A safe, but affectionate doc on the man who gave us Kermit and many great Muppets.
Jim Henson has made a name for himself in the puppet world, or Muppet world in this case. From Kermit the Frog to “Sesame Street” to “The Muppet Movie” to “The Dark Crystal” to Labyrinth,” he knew how to bring on the characters to life. Born in 1936 and died in 1990, he saw an art form in the puppets that humans couldn’t really express.
“Jim Henson: Idea Man” is the made-for-Disney+ documentary directed by Ron Howard, which talks about how he came up with new ideas for entertainment. And even though it doesn’t delve completely deep into his life, it still likes to remind us of the genius’ optimism and innovation in puppeteering. How each generation in his life, he was able to break new grounds, and take his work to unprecedented new heights.
Based on what kids watch on TV, a show was needed to not only have colorful characters, but also give their viewers life lessons. And since Henson’s previous work was violent with characters getting bonked, squished, and shot, he has decided to get into children’s entertainment. “Sesame Street” is the show he created, but of course, you all know that.
You also get interviews from Rita Moreno, Jennifer Connolly, Dave Goelz, Frank Oz, and Fran Brill, who have all collaborated with Henson before, and even his son Brian Henson (whose last puppet movie was unfortunately “The Happytime Murders”). I think, out of all of them, it’s Oz and Brian, who are the most insightful about the genius, and how he connected with his team players and family.
The best “Sesame Street” doc this decade, so far, has been “Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street,” which was more committed to the creation and messages inside creating the show. That’s the better film, but “Jim Henson: Idea Man” is still a good one, because it reminds us of the good times, and the sad times when Henson wasn’t afraid of dying, but passed away from toxic shock syndrome.
I was a big fan of “The Muppet Show,” because of the famous people who guest starred and because of the originality the Muppets were given in their sketches. And it’s obligatory, but necessary that this doc talks about the show. And “The Muppet Movie” is especially crucial for the film to discuss as well, because of the new grounds it reached. “Jim Henson: Idea Man” is about how he transitioned from regular puppets to commercials to guest appearances to hosting shows to making movies, and while it’s not a perfect film, it still has a lot to offer for fans of his work.
Disney+ is where the film finds the “Rainbow Connection.”
Streaming on Disney+ Tomorrow