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FLICKS: The Muppets, Blackthorn & Nutcracker

Posted on 15 December 2011 by LeslieM

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

Last weekend may go down as one of the most dismal Decembers in box office history. Gary Marshall’s New Year’s Eve was the top of the heap, with a meager $13 million and bad reviews. The award-winning Hugo is losing money. Even the positive word of mouth has done very little to boost the profile of Arthur Christmas.

Of all the movies on the big screen, The Muppets is perhaps enjoying the strongest word of mouth and steadiest revenue. From beginning to end, it is an entertaining motion picture for both children and adults who grew up with the Muppets for the past 40 years.

Brothers Walter (A new Muppet voiced by Peter Linz) and Gary (Jason Segal, who co wrote the screenplay) travel to Hollywood to meet the Muppets. Taking Gary’s girlfriend Mary (adorable Amy Adams) with them, Walter and Gary tell the Muppets that they have not been relevant to the public since 1978.

Taking advantage of the Muppet’s low profile in pop culture, Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) has plans to destroy the Muppets’ studio and build oil wells.

Of course, Kermit the Frog comes to the rescue and decides to produce a show, just like the old days.  Celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg, Mickey Rooney and Selena Gomez donate their time to serve on the Muppet Tele-phone. Along the way, Fozzie Bear tells some stupid jokes and Amy Adams gets to sing two good songs. Right up to the clever closing gag, The Muppets deserves its success for being so entertaining.

Opening tomorrow in local theaters is Blackthorn, an  intriguing western. James Blackthorn is the alias of infamous outlaw Butch Cassidy (Sam Shepard), an old man with regrets. Deciding to reconnect with his only remaining family, Blackthorn treks back to the United States after years in exile.

Lacking the big budget of last summer’s Cowboys & Aliens, Blackthorn succeeds with character development and unique situations. One shoot-out echoes the vastness of David Lean’s Lawrence  of Arabia. As Blackthorn, Shepard gives his most confident performance since playing Colonel Chuck Yeager in The Right Stuff.

For those seeking traditional Christmas fare, the Miami City Ballet will be bringing George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker to the Broward Center for six performances starting Wednesday, Dec. 21. For tickets and show times, visit www.miamicityballet.org/nutcracker.php

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