running wild all over Hollywood. Only there seems to be one small problem: no one knows who they are anymore. And of course that is the least of their worries, as Chris Cooper (maniacal laughter, maniacal laughter) wants to drill for oil (of course he does) under the lot of Muppet Studios. The only way for the Muppets to win back their land and place in the hearts of millions is to raise 10 million dollars before the drilling starts.

Through much metahumor, a tight script and the obvious charm of Kermit, Amy Adams and Jason Segel, the Muppets steal the show (as well as Jack Black) in order to win the day. Could there have been any doubt?

But there is a larger game afoot here. Jason Segel was one of the main proponents for bringing the Muppets back and see them "again the way I remember." His love for Jim Henson's characters is unmistakeable, and the writers and filmmakers made sure to create a film that strayed as far away from modern Hollywood tendencies as possible.

In fact, at the end of the day, that is what the new Muppet movie is all about... poking Hollywood in the eye... with happiness. Chris Cooper's Mr. Richman (yes, that's his name) even uses the "dark and gritty" speech in order to convince the Muppets that they are over. He has even gathered together his own edge, cynical version of the Muppets called "the Moopets," featuring Dave Grohl as a replacement for Animal.

But in the end, not only do the Muppets win, but they win by a long shot. They fill up all of Main Street in downtown LA with cheering fans, and through this they prove something... not only to Chris Cooper, but to Hollywood and the world: cynical and dark is not better. The movie theater I was in was packed with men, women and children of all ages... cheering and laughing and clapping at the finale. The Muppets are back at just the right time, when the general public is sick of Hollywood's shenanigans.

People love to laugh and cheer and love and be loved. Hollywood cannot change that. All the false information and advertising in the world cannot change that. Yes, people may come out by the millions to see Fincher's The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo... the "feel bad movie of the year"... but as long as there is song and dance, as long as there is true love, as long as the Muppets are around, and as long as God is in His heaven... people will love happy endings.