Hugo and The Muppets

I've lamented lately that there has been a serious dearth of amazing films this year, though being in Cedar Rapids does mean I don't have much access to foreign and independent films. Still, there should have been at least one summer blockbuster that blew me away, going off years past, and the word of mouth for Drive and The Tree of Life had me excited. (I need to watch Drive again; there have been times when the first time I've watched a film I wasn't receptive and subsequent viewings improved my opinion.) But every film has either not impressed me that much or I couldn't overlook the (sometimes singular) flaw(s) enough that I would say any of them deserved four stars.

Part of me worried I was becoming too cynical, and now the reverse has happened: I saw Hugo today, I loved it, and I'll give it four stars in my imaginary newspaper review.

But... While I enjoyed it, while I loved its wonder and infatuation with film as a medium, it is a bit breezy. It's not what I would call weightless, but the drama is light and the supporting threads are like airy padding that almost force whimsy. I don't agree with Tasha Robinson's comments, but I fully understand where she's coming from. Yet, I forgive the flaws because the film has heart and a genuine sense of wonder. That's the important part, that the film isn't cynical. It may be the least-Sorcese film Scorcese has made since The Last Temptation of Christ, but his love of the material comes through even if you're unfamiliar with his personal history or advocacy for film preservation.

But part of me wonders if I'm being too kind to it. To eager to rate it highly.

***

The lack of cynicism also helps makes The Muppets enjoyable. It's even more by-the-numbers than Hugo, and fully aware and up-front about it, but it also lays out that this kind of almost-old-fashioned humor still has a place and is worth preserving.

Not to reference the AV Club too much, but I do agree that the film is a bit too nostalgic for its own good. Fond memories of the Muppets is fine, but as Phipps says, it's time to create new memories to feel nostalgic over.

It's a fun film, though, with some real humor. I don't have much else to say about it.