| Print |

Written by Tony Van Zeyl Tuesday, 03 January 2012 13:16

Jason Segal’s love letter to the Muppets is everything it should be.

Due to a combination of expensive tickets and being a busy, working, stay at home dad to our two kids, I don’t see as many movies as I would like. Most movies are watched streaming through the internets in my basement while folding laundry. When I do get out into the theater, I try to check out an event movie that will wow me with special effects. In recent years, all but a very few of those event movies I have seen have truly sucked, reinforcing my aversion to the big theater.

Tony’s favorite films watched in 2011

1. The Muppets (Disney, 2011)

I saw this with the kids, but I would have seen it on my own. Of course, I loved it; I was raised on the Muppets, so I was conditioned to love this movie. Jason Segal’s love letter to the Muppets is everything it should be. And with several new songs (like the amusingly cheesy, yet heartfelt “Man or Muppet”) written by Bret McKenzie (half of the now-defunct Flight of the Concords), the movie couldn’t miss. Now we are on a huge Muppet craze in our house. Love it! Thanks, Jim Henson, Frank Oz, and all the Muppet creators, writers and performers over the years. Mahnam Mana!

2. Still Bill (New Video Group, 2009)

The Bill Withers documentary is a thought-provoking and inspiring portrait of artistic integrity, depression, and stuttering.

3. The Adventures of Power (Phase 4 Films, 2008)

The tale of an air drummer who makes it big, costarring Michael McKean (Spinal Tap), Jane Lynch (Glee, Best in Show, etc.), and Adrian Grenier (Vince from Entourage). A silly and oddly inspiring must for music fans.

4. Captain America (Marvel, 2011)

Surprisingly excellently told interpretation of this classic comic book character, and one of the few movies I saw in the theater this year. This one was worth the price of admission.

5. Nightwatch (20th Century Fox, 2004)

A Russian fantasy film about the battle between good and evil with all manner of supernatural in the modern world. A bit uneven, but interesting to see what happens when Lord of the Rings is mixed with The Matrix and Anne Rice while sometimes trying to be funny.