Opening Scenes: ‘The Muppets’

By Chip Schrader

Staff Movie Critic

“The Muppets” opens with the clicking sound of an old super 8 projector and a clip from a home movie with brothers Walter and Gary playing with squirt guns. Walter, the narrator, is a puppet and his brother is human. As Walter insists, they were like twins, and you couldn’t tell them apart. The opening sequence cuts to where Walter discovers the Muppets as he finds himself not growing like his brother. For the first time, his life makes sense after he became a lifelong Muppet fan.

Writer and star Jason Segal plays the gentle and sweet Gary who always looks out for his brother who either never noticed or never let on his brother is a puppet. Segal’s quirky portrayal of Gary brings movie fans back to James Stewart’s portrayal of Elwood P. Dowd in “Harvey.” His genuine love for the Muppet legacy shines through to his performance and his song and dance scenes are riotous and spirited, not unlike Dick Van Dyke.

The very busy Amy Adams plays Mary, the saccharine sweet love interest of Gary. Perhaps raised reading too many fairytales, she is a perfect match for Gary, although she finds herself cast aside with the tight bind between brothers Gary and Walter. Adams’ wide-eyed portrayal and heavenly singing makes her the perfect fit, as she will no doubt charm audiences.

Just before a very funny opening musical number, Gary invites his brother to join him and Mary for their anniversary trip to Hollywood to see the Muppet Theater. When they get there, they are unpleasantly surprised and must reunite the Muppets in order to save the theater from an evil oil tycoon who found a reservoir under the property.

The best part is the writing. Segal doesn’t forget the original Muppet Show fans for a single scene. From 80s references where Kermit’s Robot offers a Tab soda and “New Coke” to references of classic Muppet-isms like “Mahna Mahna,” they provide a great deal of humor, back story and clean fun that adult audiences can enjoy with or without kids in tow. Plus, the movie is packed with fun action, silly gags, and a fun story that ends with a telethon where cameo star Jack Black is fit to be tied, literally.

Bottom line: with the opening sequence of home movies and a musical number just after makes the film start like a blitzkrieg. It quickly settles down into a story of passing greatness, true love, being accepted and coming of age. While it seems there are many themes coalescing, the transitions are smooth and the movie is written in a manner where they don’t clutter the story. The cameos are too numerous to mention, the new songs are clever and funny, and this is the first Muppet Movie in years that does not abandon adult audiences with shoddy or childish plotting. It will leave audiences with only one thing to say: Mahna Mahna! 4 out of 5.

Photo Caption: (Courtesy movie poster)

Congrats Wells Warriors!

Seacoast Communities Ready for Two Weekends of Holiday Revelry

OGUNQUIT/KENNEBUNKPORT—

This December marks important anniversaries for two of the biggest holiday festivities on the southern Maine seacoast. In their 25th and 30th years, respectively, the Ogunquit and Kennebunkport communities are hauling out the holly and lighting the lights, readying for the Christmas season with fun and flair. During the first two weekends of December, the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce will present their silver anniversary “Christmas by the Sea,” while the Kennebunkport Business Association’s diamond anniversary “Christmas Prelude™” will likewise provide a full schedule of seasonal splendor. Both communities have grown their festivities over the years, adding multiple craft fairs, community luncheons, children’s activities, parades and lively entertainment, set to please both visitors and locals alike. With both events kicking off in just one short week, it is clear that the holiday season is finally upon us! For more information on Ogunquit’s Christmas by the Sea, visit www.visitogunquit.org. For more information on Kennebunkport’s Christmas Prelude™, visit www.christmasprelude.com. And to all a good night!

Photo Caption: Kennebunkport’s Christmas Prelude™ features the iconic lobster trap Christmas tree as a centerpiece of the annual festivities. (Photo by Sheila Matthews-Bull)

Photo Caption: Santa makes an appearance at the 2010 Christmas by the Sea in Ogunquit. You can be sure to see the big guy celebrating at the 25^th anniversary events. (Photo by Molly McCoy)

Spirit of Giving Helps Bring Holiday Joy to 500 Maine Children

OGUNQUIT—

As of Monday, November 21, the Ogunquit Spirit of Giving Committee had successfully matched 500 worthy Maine children to generous sponsors throughout the country. The Committee's campaign, which was set into motion for the 2011 season in early July, seeks to bring holiday cheer to Maine children associated with either the Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine, Inc. (AFFM), or The Frannie Peabody Center (FPC). Since 2005, the Spirit of Giving Committee has worked to connect these children with sponsors, and has to date helped make almost 2,500 Christmas dreams come true.

Despite this great success, the need is real and grows every year. In addition to the 500 children already matched through Ogunquit Spirit of Giving, both AFFM and FPC have long lists of children and families who are still in need this holiday season. With Christmas right around the corner, many would-be sponsors think it is too late to make a difference. In actuality, nothing could be further from the truth.

If you want to help bring Christmas to a deserving household in Maine, bring a gift card to the Spirit of Giving Gift Collection Party on Sunday, December 4 at 4 p.m. This annual holiday gathering at MaineStreet on Route 1 in Ogunquit gives sponsors the opportunity to drop off their pre-wrapped donations. In addition, the Committee ensures that any gift card donations made at the door will help an unsponsored child. These gift cards also help provide for any children whose sponsors are unable to deliver their gifts and who would otherwise be left behind. If you would like to sponsor a child but cannot attend the Party, please email info@ogunquitgiving.com to learn how you can help. The event may be held in Ogunquit, but the impact of this campaign is felt statewide.

For more information on Ogunquit Spirit of Giving, AFFM and FPC, visit www.ogunquitgiving.com.

EES and Project Share

ELIOT—

On Monday, October 31, students at Eliot Elementary School began collecting canned and boxed non-perishable goods for Project Share, which works in conjunction with the local Lions Club to distribute these items to help feed hungry families within the community. A truck from the highway department picked up the donations on Thursday morning, November 17. Once all the goods are collected and sorted, a task that takes hours, the Lions Club volunteers assemble the baskets and prepare them for the delivery to local families in need.

For every non-perishable good a student brought in, they glued a feather to our big turkey that remains on display, so that students and families were able to see our generous donations growth. This year, the students of Eliot Elementary School raised a generous amount of food for local families.

Photo Caption: (Courtesy photo)

So. Berwick Festival Offers A Bounty of New Events

SOUTH BERWICK—

Ice sculptures, a wandering minstrel, miniature horse-and-carriage rides, and a hand bell choir are among the new attractions at the annual Home for the Holidays downtown celebration from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec 2.

This year nearly 30 merchants will host activities for the whole family, stretching around the corner for the first time to include festivities on Lower Main Street.

“We decided the event had reached critical mass along the main drag, and it was time to broaden our scope,” said Jayne Morrell, one of the key volunteer organizers.

In addition to the traditional appearance of Santa Claus, Rock my Soul carolers, Phil the Karaoke master and cookie decorating, there will be concerts by the High School Select Choir and Quint-Essential Winds; free mini checkups at Great Works Chiropractic and Wellness; and local Boy Scouts selling wreaths. The newest restaurant on the square, Isidore on the Rocks, will offer a custom local beverage, the SoBotini.

Fogarty’s Restaurant and the Academy Street Inn are sponsoring a minstrel, Dave Peloquin, an internationally known folk musician who will serenade strollers on Lower Main in his trademark top hat. Founder of the group Christmas in New England and lead singer for New England Christmastide Musicians, Peloquin has appeared on “Good Morning America.”

SoBo Central, the non-profit group that provides an umbrella for Home for the Holidays and six other local programs, will run a scavenger hunt beginning at Bob’s Trophies. The hunt will challenge families to find hidden objects at retail outlets around town, and those who succeed will win a prize at the new SoBotique second-hand shop on Lower Main.

The Women’s Holiday Art Sale, the original cornerstone of the annual celebration, this year will have three locations: Film Barn Studio, Lassel Architects and the Jewett House. Thirteen juried artists will be offering fine jewelry, handcrafted cards, felted animals, fused glass, metalwork, art quilts, children’s books and more.

The Art Sale also will be open Saturday, Dec. 3, as will a new artisan show at Curves, craft sales at the First Parish Federated Church and First Baptist Church, and the holiday bazaar at Marshwood High School. The weekend will conclude with a Community Chorus at South Berwick concert, “Laud to the Nativity,” at 3 p.m. Sunday at Marshwood High School.

In the last seven years, Home for the Holidays has become a centerpiece of community life in the holiday season as downtown business owners keep their doors open into the evening on Friday and hundreds of residents fill the streets with cheer.

In addition to Santa Claus welcoming children for a photo op at P. Gagnon & Son, Mrs. Claus will read stories at the Public Library, People’s United Bank will help children write letters to Santa, and York Hospital is inviting children for face painting and snacks.

For a complete listing of activities, the Home for the Holidays brochure is online at www.southberwickmaine.org.

Photo Caption: This horse-drawn carriage, owned by Central School teacher Leigh Robinson, is one of many new attractions at this year’s Home for the Holidays downtown celebration Dec. 2 in South Berwick. Here, children drive the carriage at Eliot Farm Camp. (Courtesy photo)

Warriors Prepare for Battle

The undefeated Wells football team heads to Portland on Saturday with hopes of a championship title.

By Larry Favinger

Staff Columnist

WELLS—

Two undefeated football teams will battle Saturday in Portland for the 2011 Class B state championship.

Unbeaten Wells and Leavitt will square off at 6 p.m. at Fitzpatrick Stadium for the state crown.

“We’re excited to be playing in the game,” Wells Coach Tom Roche said in a telephone interview early this week.

The Warriors (11-0), the Western Maine Class B champion, are seeking their first state football title since 1997 when they beat Belfast 32-30 for the crown.

Leavitt (11-0), the Eastern Maine champion, last won the state title in 2009 when it beat Cape Elizabeth 35-21.

Roche’s team defeated neighboring rival York 32-7, Westbrook 22-6, and defending champion Mountain Valley 10-0 to reach the state championship game.

In the East, Coach Mike Hathaway’s Hornets were beating Morse High of Bath, 61-12; Hamden Academy, 47-22; and Mt. Blue 22-21 in double overtime.

Playing in the state championship game “was the goal” from the start of pre-season, Roche said in a telephone interview. The Warriors were in the regional championship game in 2010.

He said it was the sixth game of the season where Wells began to understand it was a good football team. In that game Wells defeated Mountain Valley 28-12. Mountain Valley has been in the regional title game in 13 of the last 19 years.

The Warriors feature 17 seniors on this year’s team, backed up by a good crop of underclassmen. Roche said it’s “hard for me to single out key players. We have a lot of good players.”

Looking forward to the game, Roche had praise for Leavitt.

“I think they do a great job up there,” he said. “They’re a tough football team.”

“I think we match up well,” he continued. “We’ll see what happens. I think we can move the ball. If we can just shut them down we’ll be fine.”

Leavitt has shown a powerful offense, scoring more than 50 points five times during the season and more than 60 twice.

On the other side of the ball, Wells shut out four opponents, including the defending state champion Mountain Valley.

This is Roche’s 13th year as head coach of the Warriors, his 19th on the football staff.