Tuesday, December 6, 2011

The Muppets & Your Local Art House Theater

Right after Thanksgiving, our whole family ventured out for a much-anticipated event: The Muppets had just opened in theaters, and we wanted to be among the first to take it in. I’ll tell you right now, you have to see this movie!

Hilarious and heart-warming, but not in a cloying way, The Muppets is great fun for the whole family. As a longtime Muppet fan, I feared a new generation of writers could not live up to Jim Henson’s legacy and vision. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised by their blend of '80s nostalgia and a modern comic sensibility. The film feels very much like reuniting with old friends, just as it should, but goes beyond being a mere tribute piece or re-hashing of the familiar. The Muppets is actually clever and originalnot what I expected from (gasp!) Disney.

My husband selected Oakland’s Grand Lake Theater as our destination—an Art Deco theater that has been lovingly maintained over the decades and still has its original ornate chandeliers, frescoes, and tile work.

Sitting with my family in the theater brought to mind something I haven’t touched on yet in this blog, which is my great love of movie theaters. In a world of online streaming, portable devices, and giant flat screen TVs, the way most of us watch movies has certainly changed over the years. I am not opposed to watching movies at home. I love the convenience, and sites like Netflix have given my family access to all kinds of previously hard-to-find films.

But there’s something magical about going to the theater, especially historic art houses like the Grand Lake. I love the grandeur, and imagining all the generations before who have escaped into that flickering world of the screen. Movie technology has evolved, but the sensation of sitting in the dark, laughing and crying along with fellow audience members—that experience remains timeless. Looking over at our kids’ beaming faces, wide-eyed and illuminated, I instantly re-connected with something treasured from my own childhood, and felt the joy of sharing it.

After the movie, we walked to Lake Merritt for a little bird-watching and went to lunch at a nearby restaurant, which leads me to the other thing I really value about local art houses: Unlike multi-plexes, the small theaters are part of the fabric of many communities. From small town main streets to neighborhood shopping districts, art house theaters provide culture, vibrancy, and a place where people come together.

Unfortunately, many smaller theaters are struggling to survive. A couple of years ago, I wrote an article on the plight of art house theaters, and I interviewed some folks around the country who are working to save them. It’s an uphill battle, to say the least, and they need all the help they can get.

So here’s an assignment for you: Go see The Muppets this holiday season. Bring your whole family, and if you can, support a local, independent art house theater.  And, oh yeah, don’t forget the popcorn!