Video editor Dave Gostisha and movies editor Gael Fashingbauer Cooper love movie trailers. Each Thursday, they'll highlight one for an upcoming film.
Gael says: Here's the Hollywood rumor: If this movie doesn't make it, the Muppets will be all but retired. They'll still be on "Sesame Street," but the slightly sharper-edged "Muppet Show"-style humor will be mothballed, with the idea being that a new generation just doesn't care for Kermy, Miss Piggy, the Swedish Chef, Animal, Statler and Waldorf and the rest.
This cannot happen, so everyone and their grandmother need to buy tickets to "The Muppets" when it opens Thanksgiving week. Simply put, the Muppets are awesome. They may not be cool to kids raised on Justin Bieber, but if those kids only give them a chance, they'll get sucked in, too.
Dave says: The story is an update of the “Blues Brothers” plot — get the old gang together in an effort to save the church (or in this case the old theater). The movie even includes a bit of the famous “Mahna Mahna” song. Director James Bobin and music supervisor Bret McKenzie each hail from “Flight of the Conchords,” so I’m expecting some pithy, funny musical numbers.
The trailers are full of sly pop culture references, and Disney has produced several parodies — the “Green Lantern” and more recently “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” as well. The trailers and parodies have a pretty self-aware tone to them, which may not be to everyone’s liking, but If the screenplay keeps up with what we’ve seen so far, this looks like we could be in for a barrel of Muppet laughs, tricks and guffaws.
Are the Muppets too old-fashioned for today, or do you love them? Discuss on Facebook.