heldsohn Reviews

The Muppet Movie (1979)

Muppetly Marvellous

[10/10 · 23 March 2023]

Right ... First off: I love Jim Henson era Muppets. Classic Muppet stuff. Inventive, satirical, loveable Muppet mayhem. It's not The Muppet Show, but it does expand and "explain" the idea of The Muppet Show. "The Muppets: The Origin", if we're going down that route (but, it's The Muppets, so Anarchy prevails, so the idea of plots and stuff can take a hike).

On the subject of routes and hikes, this fits beautifully into the oeuvre of 70s Road movies. The film is dusty, dirty and gritty looking ... like those trippy, downbeat classics of the genre ... but with Muppets! No CGI, thank Kermit.

Cameos galore. Massive fun spotting the Stars Of The Silver Screen popping up. A memorable Steve Martin sticks out (not literally... it's a family friendly film), but he is trumped by The Greatest Cameo Of All Time Ever In A Movie ... no spoilers.

Agent Elvis (2023)

Cartoon Big El ... It Goes Pretty Darned Fine Well

[9/10 · 23 March 2023]

Elvis 1968 to 1971 was about the coolest man on the planet. As cool or cooler than Elvis 1954 to 1958? Who cares!? This cartoon is late 60s, early 70s Elvis, reinvented in cartoon form as a Matt Helm/ Our Man Flint / Archer/ Johnny Bravo character. And ... it's cool! It's fun! It's stupid ... fun, cool stupid. The sort of Elvis fan who genuflects at his name will consider this toon romp as unforgiveable blasphemy, and will be most likely want to dump on the cartoon. I'm a fan of Elvis and have been for decades ... got a tattoo, everything he's recorded (bad and superb), etc. You don't have to be an Elvis fan to enjoy this series, but the silliness, stupid violence and general irreverence should give this wider appeal.

Some nice, subtle satire too.