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| Ron Haward. Photo: José Alberto Hermosillo ©2024 FestivalinLA |
In “Jim Henson: Idea Man,” award-winning director Ron Howard (“A Beautiful Mind,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “Thirteen Lives”) presents a linear, structured narrative that focuses primarily on the work of the Muppets creator rather than his personal life.
People who adored the show may consider it a treasure. However, this sentiment may not apply to hardcore fans, who argue that crucial information is missing, including Jim’s cause of death—a bacterial infection at age 53. Despite being a Disney+ movie, this documentary cannot be compared to Pixar’s “Coco,” a profound animated film that explores the other side: death.
The main reason Ron Howard handled the material lightly in the documentary about Jim Henson was to keep it hopeful rather than sentimental. Howard felt he was offering real insight into the life of the creator of the puppets for “Sesame Street.” He saw the paradox between his material and Henson’s experimental films, which were very optimistic, human, and revealing.
After years of struggle, the young puppeteer, with a strong desire to work in television, made his first successful attempt in the summer of 1969 by introducing his Muppet characters who interacted with humans on “Sesame Street.”
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| Time magazine featured Big Bird in 1970. Cover credit: Bill Pierce. |
A year later, Time magazine featured Big Bird on the cover with the quote: “… It’s not only the best children’s TV show in history, but it is also one of the best parents’ shows as well.”
After the success of Sesame Street, Henson could not find producers to bring The Muppet Show to life in the United States. The production then took a more international approach when Sir Lew Grade, the owner of the British ATV Starion, produced two specials with him: “Julie on Sesame Street” and “Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass.”
Sir Grade was familiar with puppet television programs and offered Henson a deal to record “The Muppet Show” at the Elstree Studios in England. The deal also included an international broadcasting contract covering more than 100 countries to air the show.
Before departing for the U.K., Henson set aside his syndication and other union contracts with the Writers’ Guild and began production in London as soon as possible.
During the show’s taping, the producers booked major Hollywood stars, including Diana Ross, Henry Belafonte, and Tina Turner, to appear as special guests on “The Muppet Show.”
Aired on Sundays, “The Muppet Show” was a huge hit. During the last three months of 1976, it was viewed by 14 million people in Great Britain.
Before making the documentary, the Henson family was reluctant to have the creative patriarch’s image and private life go public for numerous reasons. While reviewing the archive, Ron Howard saw different options for approaching his newest adventure. He focused on the entire family behind the creator and, of course, on the unforgettable characters.
Howard unfolds a biographical story featuring fabulous archival clips, treasured interviews, glorious behind-the-scenes footage, and staggering, boundless graphic material that will keep us wondering more about the conception and embodiment of those dear, unforgettable characters and the creator himself. Disney Plus and a dozen other producers, including members of the Henson family and the estate’s heirs, produced the new documentary.
The music, produced by Hans Zimmer and composed by David Fleming (Blue Planet), is driven by playfulness and joy. Fleming adjusted to the time compression and moved through emotions about ambition, creativity, a higher spirit, and Henson’s joyful place. Fleming focused on the characters’ diversity and the universality of the inspiring creations.
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| “Jim Herson: Idea Man” Panel. Photo: José Alberto Hermosillo ©2024 FestivalinLA |
In the documentary, the evolution of Henson’s story resonates with our memories of “The Muppet Show” and our childhood experiences, as we identified with Jim and his diverse characters.
The editor cleaned up the Henson family interviews using AI (Artificial Intelligence), giving the linear structure a distinctive flow. Those recordings were demanding and energizing for everyone, including the animation crew. According to a panel presented by Deadline at Vidiots in Eagle Rock, California, everyone who participated in Henson’s documentary wanted to make it right.
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| Jim Henson and his Muppet characters. |
The documentary was made to keep Jim’s voice active in a preserved form and to document the evolution of Mr. Henson from his participation in “Sesame Street” to “The Muppets Show” and subsequently to the feature films produced by the Jim Henson Company.
The interviews recalled experiences working with Academy Award winners Jennifer Connelly and Rita Moreno, which are essential for audiences to sympathize with the main character and his creations. Late in the game, the producers of “Idea Man” continued to find more material regarding Henson’s work.
Ron Howard continues to find subjects with stories that truly matter, and it is fascinating to discover, in this case, Jim’s early work. This documentary is about Henson’s journey and the challenges he faced as he risked everything he had to deliver one of the most transcendent shows in history for the entire family.
I applaud Howard’s team’s courage and tenacity in bringing to light the work and creations of the “Idea Man,” who, by creating one of the most influential TV shows, helped millions of children and parents learn, accept, and make this world a better place to live in.
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| Vidiots screening, Eagle Rock, California. Photo: José Alberto Hermosillo ©2024 FestivalinLA |
Jim Henson Idea Man | Official Trailer | Disney+
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| Vidiots’ Jim Henson movies on DVD display. Photo: José Alberto Hermosillo ©2024 FestivalinLA |
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| Brian Henson, producer & studio executive, son of The Muppets creator Jim Henson & José Alberto Hermosillo, critic at www.festivalinLA.com |
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