2010 (of the Red Age) adventures

My adventures in the 2010s decade
Benjamin Walker's trips in the 2010s
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2010 (of the Red Age)
People incidents
Jean Simmons (Hamlet, Spartacus) died from lung cancer at her home on January 22nd, 2010, nine days before her 81st birthday.
Disneyland Resort, Anaheim
The mission for saving money had been accomplished and my dreams of going to Disneyland had finally came true!
On February 12th, 2010, I left 3705 NW Columbia Avenue with my Mother and head to the Portland International Airport. Emily, Mom, and I board the plane heading for Santa Ana in southern California. We arrived at Disneyland Resort (in honor of its 55th anniversary) in Anaheim and stayed in the Grand Californian Hotel. I brought a few DVDs (Toy Story 2 (in honor of its sequel this summer), Cinderella (in honor of its 60th anniversary), Toy Story (in honor of its 15th anniversary and its sequel this summer)).
The first day started and we went to Disneyland Park and went on Indiana Jones Adventure, Tarzan's Treehouse, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, It's a Small World, Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin, and Space Mountain and went shopping at It's a Small World Toy Shop and the Emporium at Main Street USA. The next day starts and we went to Disney's California Adventure Park and went on California Screamin', Grizzly River Run, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!, and Muppet*Vision 3D and we went shopping in the World of Disney at Downtown Disney.
At February 15th, 2010, we departed Anaheim and flew back to Portland.
People incidents
After returning from a brunch on March 14th, 2010, Peter Graves (Mission: Impossible, Airplane!) collapsed and died of a heart attack at the 83, four days before his 84th birthday.
According to a spokesperson, Fess Parker (Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone) died of natural causes on March 18th, 2010 at his home in Santa Ynez, California, near the Fess Parker Winery. He was buried at the Santa Barbara Cemetery in Santa Barbara, California.
How to Train Your Dragon (March 26, 2010 – October 14, 2010)
Awards: Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Nominee
MPAA Rating: PG (for sequences of intense action and some scary images, and brief mild languages)
Critic Score: 98% Certified Fresh.
Average Rating: 7.9/10.
Consensus: Boasting dazzling animation, a script with surprising dramatic depth, and thrilling 3-D sequences, How to Train Your Dragon soars.
Box office: $494.9 million
Plot
The island of Berk is a remote Viking village, from which dragons periodically steal livestock. Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) the awkward son of the village chieftain, Stoick the Vast (Gerald Butler), is too small to fight the dragons and instead fashions mechanical devices under his apprenticeship with Gobber (Craig Ferguson) the blacksmith, though his inventions often backfire. During one attack, Hiccup believes he has shot down a Night Fury, an extremely rare and dangerous dragon. Hiccup later finds it in the forest trapped in his bolas, but finds that he can't bring himself to kill the dragon and instead sets it free.
Stoick assembles a fleet to find the dragons' nest, leaving Hiccup in a dragon-fighting class taught by Gobber. Hiccup returns to the forest to find the Night Fury still there, and realizes it is unable to fly properly because of its crippled caudal fin. Hiccup gradually tames the dragon and gives it the name "Toothless", for its retractable teeth. Hiccup makes a harness and prosthetic fin that allows him to guide the dragon in free flight. By studying Toothless' behavior, Hiccup becomes proficient in subduing the captive dragons during training. Stoick's fleet arrives home unsuccessful, but he is cheered by Hiccup's unexpected success.
Astrid (America Ferrera), a tough Viking girl whom Hiccup has a crush on, discovers Hiccup is training Toothless but before she can tell the village, Hiccup takes her for a ride to demonstrate his relationship with the dragon. Toothless unexpectedly takes the pair to the dragons' nest where they discover a gargantuan dragon named the Red Death that eats the smaller dragons unless they bring it stolen livestock.
Back at the village, Hiccup subdues a captive dragon in his final training test in front of his father instead of killing it, but Stoick inadvertently angers the dragon into attacking. Toothless attempts to protect Hiccup in the ensuing panic but is instead captured by the Vikings. Hiccup accidentally reveals to Stoick that Toothless is capable of locating the dragons' nest. Stoick disowns his son and sets off for the nest with Toothless chained to the lead ship as a guide.
The Vikings expel most of the dragons but are overwhelmed by the Red Death until Hiccup, Astrid and their fellow pupils fly in riding the training dragons from the academy and provide cover fire. Hiccup almost drowns trying to break Toothless free from a sinking ship but Stoick saves them both and then reconciles with his son. Toothless and Hiccup destroy the Red Death but Hiccup is injured in the fight. Hiccup regains consciousness on Berk where his left foot has been replaced by a prosthesis, and the Vikings and the dragons now live in harmony.
People incidents
John Forsythe (Bachelor Father, Charlie's Angels, Dynasty) died on April 1st, 2010, from pneumonia in Santa Ynez, California, aged 92. He was interred at Oak Hill Cemetery, Santa Barbara, California.
Eddie Carroll (the voice of Jiminy Cricket) died on April 6th, 2010 of a brain tumor at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California.
Dorothy Provine (It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World) died of emphysema on April 25th, 2010 in Bremerton, Washington.
Lynn Redgrave (Georgy Girl, Gods and Monsters) died from breast cancer in her Kent, Connecticut, home on May 2nd, 2010, aged 67.
Lena Horne (Stormy Weather, The Wiz) died on May 9th, 2010, in New York City.
Shrek Forever After (May 21, 2010 – December 7, 2010)
MPAA Rating: PG (for mild action, some rude humor and brief language)
Critic Score: rotten58%.
Average Rating: 5.9/10
Consensus: While not without its moments, Shrek Forever After too often feels like a rote rehashing of the franchise's earlier entries.
Box office: $753.6 million
Plot
Shrek (Mike Myers) has grown steadily tired of being a family man and celebrity among the local villagers, leading him to yearn for the days when he felt like a "real ogre". When he takes his family to Far Far Away to celebrate his children's first birthday, a series of mishaps further injure his ego, causing him to lose his temper and walk out in anger.
Shrek encounters Rumpelstiltskin (Walt Dohrn), who seizes his chance, having observed Shrek's angry outburst. He follows Shrek and arranges for Shrek to appear to save his life. To "thank" him, he gives Shrek a day to live like a real ogre, in exchange for a day from his childhood that he would not remember being erased.
Shrek signs the contract and appears in a reality where he is feared by villagers. He takes the opportunity to cause some lighthearted mischief until he finds "WANTED" posters for Fiona and his home deserted and desolate. He is kidnapped by witches and taken to Rumpelstiltskin, now the King of Far Far Away, which has become derelict and run down.
Upon inquiry, Rumpelstiltskin reveals that the day he erased was the day of Shrek's birth. Therefore, Shrek never saved Fiona (Cameron Diaz), never met Donkey (Eddie Murphy), and consequently Rumpelstiltskin was able to get King Harold (John Cleese) and Queen Lillian (Julie Andrews) to sign their kingdom away, making them both disappear. When the day ends, Shrek will disappear as well. Shrek escapes Rumpelstiltskin's castle with Donkey. Initially terrified of Shrek, Donkey decides to trust him after seeing Shrek cry over his erased history, something he had never seen an ogre do before. After Shrek explains the situation, Donkey helps him find a hidden exit clause: the contract will be nullified if Shrek and Fiona share true love's kiss.
They soon encounter a band of ogres who are resisting Rumpelstiltskin. The ogres are led by a still-cursed Fiona who, after escaping from the tower where she was held captive, keeps the retired and overweight Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) as a pet. Shrek does everything he can to gain Fiona's love, but she is too busy preparing an ambush on Rumpelstiltskin. She is also bitterly cynical and disillusioned about the power of true love and throws herself into planning Rumpelstiltskin's capture. While sparring with her, Fiona begins to like Shrek, but stops short of kissing him. Puss encourages him to continue pursuing Fiona.
During the ambush, the ogres are captured by the Pied Piper (Jeremy Steig), though Shrek and Fiona escape with the intervention of Puss and Donkey. Shrek insists Fiona kiss him, saying it will fix everything, but because Fiona does not truly love him, the kiss does not work. When he hears that Rumpelstiltskin is offering the "deal of a lifetime" (where all wishes come true) to the one who brings him Shrek, Shrek turns himself in and uses the deal to free the other ogres, who then storm into the castle, battle the witches, and capture Rumpelstiltskin.
As the sun rises, Shrek begins to fade from existence. But Fiona, having fallen in love with him, kisses Shrek just before he disappears, thereby voiding the contract and restoring Shrek to his world, just before he lashed out at the party. Shrek embraces his friends and family with a newfound appreciation for everything he has, truly living happily forever after.
People incidents
Eugenia Paul (Zorro) died on May 24th, 2010 at Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, at the age of 75.
Eddie Barth (Simon & Simon) died of heart failure at his home in Los Angeles on May 28th, 2010 at the age of 78.
Dennis Hopper (Speed, Blue Velvet, Easy Rider) died at his home in the coastal Los Angeles district of Venice, Los Angeles on the morning of May 29th, 2010, 12 days after his 74th birthday.
Jimmy Dean (Big Bad John) died at the age of 81, on June 13th, 2010 at his Red Roof Inn in Varina, Virginia.
Toy Story 3 (June 18, 2010 – November 2, 2010)
Awards: Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Winner.
MPAA Rating: G
Critic Score: 99% Certified Fresh
Average Rating: 8.9/10
Consensus: Deftly blending comedy, adventure, and honest emotion, Toy Story 3 is a rare second sequel that really works.
Grade: B+
Box office: $1.067 billion
Plot
17-year-old Andy (John Morris) is about to leave for college, and his toys have not been played with for years. He intends to take only Woody (Tom Hanks) with him, and puts Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan Cusack) and the other toys in a bag to be stored in the attic. Andy's mother (Laurie Metcalf) mistakenly takes the bag to the curb for garbage pickup. The toys escape and, believing Andy intended to throw them away, decide to climb into a donation box with Barbie (Jodi Benson) bound for Sunnyside Daycare. Woody follows them but is unable to convince them of the mistake.
Andy's toys are welcomed by the other toys at Sunnyside, and are given a tour of the seemingly idyllic play-setting by Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear ("Lotso") (Ned Beatty), Big Baby, and Ken (Michael Keaton), with whom Barbie falls in love. All of the toys choose to stay, except Woody, who attempts to return to Andy, but is instead found by Bonnie (Emily Hahn), one of the Sunnyside students. She takes Woody home and plays with him along with her other toys, which are well-treated. Meanwhile, at Sunnyside, a group of toddlers play roughly with Andy's toys.
Buzz seeks out Lotso to request to have them moved to the older children's room, but Lotso, who controls Sunnyside ruthlessly, refuses, explaining that the newer toys need to be sacrificed to the younger children to protect the older ones, indifferent to damage or suffering they might endure. Seeing promise in Buzz, he resets him to his original space ranger persona, which also resets his memory. At the same time, Mrs. Potato Head (Estelle Harris), through an eye she accidentally left in Andy's room, sees Andy searching for the toys and realizes Woody was telling the truth. However, before they can leave, Andy's toys are imprisoned by Lotso's gang, guarded by Buzz.
At Bonnie's house, a toy named Chuckles (Bud Luckey) explains to Woody that he, Lotso and Big Baby once had a beloved owner named Daisy. When the toys were accidentally left behind by Daisy's family during a trip, they made their way back to her house, only to find that Lotso had been replaced, causing Lotso to become embittered and cruel.
Woody returns to Sunnyside and learns from a Chatter Telephone toy (Teddy Newton) that there is only one way out of the daycare: the trash. He reconciles with Andy's other toys and begins planning a way out of Sunnyside. That night, the toys execute their escape, but accidentally reset Buzz to Spanish mode instead of his old persona. Buzz promptly allies himself with Woody and falls in love with Jessie. The toys reach a dumpster, but are caught by Lotso and his gang. As a garbage truck approaches, Woody reveals what he learned about Lotso and tosses Daisy's ownership tag, which Chuckles had kept, to Big Baby. Lotso smashes the tag and claims that toys are meant to be discarded, but this leads an enraged Big Baby to throw Lotso into the dumpster. As the toys try to run away, Lotso pulls Woody into the dumpster just as the truck collects the trash. The rest of Andy's toys fall into the back of the truck while trying to rescue him, and a falling television lands on Buzz, restoring his memory and normal personality.
The truck deposits the toys at a landfill, where they find themselves on a conveyor belt leading to an incinerator. Woody and Buzz help Lotso reach an emergency stop button, only for Lotso to abandon them and escape. The toys resign themselves to their fate, but are rescued at the last second by the Aliens (Jeff Pidgeon) operating an industrial claw. Lotso is found by a garbage truck driver who straps him to his truck's radiator grill and drives away. Woody and his friends board another garbage truck back to Andy's house.
In Andy's room, Woody climbs into the box with Andy's college supplies, while the other toys ready themselves for the attic. Woody leaves a note for Andy, who, thinking the note is from his mother, takes the toys to Bonnie's house and introduces her to them. Bonnie recognizes Woody, who, to Andy's surprise, is at the bottom of the box. Though hesitant at first, Andy passes Woody on to Bonnie, and then plays with her before leaving. Woody and the other toys watch Andy's departure as they begin their new lives with Bonnie. Meanwhile, Barbie, Ken and Big Baby have made vast improvements to Sunnyside, and maintain contact with Woody and his friends through letters.
People incidents
On June 29th, 2010, Ron Gans (Transformers, Welcome to Pooh Corner, Dumbo's Circus) died in Los Angeles at the age of 78, due to complications from pneumonia.
Ilene Woods (Cinderella) eventually died on Thursday July 1st, 2010, suffering complications from Alzheimer's disease in a nursing home at Canoga Park in Los Angeles.
Despicable Me (July 9, 2010 – December 14, 2010)
MPAA Rating: PG (for rude humor and mild action)
Critic Score: 81% Certified Fresh
Average Rating: 6.8/10
Consensus: Borrowing heavily (and intelligently) from Pixar and Looney Tunes, Despicable Me is a surprisingly thoughtful, family-friendly treat with a few surprises of its own.
Box office: $543.1 million
Plot
Gru (Steve Carell), a supervillain, has his pride injured when an unknown supervillain steals the Great Pyramid of Giza, an action that is described by his colleague Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand) as "making all other villains look lame." Gru decides to do better, with the assistance of Dr. Nefario, by shrinking and stealing the Moon, an idea based on his childhood dream of being an astronaut, which was always disparaged by his mother Marlena (Julie Andrews). The plan is expensive and Gru seeks a loan from the Bank of Evil, where the president Mr. Perkins (Will Arnett) is impressed by the plan, but will only provide the money if Gru can obtain the necessary shrink ray first.
Gru and his Minions steal the shrink ray from a secret base in East Asia, but the up-and-coming supervillain, Vector (Jason Segel), who was also responsible for the Pyramid theft, immediately steals it from Gru, as revenge for freezing his head earlier at the Bank of Evil. Gru attempts to break into Vector's fortress to get the shrink ray back, but is defeated by numerous booby traps. However, he notices three orphan girls, Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier), and Agnes (Elsie Fisher), who are able to easily walk into the base because they are selling cookies. Gru disguises himself as a dentist and adopts the girls from Miss Hattie's (Kristen Wiig) Home for Girls, planning on using them to infiltrate Vector's base so he can get the shrink ray back. However, Gru has difficulty nurturing them properly due to their rambunctiousness, their ballet classes, and his own ineptitude as a parent.
Eventually, Gru and the girls arrive at Vector's fortress and Gru manages to steal the shrink ray. The girls then suggest a day at a theme park; Gru agrees, believing he can abandon the girls there, but he is later told by an attendant that they must be accompanied by an adult. He is then dragged around the theme park for the day, eventually warming to the girls after they compliment him on blowing up a rigged carnival game to get Agnes a toy unicorn.
Later, Gru contacts Mr. Perkins, stating that he finally has the shrink ray in his possession. Margo, Edith, and Agnes interrupt the meeting, and Perkins announces that he has lost confidence in Gru and will no longer fund his operations. As Gru tells the Minions he can no longer pay them for their services, the girls offer the contents of their piggy bank to fund the plan. The Minions then hand over their own savings, too. Gru, inspired, sacrifices parts of his lair to construct a spacecraft. Gru plans to steal the Moon when it is nearest the Earth, but this ends up being the same day as the girls' ballet recital. Gru becomes conflicted, and Dr. Nefario, seeing the recital as interfering with the plan, arranges for the girls to be returned to the orphanage. At the same time, Mr. Perkins informs Vector (who is revealed to be his son) of Gru's possession of the shrink ray and the adoption of the three girls, encouraging Vector to take action.
Gru successfully shrinks and steals the Moon, but is too late to attend the recital — finding a note from Vector, who has kidnapped the girls, and will exchange the Moon for them. After arriving at Vector's headquarters, Gru readily makes the trade, but Vector reneges on the deal, flying off with the girls and the Moon, much to Gru's anger. Meanwhile, Dr. Nefario discovers that the effects of the shrink ray are temporary; the bigger the object was originally, the faster it will regain its original size. As the Moon starts to expand in Vector's ship, Gru, Dr. Nefario, and the Minions pull off a daring mid-air rescue of the girls just as the Moon explodes out of Vector's ship and launches itself back into orbit, with Vector trapped on it.
Sometime later, Gru has readopted the girls and treats them as his daughters, writing them a bedtime storybook framed around his own experience. The film ends with the girls performing their own ballet recital for Gru, Marlena, Dr. Nefario, and the Minions.
People incidents
James Gammon (Major League, Nash Bridges) died of adrenal gland and liver cancer in Costa Mesa, California on July 16th, 2010.
Lorene Yarnell, of Shields and Yarnell, died of a ruptured cerebral aneurysm on July 29th, 2010, age the age of 66 at Sandefjord, Norway.
Cammie King (Gone with the Wind) died on September 1st, 2010 at her home in Fort Bragg, California, at age 76, from lung cancer.
On September 7th, 2010, Glenn Shadix (Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas) fell in the kitchen at his condominium in Birmingham, Alabama, and died of blunt trauma to his head.
Billie Mae Richards (The Care Bears Movie, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Rudolph's Shiny New Year) died on September 10th, 2010 following a stroke.
Harold Gould (The Sting, Rhoda, The Golden Girls) died from prostate cancer on September 11st, 2010 at Woodland Hills, California.
Gloria Stuart (The Invisible Man, Titanic), at the age of 100, died on the afternoon of September 26th, 2010 of respiratory failure and lung cancer. She was cremated.
Tom Bosley (Happy Days, Father Dowling Mysteries) died from complications of a staph infection on October 19th, 2010 (18 days after his 83rd birthday), at a hospital in Rancho Mirage, California, near his home in Palm Springs, California.
James MacArthur (Hawaii Five-O, Swiss Family Robinson) died of undisclosed causes on October 28th, 2010 at the age of 72, at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.
Megamind (November 5, 2010 – February 25, 2011)
MPAA Rating: PG (for action and some language)
Critic Score: 72%.
Average Rating: 6.7/10
Consensus: It regurgitates plot points from earlier animated efforts, and isn't quite as funny as it should be, but a top-shelf voice cast and strong visuals help make Megamind a pleasant, if unspectacular, diverson.
Box office: $321.8 million
Plot
Megamind (Will Ferrell) is a super intelligent alien who was evacuated from his homeworld as a baby, as was Metro Man (Brad Pitt); the two fall into paths of super villainy and superheroism respectively and grow up as rivals fighting for control of Metro City. Megamind is consistently defeated by Metroman and is in prison. After using a holographic watch to escape with the aid of Minion (David Cross), a talking fish with the robotic body of a gorilla, he kidnaps Metro Man's supposed love interest, reporter Roxanne Ritchi (Tina Fey) and holds her hostage to lure him into a trap. Finding that copper is Metro Man's one weakness, Megamind's plan to obliterate him with a death ray powered by the sun succeeds, and Megamind finally takes over the city. His joy is short lived though, as without a hero to fight, he finds his life has become meaningless. He goes to the Metroman Museum, which was dedicated to him on the day of his death and nearly runs into Roxanne. He uses his holographic watch to disguise himself as the museum's curator Bernard (Ben Stiller), and she innocently gives him the idea of creating a new superhero to take Metro Man's place. After creating a formula from Metroman's DNA, Roxanne intervenes in his plans and he accidentally injects the serum into Hal Stewart (Jonah Hill), Roxanne's dimwitted cameraman, who has an unrequited crush on her. Under the guise of his "Space Dad", Megamind tries to mold Hal into a superhero named Titan (misheard by Hal as "Tighten"), as it was the only name he could trademark. Unfortunately, Hal's ambitions are crushed when he sees Roxanne and Megamind as Bernard on a date. However, Megamind's disguise falters during dinner and she rejects him, causing him to lose track of his invisible car which contains the gun capable of removing Hal's powers.
On the day of their planned battle, Hal doesn't show up and Megamind finds that he has been using his powers for ill-gotten gains and wants to team up with Megamind to take over Metro City. Megamind tells Hal that he tricked him, revealing his Space Dad and Bernard disguises, but that infuriates Hal, who tries to destroy Megamind. Megamind activates a failsafe to trap Hal in copper as it was Metro Man's weakness, but that too fails. After he escapes, Megamind pleads with Roxanne for help, and they go to Metro Man's hideout to search for clues to why the copper didn't work. Instead they find Metro Man, still alive but having been disillusioned with the life of a superhero, he chose to fake his death in order to pursue a career in music. He refuses to help despite the danger, but encourages Megamind that good will always rise up against evil. Not seeing himself as a hero, Megamind gives up and returns to prison. Meanwhile, Hal kidnaps Roxanne and holds her hostage to call Megamind out of hiding. Megamind begs the Warden to release him to face this threat, inadvertently apologizing for an argument he'd had with Minion earlier that caused the two to separate. Minion reveals himself under the Warden's (J.K. Simmons) disguise and the two leave to face Hal together.
At Metro Tower, Hal threatens to send it toppling into the city with Roxanne tied to the roof. Megamind appears and tricks Hal, freeing Roxanne and the two flee as he throws the tower at them. Roxanne gets away, but Megamind is struck by the tower's antenna and appears near death. Metro Man finally appears and chases Hal away from the scene as Roxanne discovers that the Megamind that saved her was actually Minion, and that Metro Man is actually Megamind in disguise. He successfully scares Hal off, but accidentally mispronounces the city's name Metrocity as Monstrosity, as Megamind often did and Hal returns. Finding the invisible car, Megamind grabs the diffuser gun just as Hal hurls him into the sky. To avoid falling to his death, Megamind dehydrates himself and lands with the gun in the fountain in front of Hal, re-hydrating and then hitting him with the gun, removing the villain's powers and returning him to normal. Now hailed as heroes, Megamind and Minion appear at the reopening of Metro Man's museum, now dedicated to Megamind instead while Metro Man, in disguise within the crowd silently congratulates his former rival.
In a mid-credits scene Minion is doing the laundry when a re-hydrated Bernard pops out of the washing machine. After chiding Megamind about cleaning out his pockets, he knocks Bernard out with the Forget-Me Stick.
Tangled & Muppets & Fairies Treasure Autumn (November 24, 2010 – March 29, 2011)
Awards: Best Original Song Nominees "I See the Light" and "Man or Muppet."
MPAA Rating: PG (for some mild rude humor and brief mild violence)
Critic Score: 90% Certified Fresh.
Average Rating: 7.5/10
Consensus: Visually stunning and throughly entertaining addition to the studio's classic animated canon, Muppets & Fairies Treasure Autumn delivers Jim Henson lovable creations a welcome party, with its lush colors, magical air, and beautiful animation – while possessing a passable plot far from Disney's greatest film.
Grade: B-
Box office: $591.8 million
Plot
Long ago, a drop of sunlight became a golden flower capable of healing illness, decay and injury. For hundreds of years the flower is used by Mother Gothel (Donna Murphy) to retain her youth until it is discovered by soldiers of a nearby kingdom, Corona. They use the flower to heal their ailing Queen Arianna, who soon afterwards gives birth to Princess Rapunzel (Delaney Rose Stein). While attempting to recover the flower, Gothel discovers that Rapunzel's hair has the flower's healing properties. However, attempting to take just the hair by cutting a piece from it destroys its power, and so she kidnaps Rapunzel and raises her as her own daughter in an isolated tower. Once a year, King Frederic and Arianna release sky lanterns on Rapunzel's birthday, hoping for their daughter's return ("When Will My Life Begin?").
The nature-talent fairies, including Silvermist (Lucy Liu), Rosetta (Kristin Chenoweth), Iridessa (Raven-Symoné), and Fawn (Angela Bartys), are bringing to the mainland the leaves, hibernation, chilly breezes, and pumpkins: autumn. Brothers Walter (Peter Linz) and Gary (Jason Segel), residents of Smalltown, are fans of the Muppets, having watched The Muppet Show throughout their youth. Now adults, Gary plans a vacation to Los Angeles with his girlfriend, Mary (Amy Adams), to celebrate their tenth anniversary, inviting Walter so he can tour the Muppet Studios. Mary feels Gary's devotion to Walter is detracting from their relationship ("Life's a Happy Song").
Meanwhile, Tinker Bell (Mae Whitman) and dust-talent fairies like Terence (Jesse McCartney) and Fairy Gary (Jeff Bennett) are staying in Pixie Hollow. Tinker Bell is trying to make a "Pixie Express". But it fails just as she is called by Viola (Grey DeLisle), a summoning fairy; to meet Queen Clarion (Anjelica Huston), Fairy Mary (Jane Horrocks), and Redleaf (John DiMaggio), the Minister of Autumn. They show her a mystical moonstone and explain to her its tremendous powers. Every eight years, there is a blue harvest moon in Pixie Hollow. When the light of this rare blue moon passes through the moonstone, it creates blue-colored pixie dust to strengthen and rejuvenate the pixie dust tree. The Autumn Revelry is the associated event during which the fairies gather to collect the dust.
Nearing her eighteenth birthday, Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) asks Gothel for permission to leave the tower and discover the source of the lanterns, but Gothel refuses, telling her that the outside world is a dangerous place ("Mother Knows Best"). Elsewhere, a thief known as Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi) has stolen Rapunzel's crown from the kingdom and inadvertently discovers the tower after ditching his cohorts, the Stabbington brothers (Ron Perlman). Rapunzel captures Flynn and discovers the crown, but is unaware of its significance. Rapunzel plans to show Flynn to Gothel in order to prove she can take care of herself, but when Gothel becomes enraged at Rapunzel's insistent desire to leave, she asks for a special paint that will take Gothel three days' round trip to obtain and return. Gothel agrees and departs.
In Los Angeles, the three visit the abandoned Muppet Studios. A new scepter is to be made to raise the moonstone, and Tinker Bell has been recommended. Although Tinker Bell has made mistakes in the past, Fairy Mary explains that tinker fairies learn from them, most of the time. Tinker Bell accepts the task, as well as help from Terence. But as the work on the scepter progresses, Tinker Bell begins to have trouble with Terence, who is trying too hard to be helpful. During the tour, Walter sneaks into Kermit the Frog's office and discovers Statler (Steve Whitmire) and Waldorf (Dave Goelz) selling the Muppet Theater to oil magnate Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) and his henchmen Bobo the Bear (Bill Barretta) and Uncle Deadly (Matt Vogel). After Statler and Waldorf leave, Walter overhears Richman reveal his plan to destroy the theater and drill for oil underneath. Walter explains to Gary and Mary that if the Muppets can raise $10 million by the time their original contract expires, they can repurchase the theater.
When Tinker Bell asks Terence to go find something sharp, Terence meets Bobble (Rob Paulsen) and Clank (Jeff Bennett); brings a compass to her workshop, irritating Tinker Bell. She kicks the compass, causing it to roll over and break her newly completed scepter. After a row with her friend, Tinker Bell's furious antics result in her accidentally smashing the moonstone as well. According to legend by storytelling fairy Lyria (Grey DeLisle), a magic mirror granted two of three wishes before becoming lost. Tinker Bell sets out on in a balloon she's created to find a mirror. Tinker Bell intends to use the third and last wish to repair the shattered moonstone to its original form. Agreeing to stop Richman, they find Kermit (Steve Whitmire) and inform him he must organize a telethon to raise the money, which appears difficult since the Muppets have gone their separate ways since the show ended its run ("Pictures in My Head"). Convinced to try, Kermit sets off with the three to reunite the group by traveling by car with his valet, '80s Robot (Matt Vogel). Rapunzel convinces Flynn to escort her to see the lanterns in exchange for the crown ("When Will My Life Begin? (Reprise)").
While trying to evade a hungry bat, a firefly named Blaze (Eliza Pollack Zebert) crash lands into Tinker Bell's balloon. Tink orders him to leave, but he truly wants to tag along with Tink on her quest to find the magical mirror. After Blaze's apparent exit, Tink tries to read her map but it's too dark to see. Blaze then sheds light on the map to help Tink, and the tinker finally allows him to stay. Kermit dissuades Fozzie Bear (Eric Jacobson) from continuing to perform in Reno, Nevada with the Moopets, a tribute group of uncouth Muppet impersonators. Meanwhile, Gonzo (Dave Goelz) has become a plumbing magnate, and despite his initial objection, destroys his business and joins them. Animal (Eric Jacobson) is recovered from a celebrity anger-management clinic, but is instructed by his sponsor Jack Black (Himself) to avoid drums. Scooter (David Rudman), Rowlf the Dog (Bill Barretta), and the other primary Muppets rejoin through a montage. Later in Paris, the group finds Miss Piggy (Eric Jacobson) working as an editor for "plus-sized" fashion at Vogue Paris. Unable to convince Miss Piggy to return, the group replaces her with Moopet counterpart Miss Poogy (David Rudman).
As the duo's adventure continues, Tink thinks she has stumbled upon the stone arch that is said to lead way to the mirror. She leaves the balloon to make sure of this and leaves Blaze to watch over it. Once Tink flies off, however, the balloon begins to stray away. After unsuccessfully trying to anchor it, Blaze rushes to tell Tink, though she is too busy trying to figure out why she stumbled upon a bent tree instead of the stone ark to notice Blaze. When she finally sees the balloon floating off, she gives chase, Blaze in tow, but the harsh winds knocks them down. The next morning, Tinker Bell awakens, hungry and lost. Blaze scouts out to rally some forest insects that provide food and water for Tink. They also lead her and Blaze to the stone arch, and the adventure continues.
The Muppets return to Los Angeles and pitch their telethon idea to several television networks, but are rejected. Following a show's cancellation, CDE executive Veronica (Rashida Jones) gives the Muppets a recently vacated two-hour slot in the network's schedule, on the condition that they find a celebrity guest. The Muppets refurbish the theater, but their first rehearsal is unsuccessful and Kermit is unable to contact a celebrity guest. Miss Piggy returns, forces Poogy out, and informs Kermit that she refuses to work with him. Kermit inspires Walter to find his talent and perform in the telethon. Meanwhile, Mary goes sightseeing alone ("Me Party").
During their excursion, Flynn takes Rapunzel to the Snuggly Duckling, a pub filled with the frightening people Gothel warned Rapunzel about – the thugs, but who instead are charmed by Rapunzel's innocence, was include Hookhand (Brad Garrett) the pianist; the lovesick Big Nose (Jeffrey Tambor), Vlad (Richard Kiel), and a small Shorty (Paul F. Tompkins) ("I've Got a Dream"). When the royal soldiers, led by the Captain of the Guard (M.C. Gainey) appear searching for Flynn, the pub regulars help the pair escape. The soldiers give chase, led by Maximus, one of the lead horses in the royal army, and locate them at a dam. The dam is inadvertently breached, and the resulting deluge traps Flynn and Rapunzel in a flooding cave. Fearing this is the end, Flynn reveals his real name is Eugene Fitzherbert. Rapunzel starts to reveal that her hair glows when she sings – but then realizes that this is their key to escape, as her hair provides enough light to find a way out of the cave ("Healing Incantation"). Eugene and Rapunzel take refuge in a forest where Gothel, now in league with the Stabbingtons, gives the crown to Rapunzel and suggests using it to challenge Eugene's interest in her ("Mother Knows Best (Reprise)").
The next morning, Maximus finds the pair and tries to capture Eugene, but Rapunzel arranges a truce in honor of her birthday. Kermit entreats Richman to return their studio. Richman declines and reveals that the Muppets will also lose their trademark names, which he plans to entitle to the Moopets ("Let's Talk About Me"). Unsuccessful, Kermit returns home. The group reaches the kingdom and enjoys the festivities, culminating in an evening cruise as the lanterns are released ("I See The Light"). There, Rapunzel gives Eugene the crown. When he sees the Stabbingtons on the shore, Eugene leaves Rapunzel and intends to let them have the crown. Instead, the brothers tie Eugene onto a boat and confront Rapunzel, claiming Eugene is escaping with the crown. Gothel then stages a rescue by betraying the brothers and returns Rapunzel to the tower as Eugene and the Stabbingtons are arrested by the royal guards. Miss Piggy enlists the remaining Muppets to kidnap Black as a celebrity guest. Meanwhile, after discovering that a devastated Mary has returned to Smalltown, Gary realizes that he must improve his relationship with Mary and follows her back home to reconcile, while Walter discovers he was intended to join the Muppets ("Man or Muppet").
Tink and Blaze find the shipwreck that is said to house the mirror and head inside Tinker Bell finally discovers the mirror. Just as she is about to make the wish, Blaze keeps getting in her face, causing her to blurt out her wish for the firefly to be quiet for one minute, accidentally wasting her third wish. She blames Blaze for distracting her, but then, realizing that her temper is what had gotten her in trouble in the first place, she apologizes and breaks down crying. She is found by Terence, who has been following her after discovering her plans and the fragments of the moonstone in her empty house. They reunite, but then they are chased by rats.
Back at the tower, Rapunzel recognizes the symbol of the kingdom, which she had subconsciously incorporated into her paintings over the years. Realizing that she is the long-lost princess, she confronts Gothel. The telethon begins and gradually attracts a large audience, with the Muppets raising donations with support from celebrity callers and Jack Black serving unwillingly as host. During the show, Richman cuts the theater's power supply, but Gary and Mary return to Los Angeles and restore the power. Richman then attempts to destroy the theater's television transmitter, but a regretful Uncle Deadly stops Richman. Kermit and Miss Piggy finally reconcile and the Muppets perform "Rainbow Connection" as their final act. However, the telethon runs short as the $10 million has yet to be collected. Having found his talent, Walter performs a whistling act, which is unanimously praised by the audience.
As Eugene is being led to execution, he is rescued by the Snuggly Duckling regulars and carried back to Gothel's tower by Maximus. Eugene enters the tower by climbing Rapunzel's hair, only to find Rapunzel bound with chains and gagged with a handkerchief. Gothel then stabs him with a knife and attempts to leave with a struggling Rapunzel. Refusing to lose, Richman disables the telephone lines and evicts the Muppets from the theater, after the latter fall short of their monetary goal. Rapunzel agrees to lifelong captivity if she is allowed to heal Eugene, but before she has the chance to save him, Eugene slices off her hair, turning it from golden blonde to brown and destroying its magic. Gothel's age rapidly catches up to her, and she falls from the tower, disintegrating into dust. Kermit gathers the group in the lobby and delivers a speech, suggesting that they will restart their career together as a family. As Eugene dies, a heartbroken Rapunzel's tear, which still contains a bit of the sun's power, lands on his cheek and restores his life. Exiting the theater, the Muppets are greeted by a vast gathering of supporters on Hollywood Boulevard. With Gary's encouragement, Walter greets the crowd and is accepted by the Muppets as their newest member. The two return to the kingdom, where Rapunzel is re-united with her parents.
Tinker Bell and Terence start back to Pixie Hollow. Along the way, Tinker Bell fixes the scepter using a white gem from the top of the mirror, the scepter pieces Terence has wisely brought, and the moonstone pieces, all set at just the right angle. She discovers the magic of true friendship, humility, and love. Thanks to inspired teamwork with Terence, she is ready to give the scepter to Clarion. When she unveils the scepter, the assembled fairies are all shocked and alarmed to see the fragments of the precious moonstone. However, the broken moonstone shards create an unexpected benefit: they drastically magnify and increase the surface area through which the rays of the blue moon could pass, creating the largest supply of blue-colored pixie dust ever seen in Pixie Hollow. The kingdom breaks out in celebration and Eugene is pardoned for his crimes. Rapunzel and Eugene eventually marry. Gary proposes to Mary, Richman returns the theater and naming rights to the Muppets after suffering a head injury, and Kermit and Miss Piggy enjoy their private life ("Life's a Happy Song (Reprise)").
People incidents
On November 28th, 2010, 84-year-old Leslie Nielsen (Airplane!, The Naked Gun) dies in his sleep from pneumonia around 5:30 pm.
On December 15th, 2010, Blake Edwards (The Pink Panther, Breakfast at Tiffany's) died of complications of pneumonia at the Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California.
Bill Erwin (Seinfeld, Falcon Crest, The Twilight Zone) died from natural causes at his home in Studio City, California on December 29th, 2010.