The Muppets

The Muppets (2011) starring the Muppets, Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones. The Muppets, made irrelevant by the passage of time, must find a way to put on a show to save their theater from an evil oil man (Cooper) who wants to demolish it and drill for petroleum. That's the bare bones of the plot, and there's not a whole lot more to it. Young children being introduced to the Muppets for the first time may like this movie, as well as those adults who grew up with the Muppets and feel nostalgic for their youth. But for most adults it has little to offer. What it does offer is wholesome, family-friendly entertainment which is, at its worst, harmless. (Good subtitles and closed captions.) Grade: B

Help!

Help! (1965) starring John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr. Members of a far Eastern cult pursue Ringo, who has somehow come into possession of a ring that the cult uses in their ceremonies. The other Beatles come along for the ride. The flimsy plot provides a framework within which John, Paul, George and Ringo can perform a number of their songs -- although the songs in this movie are not among the best the Beatles ever sang. To be fair, this movie provides some good laughs, and Beatles fans are sure to be delighted. The subtitles are good; even the songs are subtitled. Closed captions are not offered, and not really needed. Grade: B

Singin' in the Rain (DVD)

Singin' in the Rain (1952) starring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, Jean Hagen. Arguably the greatest movie musical ever made, combines humor, music and dancing to make a great entertainment. The year is 1927, and the backdrop is Hollywood's need to shift from silent films to talkies. Hagen portrays a silent-movie queen whose voice makes it impossible for her to make the switch. Kelly and Reynolds provide the romance, while O'Connor brings the laughs with his standout number, "Make 'Em Laugh." The highlight of the film is Kelly performing the title number, dancin' and singin' in the rain. The transfer to DVD is gorgeous, and the subtitles are good. Grade: A