Lunch and a Matinee is Joyfully Retired’s version of dinner and a movie. I love going to the movies in the middle of the day, in the middle of the week. It was something I wanted to do back in the days when I worked all those long hours.
Lunch:
While visiting with the granddaughter in Portland we offered to take them to their favorite restaurant before going to the movies. Any place – pick your number one favorite. With no hesitation, they both answered at once: Sushi-A-Go-Go. Sushi? Seriously, sushi? “Oh, we can go to a burger place, Nana, since you don’t like sushi,” they both said. They are very nice girls, but I agreed to sushi because, after all, I did say any place.
The girls are sushi pros. They know the names of the rolls they like and they know them on sight. Sushi-A-Go-Go has a conveyor belt that surrounds the sushi chefs. We sat in a booth next to the conveyor belt and could pick a dish of whatever we wanted. I do not remember the exotic names of the sushi eaten. Me? I ate one roll that was nothing but one piece of shrimp and a clump of rice. I also had veggie tempura. Very good.
The Movie: The Muppets (2011).
Three Muppet fans learn that the classic Muppet Theater is going to be torn down by an evil businessman so he can drill for oil. They band together to help. They find Kermit and with him they persuade the other Muppets to come back for a special show. The goal is to raise enough money to buy the theater.
When they start searching for each Muppet they find them doing something you’d never expect and living all over the place. For instance, Miss Piggy was living in Paris. She was the plus-size fashion editor for Vogue magazine. Animal was at a rehab center with Jack Black. They were working to control their anger.
What We Thought:
The girls, Jay and I, and the entire audience loved this show. The audience was about 25% children; the remainder were adults who came specifically for the Muppets. Everyone laughed, clapped, and sang along. Our youngest (6) felt compelled to get up and dance during one of the musical numbers. She wasn’t the only one. When’s the last time a movie gave you that kind of experience?
I think anyone who grew up with the old Sesame Street and/or the Muppet Shows will enjoy this movie. I didn’t grow up with it but my kids did and for that reason it was great to see all our old friends. Among our favorites was, of course, Kermit and Miss Piggy. We also loved Fozzy Bear, Rowlf, Animal, the Swedish Chefs, the Robot, and those two old guys who always sat in the balcony. There was also a new Muppet, Walter, one of the main characters. He was a great addition to their line-up.
The Muppets aren’t playing at any of our major theaters, but I noticed it is at one of the discount theaters. I’m sure it won’t be long until it’s out on dvd. Add this one to your list. You’ll love laughing out loud.
Jim’s grandkids are also sushi nuts. I think young kids must like the aspect of all the little things you can pick and choose from!
My 20 and 30-something kids saw this movie with their younger cousins over the holidays. They ALL loved it!
We’re big sushi fans here and big Muppet fans so this sounds like a perfect day to me. We loved The Muppets, I can wait for it to come to DVD so I can watch it again.
I LOVE it when you do lunch and a matinee and I wish I had that movie and my great-grands here right now! . But Margot, you’re such an adventurous lady, you’ve got to give sushi a fair chance. We are huge fans. But the only time I’ve eaten at one of those conveyor belt type restaurants was in Hawaii and it was so much fun.
Can’t wait to see this one! TBG is a dedicated fan of Miss Piggy!!
I loved this movie! I had to go see it as soon as it came out and yes this will be one I actualy buy. I am a huge muppet fan. I can remember watching the Muppet show EVERY Saturday with a big bowl of popcorn.
Now as a grown up…kinda…I own every muppet movie and watch them with my friends often. I was watching a friends kid one evening. He was about 12 and while we were waiting for his mom to pick him up I put one of the TV muppet show DVD’s in. WOW as I kid I loved it…as a grown up I can see all the inuendos in it and love it for a different reason as an adult.
I also want a Sushi a go go here. lol
I haven’t seen The Muppets yet but I’m definitely going to get it when it comes out on DVD.
You are a brave woman!! I will wait to eat sushi when my son comes home because he seems to be the pro with that stuff!! The movie sounds absolutely adorable and I love the fact that you’re Granddaughter was dancing!!
sounds delightful (minus the sushi)
What a fun movie to share with your grandchildren! I danced in my seat to one of the numbers myself.
My mother made a birthday cake for my little brother one year that was the Muppet’s van with the whole band hanging out the windows. God bless Jason Segal for introducing them to a new generation!
Looking forward to watching it on DVD. Thanks for the great review!
I suggested that we see this at the theater about a month ago and Jason looked at me like I was crazy. I can’t wait to see it.