The Great Muppet Caper (1981)

“The Muppet Movie” behind him, clearly made for and dedicated to the unbounded imagination of children, literal and those of us north of 39, Jim Henson moved forward with “The Great Muppet Caper” as a 1940s mystery movie that’s honest to God something made for himself, with a wink of genius satire. Once again in the “We’re making a movie” vein, Kermit the Frog (Henson) and Fozzie Bear (Frank Oz) play twin (!) newspaper reporters who get caught up in a diamond heist masterminded by Charles Grodin against his diva sister (Diana Rigg) in London. Along the way, they meet Miss Piggy (also Oz), and end up staying in a hotel populated by other Muppets (Scooter, Animal, etc.), and ride bicycles, drive in a bus, break in into a museum, and skydive. The bike scene blew my 7-year-old mind in 1981, and still does. Henson directs this go-round and it’s just a magical romp that again let’s children be in on the joke, no cynicism. Happiness. Best gag: Kermit teaching a taxi driver (Beauregard) to, well, drive, when the guy does not understand straight from reverse. New films pale. A

The Muppet Movie (1979)

“The Muppet Movie” is perfection. This is one of the first movies I saw in a theater. The very Jim Henson fourth-wall tweaking story has Kermit the Frog making his way from his tiny swamp to Hollywood, meeting his felt gang (Fozzie, Piggy, Scooter, Gonzo, and even Big Bird) along the way, and outsmarting Charles Durning as a seller of fried frog legs. Yikes! The kick, so to speak, other than seeing the Muppets move freely, ride bikes, and drive cars: Henson’s unparalleled love of entertaining children with no pandering still warms my soul. He celebrates each child in the audience, upholding above all the joyous wonder, curiosity, imagination, and intelligence of the very young. No studio does that now. Not one. “Rainbow Connection” truly is one of the greatest film songs, that final verse saying you -– the children -- make all this possible. For the adults, the humor – loner Rowlf takes himself for a walk -- and guest stars –- Richard Pryor! -– never tip toward concession or ridicule. I can drone on forever of my love for “Muppet Movie.” I love it now as I did at age 5. A+

Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey (2011)

“Being Elmo.” A movie about Elmo? Not quite. But the man whose hand, voice and soul inhibits the wildly popular “Sesame Street” character worshipped, revered and awed by college-age youth and under, down to preschool. Kevin Clash is his name, and this feel-good documentary tells the tale of the African-American Muppeteer, the first to work for Jim Henson, from shit-poor upbringing to Oprah’s couch fame. Director Constance Marks goes for uplifting, as light as “Street,” and as cuddly as Elmo himself. She eschews hurt and pain: Clash’s childhood years of being bullied is glossed over, he is divorced before we even realize he’s married, and his daughter is back in good grace before we see her all-too-apparent unhappiness. Softball? Yes. But Clash is (portrayed as) such a kind human being, and shy – he becomes alive only through Elmo or his other puppet creations – it’s impossible to resist. When he interacts with a child whose dying wish is to meet Elmo, it’s a heart breaker, you can see the responsibility wash over Clash. Makes a guy want to hug Elmo. B+