BLOG The One Movie You Must See This Weekend

It’s time to play the music, it’s time to light the lights, reckons Laura McConnell

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This weekend, UK cinema-goers get a special treat.

If they see the right movie, they’ll be served generous helpings of weird creatures, cool special effects, great stunts, and absolutely mind-blowing music. And if they’re anything like me, they’ll laugh, cry, and literally clap their hands in unabashed joy while they watch this film.

Sure, there are a lot of choices for movie fans this weekend, like any other, but in my opinion this film beats them all. It’s part of a beloved franchise, which ratchets the reboot worry factor up quite a bit, but there is nothing to fear here. This movie somehow manages to hold the attention new young fans while simultaneously not insulting the adults in the audience by being too childish. The powers-that-be didn’t change too many things, either. They didn’t stomp all over an established canon in this latest version of a childhood favourite, but instead treated it with utmost respect. This one is a film that parents won’t mind sitting through with their children. In fact, when I saw it for the first time (yes, there was a second viewing, and I’d gladly go see it again), the adults seemed to be having even more fun than the kids, who were also very happily entertained. That’s a sure sign of a winner.

The UK has had to wait ages for this one, and while I’m often not too sympathetic to that simply because I am frequently on the receiving end of the wait myself (the US won’t get Sherlock series two until May and I haven’t seen any of Being Human series four yet), this time I think the delay in getting this to you was truly cruel and unusual punishment.

I’m sure you’ve all guessed by now that I’m not talking about the jumped-up 3D rehashing of The Phantom Menace. No, I’m talking about one of the best films I saw last year, and one that I’d watch again and again. I think it’s criminal that you all haven’t gotten it until now, but I’m glad that your wait is finally over.

So come on. You know what to do.

It’s time to play the music.

It’s time to light the lights.

It’s time to go see The Muppets in the cinema tonight!

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