2011 (of the Orange Age) adventures

____

2011 (of the Orange Age)

People incidents

On January 2nd, 2011, Pete Postlethwaite (In the Name of the Father, Inception, The Usual Suspects) died at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, suffering with pancreatic cancer.

Charlie Callas (Silent Movie, Switch) died on January 27th, 2011, from natural causes, aged 86, in his home in Las Vegas, Nevada.

elliott-petes-dragon-31.9charlie-callas-2.6

February 1, 2011 (60th anniversary)
FEBRUARY 1, 2011 (60TH ANNIVERSARY)

Bill Justice (Peter Pan, Bambi, Alice in Wonderland) died of natural causes at a nursing home in Santa Monica, California, one day after his 97th birthday.

Kenneth Mars (Young Frankenstein, The Producers, The Little Mermaid) died on February 12th, 2011, aged 75, after a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

in_memory_of_the_king_of_the_sea_by_dickgraywolf-d4ph3ic

Re-issues

March 1, 2011
MARCH 1, 2011

bambi_diamondedition

Rango (March 4, 2011 – July 15, 2011)

rango2011poster72016_front

Awards: Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Winner

MPAA Rating: PG (for rude humor, language, action and smoking)

Critic Score: cf-lg88% Certified Fresh

Average Rating: 7.6/10

Consensus: Rango is smart, guddily creative burst of beautifully animated entertainment, and Johnny Depp gives a colorful vocal performance as a household pet in an unfamiliar world.

Box office: 245.7 million

Plot

A pet chameleon named Rango (Johnny Depp) becomes stranded in the Mojave Desert after his terrarium falls from his owners’ car by accident. He meets an armadillo named Roadkill (Alfred Molina) who is seeking the mystical “Spirit of the West” and directs the parched chameleon to find water at a town called Dirt. While wandering the desert, he narrowly avoids being eaten by a vicious red-tailed hawk and has a surreal nightmare before meeting the desert iguana Beans (Isla Fisher), a rancher’s daughter, who takes the chameleon to Dirt, an Old West town populated by desert animals.

Using bravado and improvisation to fit in, the chameleon presents himself to the townsfolk as a tough drifter named Rango. He quickly runs afoul of outlaw Gila monster Bad Bill (Ray Winstone), but avoids a shootout when Bill is scared off by the hawk’s return. Rango is chased by the hawk until he accidentally knocks down an empty water tower which crushes the predator. In response, the town mayor (Ned Beatty), an elderly tortoise, appoints Rango the new sheriff. Meanwhile, the townsfolk worry that with the hawk dead, the gunslinger Rattlesnake Jake (Bill Nighy), who was afraid of the hawk, will return.

After discovering Dirt’s water reserves — stored in the town bank inside a water cooler bottle — to be near empty, a skeptical Beans demands Rango investigate where all the water has disappeared to. That night, however, Rango inadvertently assists a trio of bank robbers, led by a mole named Balthazar (Harry Dean Stanton), mistaking them for prospectors. The townsfolk find their water bottle stolen the next day, so Rango organizes a posse. They discover bank manager Merrimack (Stephen Root) dead in the desert having somehow drowned despite the towns lack of water, and track the robbers to their hideout. They fight the robbers’ clan over the stolen water bottle in a chase through a canyon before discovering the bottle to be empty. Despite the robbers professing they had found it empty, the posse brings them to town for trial.

Rango confronts the mayor about his buying of the land around Dirt, who denies any wrongdoing and shows Rango that he is building a modern city with the purchased land. The mayor summons Rattlesnake Jake, who runs Rango out of town after humiliating him and making him admit that everything he told the town about himself is a lie. Rango wanders away ashamed and confused about his identity. Finally, he meets the Spirit of the West (Timothy Olyphant), whom Rango identifies as the Man with No Name. The Spirit inspires Rango, telling him, “No man can walk out on his own story.”

With the aid of Roadkill and mystical moving yuccas, Rango learns that Dirt’s water supply is controlled by an emergency shut-off valve in a water pipeline to Las Vegas, which the mayor has been manipulating to cause a drought so he could buy the land. Recruiting the robbers’ clan to aid him, Rango returns to Dirt to call out Jake for a duel with a single bullet, a diversion so the clan and yuccas can turn the pipeline’s valve to flood the town with water and free the falsely accused robbers. The mayor, however, forces Rango to surrender by threatening Beans’ life, and locks them inside the glass bank vault to drown. He then tries to shoot Jake with Rango’s gun, believing that Jake is still part of the Old West that the mayor wants to destroy along with the rest of the town. The mayor is shocked to discover that the gun is empty; Rango has taken the bullet, which he uses to crack the glass and shatter the vault, freeing himself and Beans while washing the Mayor and his men away outside. Impressed, Jake tips his hat to Rango as thanks for saving his life and drags the mayor into the desert to take revenge for double-crossing him. The citizens of Dirt celebrate the return of the water and recognize Rango as their hero.

People incidents

Michael Gough (Sleepy Hollow, Batman) died on March 17th, 2011, in London, after a short illness.

66749b5afda03a29e1501c28497ef808-650-80

Wayne Robson (The Red Green Show) died at his home on April 4th, 2011 from a heart attack.

Rio (April 15, 2011 – August 2, 2011)

Rio2011Poster23780_front

Awards: Academy Award for Best Original Song Nominee “Real in Rio”

MPAA Rating: G

Critic Score: fresh72%.

Average Rating: 6.4/10

Consensus: This straightforward movie reaches great heights thanks to its colorful visual palette, catchy music, and funny vocal performances.

Box office: $484.6 million

Plot

In Brazil, various exotic birds are smuggled out of the country. In Moose Lake, Minnesota, a crate with a male Spix’s macaw hatchling falls out of a truck and is found by a little girl named Linda Gunderson (Leslie Mann), who names him Blu. Over the next 15 years, Linda owns a bookstore. Highly domesticated and unable to fly, Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) is ridiculed frequently by the Canada geese that come by outside of Linda’s bookstore.

4619_24619_44619_54619_84619_104619_94619_114619_13

One day, ornithologist Túlio Monteiro (Rodrigo Santoro) invites Blu and Linda to Rio de Janeiro on the condition that Blu, who is the last male of his species, mates with a female macaw. Linda accepts and they fly to Rio, where Blu meets a red-crested cardinal named Pedro (will.i.am) and his yellow canary friend Nico (Jamie Foxx). At Túlio’s aviary, Blu meets Jewel (Anne Hathaway), a fiercely independent Spix’s macaw longing to flee into the wilderness. The macaws are captured by Fernando (Jake T. Austin), an orphaned boy, and a sulphur-crested cockatoo named Nigel (Jemaine Clement), both of whom work for a group of smugglers led by Marcel (Carlos Ponce), who wants to leave the country as soon as possible to secure a black market deal regarding Blu and Jewel. While Fernando has second thoughts about his actions, Nigel tells the macaws that he desires to exact revenge on “pretty birds” after his role on a television program had been ruined by one. However, because of Blu’s familiarity with cages, they flee into the jungle. Fernando meets Linda and Túlio and helps them find the birds, while Blu and Jewel meet Rafael (George Lopez), a toco toucan, who offers to take them to his bulldog friend, Luiz (Tracy Morgan), to remove their leg chain. He attempts to teach Blu how to fly, before they meet up with Pedro and Nico. Meanwhile, Nigel hires a horde of thieving marmosets led by Mauro (Francisco Ramos) to capture Blu and Jewel. Pedro and Nico then take the two birds to a Rio-style dance party, where they perform a duet and begin to fall in love, but encounter the marmosets in the process. The birds fight them off while the five escape on a tram. Fernando takes Linda and Túlio to the smugglers’ hideout, where they discover that the birds have already been moved out. Marcel explains that he will use the Rio Carnival parade to smuggle the birds to the airport, as the other streets have been blocked off for the festivities. Meanwhile, Blu and the others meet Luiz, who releases the chain holding Blu and Jewel. After the two get into a heated argument, they decide to go their separate ways.

4619_164619_14619_184619_194619_15

Pedro and Nico then witness Nigel capturing Jewel. When Blu and Rafael learn of it, they rush to the carnival to rescue her. Meanwhile, Linda and Túlio have spotted the smuggler’s parade float and organize a rescue attempt for the birds. As Linda and Túlio pose as dancers in Spix’s macaw costumes, Nigel captures Blu and the group. Linda and Túlio are unable to stop the smugglers in time and Marcel’s group takes off in a Short SC.7 Skyvan. During the flight, Blu destroys his cage using a fire extinguisher and releases the other captive birds. However, Nigel attacks the macaws, injuring Jewel. Blu sends Nigel flying into the plane’s engine using the fire extinguisher, causing the plane to fall. The smugglers flee the plane. Unable to fly, Jewel falls out of the plane’s open cargo hatch towards the ocean. Jumping out of the plane to rescue her, Blu finally discovers that he is able to fly as he and Jewel kiss, and he carries her to Linda and Túlio for help. Later, they adopt Fernando and organize a sanctuary to protect the jungle from smugglers. Blu and Jewel eventually raise three children together, and fly above the jungle, joined by Linda and Túlio in a hang-glider. Meanwhile, Nigel survives the plane accident but is ridiculed for his loss of feathers, and the smugglers are sent to jail.

People incidents

Jackie Cooper (Skippy, Our Gang, Superman) died on May 3rd, 2011 after a short illness, in Santa Monica, California.

In May 10th, 2011, Norma Zimmer (The Lawrence Welk Show) died at her home in Brea, California at the age of 87.

Bill Skiles (Skiles and Henderson) died on May 16th, 2011 at the age of 79 at his home in St. Cloud, Florida.

On the morning of May 20th, 2011, Randy Savage died at age 58 after suffering a sudden heart attack while driving with his wife in Seminole, Florida.

Bill Hunter (Muriel’s Wedding) died of liver cancer on May 21st, 2011, aged 71 in Kew, Victoria, Australia.

8406-261168406

Kung Fu Panda 2 (May 26, 2011 – December 13, 2011)

Kung_Fu_Panda_2_Poster20999_front

Awards: Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Nominee

MPAA Rating: PG (for sequences of martial arts action and mild violence)

Critic Score: cf-lg81% Certified Fresh.

Average Rating: 6.9/10

Consensus: The storyline arc may seem a tad familiar to fans of the original, but Kung Fu Panda 2 offers enough action, comedy, and visual sparkle to compensate.

Box office: $665.7 million

Plot

Years before the events of the first film, Lord Shen (Gary Oldman), the scion of a peacock clan that rules Gongmen City in ancient China, seeks to harness fireworks as a weapon. After discovering from the court’s goat Soothsayer (Michelle Yeoh) that “a warrior of black-and-white” will defeat him if he does not change his ways, Shen leads an army of wolves to exterminate the panda population to avert the prophecy. Shen’s parents are horrified at this atrocity and exile their son, who swears revenge.

5261_125261_105261_185261_135261_305261_23

In the present day, Po (Jack Black) is living his dream as the Dragon Warrior, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, the Furious Five; Tigress (Angelica Jolie), Crane (David Cross), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu), and Monkey (Jackie Chan). His teacher Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) tells him, however, that he has yet to achieve inner peace. While defending a village from wolf bandits who have been stealing refined metal for Shen, Po is distracted by a symbol on the wolf leader‘s (Danny McBride) armor, which causes Po to have a flashback of his mother and allows the wolves to escape. Po asks his goose father, Mr. Ping (James Hong), about his origins. Ping reveals that he found Po as an infant in a radish crate and adopted him, but Po remains unsatisfied, wondering how and why he ended up in the Valley of Peace.

5261_145261_45261_315261_155261_16

Shifu receives word that Shen has killed Thundering Rhino (Victor Garber), the leader of the kung fu council protecting Gongmen City, and is plotting to destroy kung fu tradition and conquer China with his newly developed weapon, a cannon that fires weaponized fireworks. Po and the Furious Five set out to Gongmen City to stop Shen and destroy his weapon. They find the city occupied by Shen’s forces, with the two surviving council members Storming Ox (Dennis Haysbert) and Croc (Jean-Claude Van Damme) imprisoned. The six heroes ask the council members for help to liberate the city, but the two cite their helplessness against Shen’s weapon and refuse. Po and the Five are discovered by the wolf boss and give chase, only to be arrested in front of Shen’s tower.

5261_385261_95261_215261_55261_175261_75261_295261_2

Upon being brought before Shen in his tower, Po and the Five free themselves and destroy Shen’s weapon. However, Po is again distracted by a flashback upon seeing the same symbol as before on Shen’s plumage, allowing Shen to escape and destroy the tower with an arsenal of cannons. After Po and the Five escape, Tigress confronts Po over his distraction, who reluctantly explains that he remembers Shen’s presence on the night he was separated from his parents, and wants answers about his past from Shen. Though empathetic, Tigress tells Po to stay behind for his own safety. Despite this, Po breaks into the factory to question Shen, inadvertently foiling the Five’s plan to destroy the factory. Shen claims that Po’s parents abandoned him, and then blasts Po out of the factory into a river with a cannon, where he is presumed dead.

5261_265261_285261_335261_27

Po survives and is rescued by the same soothsayer, who takes him to the ruins of the nearby village where Po was born. Guided by the soothsayer to embrace his past, Po remembers that when he was an infant, his parents had sacrificed themselves to save him from Shen’s army, his mother hiding him in a radish crate and luring Shen’s forces away from him. Po attains inner peace, realizing that he has lived a happy and fulfilling life despite this early tragedy.

5261_395261_195261_1

Po returns to Gongmen City to save the captive Five and prevent Shen’s conquest of China. A battle ensues between Shen’s armada, sailing in the heart of Gongmen City, and Po and the Five, joined by Shifu, who has persuaded Ox and Croc to help. Po modifies the movements used during his inner peace training to redirect Shen’s firework shells against his own armada, destroying it. Po then urges Shen to let go of his own past, but Shen attacks Po until Shen slashes the ropes holding up his last cannon, which falls and crushes Shen to death. Victorious, Po returns to the Valley of Peace and reunites with Mr. Ping, lovingly declaring the goose to be his father.

At the same time, Po’s biological father, Li Shan is shown to be living in a far-off, hidden village inhabited by surviving pandas, and senses that his son is still alive.

People incidents

Jeff Conaway (Grease, Taxi, Babylon 5) died in the morning of May 27th, 2011 at the age of 60.

On June 3rd, 2011, Wally Boag (Disneyland’s Golden Horseshoe Revue) passed away. The following day, June 4th, 2011, Boag’s longtime partner at the Golden Horseshoe Revue, Betty Taylor, also died at the age of 91.

Don Diamond (F Troop, The Adventures of Kit Carson, Zorro) died due to heart failure in Los Angeles, California on June 19th, 2011 at age 90.

On the evening of June 23rd, 2011, Peter Falk (Columbo, Pocketful of Miracles, The Princess Bride) died at his longtime home on Roxbury Drive in Beverly Hills at the age of 83. His death was triggered by cardiorespiratory arrest, with pneumonia and Alzheimer’s disease being the underlying causes. He is buried at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

241a1ff9499a08643415a013712e23a6

Cars 2 (June 24, 2011 – November 1, 2011)

Cars-2-poster-globe24979_front

MPAA Rating: G

Critic Score: rotten39%.

Average Rating: 5.5/10

Consensus: Cars 2 is as visually appealing as any other Pixar production, but all that dazzle can’t disguise the rusty storytelling under the hood.

Box office: $562.1

Plot

Finn McMissile (Michael Caine), a British spy, infiltrates the world’s largest untapped oil reserves owned by a group of lemon cars. After being discovered, he flees and fakes his death.

5029_125029_35029_175029_95029_55029_65029_105029_29

Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson), now a 4-time Piston Cup champion, returns home to Radiator Springs to enjoy some quiet time, but when Italian formula race car, Francesco Bernoulli (John Turturro), challenges McQueen to the newly created World Grand Prix, led by its creator Sir Miles Axlerod (Eddie Izzard), he and his best friend Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) — along with Luigi (Tony Shalhoub), Guido (Guido Quaroni), Fillmore (Lloyd Sherr), and Sarge (Paul Dooley) — depart for Tokyo for the first race of the Grand Prix. Meanwhile, the lemons, who are led by unknown mastermind Professor Zündapp (Thomas Kretschmann), secretly plot to secure their oil profits by using an extremely dangerous camera (discovered by Finn on the oil platform) to trigger and destabilize the use of Allinol, a fuel that was created by Axlerod and required for racers to use in the Grand Prix. McMissile and his partner Holley Shiftwell (Emily Mortimer) attempt to meet with American spy car Rod “Torque” Redline (Bruce Campbell) at a World Grand Prix promotional event in Tokyo, to receive information about the mastermind. However, Redline is attacked by Zündapp’s henchmen, but not before passing his information to Mater before he is captured, who is then mistaken to be the American contact of Holley and Finn. Before killing Redline, Professor Zündapp finds out that Mater was given the information.

5029_115029_185029_165029_25029_155029_215029_145029_225029_195029_75029_205029_45029_315029_235029_255029_245029_405029_275029_355029_26

At the first race, several cars are ignited by the camera, and McQueen falls second in the race after Bernoulli, due to Mater accidentally giving him bad racing advice shortly after evading Zündapp’s henchmen with help from Holley and Finn. Mater is soon abducted by Finn and boards his plane, where he helps to identify some of the information he was given. After travelling to France to get more information from Finn’s old friend, they travel to Italy, where the next race is being held. While the race is being held, Mater infiltrates the criminals’ meeting, just as the camera is used on a few more cars, causing a multi car pileup, while allowing McQueen to finish first. Due to the criminals plan causing Allinol to be perceived as troublesome, Sir Miles Axlerod removes it as a required fuel for the final race. However, when McQueen decides to continue using it, the criminals plot to kill McQueen in the next race in London, which spooks Mater, causing him to blow his cover and allow him, Finn and Holley, to be abducted.

5029_365029_325029_305029_395029_385029_34

Taken to the inside of the clock tower of Big Ben clock in London and tied up in it, while the final race is being held, Mater discovers that the camera did not function on McQueen, but quickly learns the criminals are planning to plant a bomb on him in his pits, causing him to break free and escape. Finn and Holley escape later, but realize that the bomb is on Mater’s air filter. Mater soon flees on the race course when McQueen (who arrived at the pits) chases after him, while Finn apprehends Professor Zündapp. The other lemons soon arrive and outnumber Finn, Holley, Mater, and McQueen, but they are soon rescued by the arrival of the other Radiator Springs residents. Mater then uses evidence he had seen to reveal that Axlerod is the leader of this plot and placed the bomb on him, whom he soon confronts and forces to deactivate the bomb, before he and the other lemons are taken into custody, foiling the operation.

5029_37

In the end, Mater receives a honorary knighthood from the queen (Vanessa Redgrave), while Sarge reveals that he changed McQueen’s fuel from Allinol to gasoline, hence why the camera did not work on him. Finn and Holley ask if Mater can join them on another mission, but he turns it down. The final scene ends with the World Grand Prix competitors racing each other at Radiator Springs.

People incidents

Gordon Tootoosis (Pocahontas, Legends of the Fall) died on July 5th, 2011, after being hospitalized for pneumonia at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon, Canada.

li-tootoosis-cp-ho2048068

Winnie the Pooh & Tinker Bell’s Midsummer Rescue (July 15, 2011 – October 25, 2011)

Winnie_the_Pooh_Poster26838_front

MPAA Rating: G

Critic Score: cf-lg90% Certified Fresh

Average Rating: 7.2/10

Consensus: Adorably lovely, short, nostalgic, and gently whimsical, Tinker Bell’s Midsummer Rescue uses a sweetly traditional family treat, inventive storytelling, gorgeous animation, and a talented cast to deliver another rich moviegoing experience to friendship tale.

Grade: B

Box office: $50.1 million

Plot

Set two years after the events in Tinker Bell’s Spring of Belief, Tinker Bell (Mae Whitman) attends fairy camp like the other fairies while Michael Jordan (Himself), Bugs Bunny (Jeff Bergman), and the rest of the Looney Tunes gang attended the English Festival in Orlando, Florida to celebrate the arrival of Alice (Chloe Grace Moretz). They prepare for Michael’s basketball camp, but failed when Alice stumbles and hurts her arm. Michael’s wife, Juanita (Theresa Randle) decides to leave Alice behind. The next day, Alice discovers Wheezy (Jerome Ranft), a penguin, has been in the patient room next door due to his sore throat. Pooh (Jim Cummings) wakes up one day to find that he is out of honey. While out searching for more, Pooh discovers that Eeyore (Bud Luckey) has lost his tail. When Tink attempts to go find some lost things, Vidia (Pamela Adlon) asks her if she’s going to the human house, which isn’t far from camp. The question makes Tink curious and eventually sneaks off. Vidia follows behind to watch over her.

5002_215002_123280_33280_135002_105002_205002_143280_17tinkerbell3-02

When she reaches the house, she is amazed by their “horseless carriage”. She takes the time to flitter around under the car, while Vidia tries to get her to leave. When Juanita takes Wheezy to the yard sale, Alice rescues him, only to be stolen by a greedy cartoon collector, who takes her to his apartment. Eventually they do, but on their way back to camp, Tink and Vidia stumble upon a fairy-sized house made by Lizzy (Lauren Mote), a human girl who wishes to meet a real fairy. Tink immediately heads in to investigate, despite Vidia’s constant warnings. Tink claims it to be perfectly safe, so Vidia slams the door shut in an attempt to scare her but unintentionally locks Tink inside. When Lizzy begins to approach the house, Vidia tries to free Tink to no avail. Lizzy discovers Tink inside and takes her to her home. She prepares to show Tink to her father, Dr. Griffiths (Michael Sheen), a very busy and serious scientist, but upon seeing all the butterflies he has pinned in display for research, she decides to keep Tink a secret. Bugs and all of the Looney Tunes identify the thief from a commercial as Al McWhiggin (Wayne Knight), the owner of an acme store called Al’s Toon Barn. Bugs, Daffy Duck (Jeff Bergman), Porky Pig (Bob Bergen), Sylvester (Jeff Bergman), and Tweety Bird (Jeff Bergman) all set out to rescue Alice. Meanwhile, Vidia rallies Rosetta (Kristin Chenoweth), Iridessa (Raven-Symoné), Fawn (Angela Bartys), Silvermist (Lucy Liu), Clank (Jeff Bennett) and Bobble (Rob Paulsen) to rescue Tink. They try to sail on a stream which would take them straight to the Griffiths’ house.

3280_63280_75002_85002_11

At Al’s apartment, Alice learns that he is a valuable collectable based on a Lewis Carroll and A. A. Milne tales, Alice in Wonderland and Winnie the Pooh and is set to be sold to a cartoon museum in Tokyo, Japan. Pooh, Piglet (Travis Oates), Rabbit (Tom Kenny), Owl (Craig Ferguson), Kanga (Kristen Anderson-Lopez), and Roo (Wyatt Hall) come to the rescue while Tigger (Jim Cummings) has his bouncing fun, and Christopher Robin (Jack Boulter) decides to hold a contest to see who can find a replacement for Eeyore’s tail. The prize for the winner is a fresh pot of honey. After many failed attempts for what would replace Eeyore’s tail (such as a cuckoo clock), Kanga suggests they use a scarf, but it unravels.

winniethepooh-085002_73280_13280_11tinkerbell3-013280_12

Back at the human house, Lizzy reveals her fascination of fairies. Tink is flattered by her obsession and since Tink can’t leave the house because it’s raining outside, she decides to teach her nearly everything about fairies. They record their information in a new research book given to Lizzy by her father. During this time, they have grown a great friendship. While the other characters from the tale—Lorina (Elle Fanning), the White Rabbit, and Stinky Pete (Kelsey Grammer) the Prospector—are excited about going, Alice wants to return home because he is still one of the Looney Tune colleagues. Lorina is upset because the museum is only interested in the collection if Alice is in it since they will return to storage if he is absent from the collection. When her arm is injured accidentally, Alice attempts to retrieve the healing medicine and escape but is foiled by someone mysteriously turning on Al’s television set. When their ship goes over a waterfall, Silvermist manipulates the water to create a mid-air stream. While this does save their lives, the boat is wrecked.

tinkerbell3-035002_4winniethepooh-10

The next day, Pooh goes to visit Christopher Robin and he finds a note that says “Gon Out Bizy Back Soon”. Because Pooh is unable to read the note, he asks for Owl’s help. Owl’s poor reading comprehension skills lead Pooh and his friends to believe that Christopher Robin has been abducted by a ruthless and mischievous monster they call the “Backson” and Owl describes it in a song that is shown in a chalk-drawn scene. Rabbit plans to trap the Backson in a pit, which they think he’ll fall into after following a trail of items leading to it. Meanwhile, Tigger, wanting a sidekick to help him defeat the Backson, recruits Eeyore to be a second Tigger. He dresses up like the Backson and tries to teach Eeyore how to fight. Eeyore, who is doing this against his will, escapes from Tigger and hides underwater.

5002_53280_4tinkerbell3-043280_16

The next morning, a doctor (Burny Mattinson) fixes her arm and he learns that Lorina was once the beloved daughter of a mother named Lady Ida, who eventually outgrew her and gave her away. Pete warns her that the same fate awaits him when Michael grows up, whereas he will last forever in the museum. This convinces Alice to stay, now believing that all toons eventually get discarded by their owners. Meanwhile, Bugs and the other Tunes reach Al’s Toon Barn, having travelled 20 blocks. While searching for Alice, Bugs is imprisoned into a cardboard box by his dead ringer of Bunny Dodgers with a utility belt, who thinks he is a real space hero. Bunny Dodgers joins the other Tunes, who mistake him as their Bugs. The fairies continue on foot but upon crossing a mudbank, Vidia gets stuck waist deep. While Clank and Bobble try to find something to pull her out, the other fairies are nearly run over by a car but are saved when Iridessa blinds the driver (Jeff Bennett), who then vacates the car, giving the girls a chance to get Vidia out by grabbing onto the driver’s shoelace.

tinkerbell3-123280_5

After a while, the rain dies down, and Tink is able to return to camp. She gives Lizzy a hug and makes her way out but before she leaves, she watches Lizzy attempt to show her father the research. Unfortunately, Dr. Griffiths is too busy fixing the house’s leaks to pay her any mind, so Tink returns and fixes the leaks, saving Lizzy’s father from the burden. Afterwards, she makes the choice to release a captive butterfly Dr. Griffiths was planning on showing to a group of scientists. Thinking that his daughter was the one who set free the butterfly free, he sends her to her room. After discovering Al’s plan, the troops arrive his apartment while Bugs escapes and pursues them, accidentally freeing Marvin the Martian (Eric Bauza), who immediately goes after him, intent on destroying him. Meanwhile, Vidia confesses to the rescue team that it was her fault that Tink has been captured. They comfort Vidia about the situation, informing her that it could have been worse without her presence.

5002_15002_35002_17

Back in the tale, after a failed attempt to get honey from a bee hive, Pooh’s imagination combined with his hunger get the better of him which has end up eating some mud and later, accidentally falls into the pit meant for the Backson. Rabbit, Kanga, Roo, Owl, Piglet, and Eeyore (who had found an anchor whilst he was hiding to replace his own tail) try to get him out, but fall in themselves. Piglet, who didn’t fell in, attempts to get Pooh and friends out of the trap (though continuously irritating Rabbit with over-interpretations of his instructions), but he runs into Tigger, still in his Backson outfit, and mistakes him for the actual monster. Piglet escapes from Tigger on a red balloon, which knocks some of the storybook’s letters into the pit. After the chase, Tigger and Piglet fall into the trap as well, where Eeyore reminds Tigger that he, being “the only one,” is “the most wonderful thing about Tiggers”. Eventually, Pooh figures out to use the fallen letters to form a ladder, and the animals are able to escape the pit. They soon find Christopher Robin, and tell him about the Backson, but he clarifies, saying he meant to be “back soon.” The hunny pot prize was given to the red balloon from earlier, much to Pooh’s dismay.

5002_265002_30winniethepooh-095002_25002_32

Back at the house, Tink shows Lizzy how to fly in her room with pixie dust. Once the rescue team finally reaches the human house, they are attacked by Lizzy’s pet cat, Mr. Twitches. Despite being an animal fairy, Fawn is unable to immediately tame a cat under pressure. A chase ensues before she is able to find catnip, eventually taming the cat. After the Tunes find Alice, Bugs rejoins them and proves that he is the real Bugs, but Alice refuses to go home. Bugs reminds Alice of a toon’s “true purpose” and warns him that in the museum, he will only be able to watch children from behind glass and never be played with again.

3280_153280_19tinkerbell3-05

Alice changes her mind and asks the storybook characters to come with him, but Pete prevents their escape. Having foiled Alice’s escape the previous night, he reveals that he wants to go to Japan because he was never sold to cartoon lovers, allowing Al to take the storybook character with him. Then her father walks in, forcing Tink to hide in the fairy house. He finds footprints on the ceiling and sternly demands the truth. Lizzy tells him about Tink and shows him the research she and the fairy did in the book he gave her. Her father, however, still refuses to believe in fairies, and he and his daughter get into a disagreement. Angered by Dr. Griffiths’ stubbornness, Tink reveals herself and chides him. The sight of the fairy astonishes the scientist and prompts him to capture Tink so that he could take her to London for research, but Vidia arrives just in time and pushes her out the way. Vidia is instead captured by Dr. Griffiths, but Lizzy and the fairies are able to convince him to think otherwise.

3280_2

Bugs and the gang prepare to save Alice, but are caught by Marvin, who wants to destroy Bugs, but Daffy knocks him down Al’s building. The Looney Tunes follow Al while Bunny Dodgers chooses to remain behind with an injured Marvin. Accompanied by the Nerdlucks, they steal a delivery truck and follow Al to an airport, where they enter the baggage handling system and free Alice. Pete injures Alice’s arm again while preventing his escape, but is stuffed into a crate by the Looney Tunes to teach him a lesson of what it is like to be loved. They free the White Rabbit, only for Lorina to end up on the plane bound for Japan. Assisted by Bugs and the White Rabbit, Alice frees Lorina and the Tunes find their way home. Dr. Griffiths apologizes to his daughter for not believing her. Vidia is then freed.

winniethepooh-125002_355002_6

Later, Pooh visits Owl only to find that Owl was the one that took Eeyore’s tail, not realizing it belonged to Eeyore. Owl had been using Eeyore’s tail as a bell-pull for his door. Pooh chooses to leave. In the end, Pooh returns the tail to Eeyore instead of sharing a pot of honey with Owl. Christopher Robin is proud of Pooh’s selflessness and rewards him with a large pot of honey. Michael returns from the basketball vacation, he accepts Lorina, the White Rabbit, and the Nerdlucks as his new colleagues, thinking Juanita bought them, and cares for Alice’s injured arm. Meanwhile, Al’s business has suffered due to his failure to sell the storybook characters. Alice tells Bugs that he is not worried about Michael discarding her because, when he does, they will still have each other for company. Wheezy’s throat has been fixed. Lizzy and her father are now closer than ever. Vidia and Tink form a friendship.

3280_205002_40

In a epilogue scene, it is revealed that the rumored Backson (Huell Howser) actually exists deep in the woods, but is much friendlier than imagined. He discovers the trail of objects that the animals left, and picks up each one, planning to return them to whoever owns them. He ends up falling into the pit that was originally meant for him and waits for someone to arrive and help him out. He adds, “I sure hope that fellow will be back soon.”

August 9, 2011 (30th anniversary)
AUGUST 9, 2011 (30TH ANNIVERSARY)

D23 Expo: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event (2011)

The D23 Expo returned for its second time at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California on August 19th-21st, 2011. Closely resembling the Inaugural D23 Expo on 2009, the Show Floor has expanded its pavilion with Disney Channel and Radio Disney, the Collector’s Forum, Walt Disney Studios, Disney Living, Dinsye Corporate Citizenship, and Disney Interactive Media Group. The Treasure of the Walt Disney Archives has expanded by 12,000 square feet (1,100 m2) since the Inaugural D23 Expo. The Show Floor also featured a new pavilion, similar to the Walt Disney Imagineering pavilion from the D23 Expo 2009, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts’s Carousel of Projects which shows the highlights of the developing projects coming soon in Disney Parks around the world.

Shopping opportunities include the D23 Expo Dream Store returning from the Inaugural Expo. Other D23 Expo-exclusive stores include Mickey’s of Glendale from Walt Disney Imagineering Headquarters in Glendale, California and the Walt Disney Archives Treasure Trove from the Walt Disney Archives in Burbank, California. Other stores include A Small World Village and a Disney Store in the Disney Living Pavilion. Another popular area was the Collectors Forum, where guests could buy Disney Collectibles and with the Disneyana Fan Club, Mouse Planet, Mice Chat, Hidden Mickey author Nancy Temple Rodrigue, and artist Brian Rood with his one-of-a-kid The Rocketeer.

Events took place at the D23 Arena, Stage 28, the “red carpet” at the Talent Round-Up area, Storyteller Stage at the Disney Living pavilion, and at the Disney Channel/Radio Disney stage. The Disney Channel stage held performances from Coco Jones, China Anne McClain, a first look for Radio Disney’s N.B.T. (Next Big Thing), and a karate exhibition from Leo Howard. Guests also had the chance to meet and greet the cast of Good Luck Charlie, Jake and the Never Land Pirates and The Never Land Band, Lemonade Mouth, So Random!, Phineas and Ferb, Kickin’ It, Fish Hooks, A.N.T. Farm, Handy Manny, Special Agent Oso, Pair of Kings, and Shake it Up.

Stage 23 hosted many events involving sneak peeks to projects from The Walt Disney Studios and ABC Studios including Marvel’s The Avengers, The Muppets, Brave, Monsters University, Once Upon a Time and Prep and Landing: Naughty vs. Nice, and the celebration for the 25th Anniversary of Pixar. Stage 28 hosted Walt Disney Imagineering panels for the Disney Cruise Line, Cars Land, Buena Vista Street, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, “The Voices of the Parks”, and vintage photos and videos of Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

The first rounds of the UDTT were held on August 18, 2011 (one day before the D23 Expo) which narrowed from thousands to one hundred and from one hundred to 20. It was hosted by Dan Roebuck (guest starred in LOST and Wizards of Waverly Place) who narrowed down the final round from 20 people to 3. After two full days of trivia questions, John Kurowski is the winner of the inaugural Ultimate Disney Fan Trivia Tournament. His name will be engraved in a Ludwig von Drake (cartoon character) trophy which will be preserved in the Walt Disney Archives and John Kurowski will also win a preview cruise on the Disney Fantasy ship which will set sail to the public, part of the Disney Cruise Line, in 2012.

The D23 Arena hosted many milestone events only at the D23 Expo. This is the second time that the Disney Legends Ceremony has taken place in front of guests at the D23 Expo (originally taken place at the Walt Disney Studios). This tradition started in 1987 and since then, 287 people have been awarded. In the Expo, the Company honored 12 people who contributed to the The Walt Disney Company. This includes Jodi Benson (the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid), Barton Boyd, Jim Henson (the creator of Kermit the Frog and the Muppets), Linda Larkin (the speaking voice of Jasmine in Aladdin), Paige O’Hara (the voice of Belle in Beauty and the Beast), Regis Philbin, Anika Noni Rose (the voice of Tiana in The Princess and the Frog & Tinker Bell’s Spring of Belief), Lea Salonga (the singing voices of Jasmine in Aladdin and Fa Mulan in Mulan), Ray Watson, Guy Williams, and Jack and Bonita Wrather.

Sun River

At August 21st, 2011 (the month of the D23 Expo), I departed from 3705 NW Columbia Avenue and head on to Deschutes County with my family and my pet dogs, Q and Zero. I brought a few DVDs (Rio, Alice in Wonderland (in honor of its 60th anniversary), and The Fox and the Hound (in honor of its 30th anniversary)).

9fcea075c8b41490695f01921ae37cfd

I started posting screens from the new website Disney Screencaps. I went bike riding, went to the Fort Rock Park with Q and Zero. They said there will be a new water park in Sun River. The trip is ended at August 27th.

People incidents

Frances Bay (Happy Gilmore, Blue Velvet, The Middle) died in Tarzana, California on September 15th, 2011, of complications from pneumonia at the age of 92.

Frances-Bay-Net-Worth_62844

September 20, 2011 (70th anniversary)
SEPTEMBER 20, 2011 (70TH ANNIVERSARY)

Eugene

At September 21st, 2011, I departed from 3705 NW Columbia Avenue and head to the University of Oregon (where Melissa will attend after her graduation in June 2011) at Eugene with my family. I brought a computer and a few DVDs (The Lion King and Dumbo (in honor of its 70th anniversary)). I and my sister went and see The Lion King in 3D.

October 4, 2011
OCTOBER 4, 2011

untitled

People incidents

Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc., died at his Palo Alto, California home around 3 p.m. on October 5, 2011, because of complications from a relapse of his previously treated islet-cell neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer, resulting in respiratory arrest.

ngbbs4e8d64427c984

Puss in Boots (October 28, 2011 – February 24, 2012)

Puss_in_Boots_Poster33390_front

Awards: Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Nominee

MPAA Rating: PG (for some adventure action and mild rude humor)

Critic Score: cf-lg84% Certified Fresh

Average Rating: 6.8/10

Consensus: It isn’t deep or groundbreaking, but what it lacks in profundity, Puss in Boots more than makes up for with an abundance of wit, visual sparkle, and effervescent charm.

Box office: $555.9 million

Plot

Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) is a talking cat named for his signature pair of boots. Puss is a fugitive on the run from the law, looking to restore his lost honor. He learns that the outlaw couple Jack (Billy Bob Thornton) and Jill (Amy Sedaris) have the magic beans he’s been looking for most of his life, which can lead him to a giant’s castle holding valuable golden goose eggs. When Puss tries to steal them from the outlaws’ room, a female cat named Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) interrupts, and both fail. Kitty is allied with Humpty Alexander Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis), a talking egg and Puss’ long-estranged childhood friend from the orphanage where he was raised. Puss tells Kitty his origin story and of his feelings of betrayal for a youthful misadventure when Humpty tricked Puss into helping commit a bank robbery in his hometown of San Ricardo; Puss has been on the run ever since. Humpty eventually convinces Puss to join them in finding the beans and retrieving the golden eggs.

5637_295637_65637_35637_175637_25637_14

The trio steal the beans from Jack and Jill and plant them in the desert. Puss and Kitty’s relationship becomes romantic. The trio ride the beanstalk into the clouds to find the castle of the late giant, while avoiding the Great Terror, a mysterious monster that guards the Golden Goose. When they realize the golden eggs are too heavy to carry, they steal the Goose, which is just a gosling, and escape the castle. While celebrating their victory, the group is ambushed by Jack and Jill, who knock Puss unconscious.

5637_15637_225637_285637_115637_215637_75637_255637_8

When Puss wakes up, he tracks Jack and Jill to San Ricardo where he learns the entire heist was a plot by Humpty to lure him home to be captured, as revenge for abandoning him to the authorities when Humpty’s youthful heist went bad. Jack, Jill, and Kitty were involved in the con. After pleas from Imelda (Constance Marie), his adoptive mother, Puss turns himself in to the guards while Humpty donates many golden eggs to the town and becomes a hero.

5637_95637_45637_24

While in prison, Puss meets the original Jack (Mike Mitchell) from “Jack and the Beanstalk” who warns him that the Great Terror is in fact the Goose’s mother, and it will stop at nothing to get its child back. A repentant Kitty helps Puss break out of prison and tells him she loves him. Puss tracks down Humpty, who wants the Great Terror to demolish the town. Puss convinces Humpty to help him fight off the Great Terror, saying he knows Humpty is a good person at heart. The Great Terror, a giant goose, arrives. Using the Goose as bait, Puss and Humpty lure the Great Terror out of the town. During the chase, Jack and Jill betray Humpty and try to take the Goose, but get crushed by the Great Terror. Humpty and the Goose are knocked off a bridge with Puss holding onto them. Humpty knows Puss cannot hold both of them, so he lets go, sacrificing himself to save the Goose and the town. Humpty’s shell cracks open to reveal he was a golden egg on the inside. The Great Terror then takes the Goose and Humpty back to the giant’s castle.

Puss’ efforts to save San Ricardo make him a hero among the townspeople and Imelda. In the epilogue, Jack and Jill are recovering from their injuries, Humpty is shown once again in his regular egg form, wearing a golden egg suit, as he rides the Great Terror into the clouds, and Puss and Kitty kiss.

Mickey’s Christmas Carol Remastered (November 4, 2011 – November 20, 2012)

MPAA Rating: G

Critic Score: cf-lg79% Certified Fresh

Average Rating: 7/10

Consensus: Despite its great addition to Disney’s animation legacy, Mickey’s Christmas Carol Remastered garners traditional animation and revives a fantastic plot from Charles Dickens’ classic tale and is a return-visit to form for Walt Disney’s lovable rodent that is sure to win new fans, as well as please longtime Disney traditionalists, for the holidays.

Box office: 455.4 million

Plot

English author, Charles Dickens (The Troubadour) (Rob Paulsen) divides the book into five chapters, which he labels “starves”, that is, song stanzas or verses, in keeping with the title of the book. He uses a similar device in his next two Christmas books, titling the four divisions of The Chimes “quarters” after the quarter-hour tolling of clock chimes and naming the parts of The Cricket on the Hearth “chirps”.

On Christmas Eve 1843, Ebenezer Scrooge (Scrooge McDuck) (Alan Young), a bitter, miserable old moneylender at a London counting house, goes to the funeral of his former business partner, Jacob Marley (Goofy) (Bill Farmer). At first, he refuses to pay the undertaker, but eventually gives up the two pennies and takes another pair from Marley. He leaves the funeral parlor in a sour mood.

Seven years later, Scrooge is still the same; he holds everything that embodies the joys and spirit of Christmas in contempt. He refuses to visit his cheerful nephew, Fred (Donald Duck) (Tony Anselmo), at his Christmas dinner party with his family, and rudely turns away two gentlemen (Ratty and Moley) (Corey Burton and Jess Harnell) who seek a donation from him to provide a Christmas dinner for the poor. He complains when his overworked, underpaid clerk Bob Cratchit (Mickey Mouse) (Bret Iwan) begs to take the day off for his own poor family. At home that night, Scrooge is visited by Marley’s ghost, who is now forced to spend his afterlife carrying heavy chains forged from his own greedy ways. Marley tells Scrooge that he will be visited by three spirits that night, and that he must listen to them or be cursed to carry chains of his own. As Marley departs, Scrooge witness other restless spirits who wasted their lives and are suffering from their inability to help their fellow man. Scrooge is then visited by the three spirits Marley spoke of – each visit detailed in a separate stave – who accompany him on visits to various Christmas scenes.

The first of the spirits, the Ghost of Christmas Past (Jiminy Cricket) (Phil Snyder), takes Scrooge to Christmas scenes of Scrooge’s boyhood and youth at the boarding school, which stir the old miser’s gentle and tender side by reminding him of a time when he was kinder and more innocent. These scenes portray Scrooge’s lonely childhood, his relationship with his beloved sister Fan (Webbigail Vanderquack) (Russi Taylor) who died giving birth to Fred, and a Christmas party hosted by his first employer, the warm-hearted Mr. Fezziwig (J. Thaddeus Toad) (Jeff Bennett), who treated Scrooge like a son. They also portray Scrooge’s neglected fiancée, Belle (Daisy Duck) (Christy Carlson Romano), who ends their relationship after she realizes that Scrooge will never love her as much as he loves money, and a visit later in time to the then-married Belle’s large and happy family on Christmas Eve. The elderly Scrooge is unable to bear witnessing these events again and extinguishes the spirit with the jar.

The second spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Present (Willie the Giant) (Will Ryan), takes Scrooge to several different scenes – a joy-filled market of people buying the makings of Christmas dinner and a major part of this stave is taken up with Bob Cratchit’s family feast, and introduces his youngest son, Tiny Tim (Morty Fieldmouse) (Max Charles), who is full of simple happiness despite being seriously ill. The spirit informs Scrooge that Tiny Tim will soon die unless the course of events changes. The spirit then takes Scrooge to celebrations of Christmas in a miner’s cottage and in a lighthouse. Scrooge and the spirit also visit Fred’s Christmas party, where Fred speaks of his uncle with pity. Before dying in an immense bell tower, the spirit shows Scrooge two hideous, emaciated children named Ignorance and Want; he tells Scrooge to beware the former above all, and replies to Scrooge’s concerns for their welfare by repeating Scrooge’s own words: “Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?”

The third spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (Pete) (Jim Cummings), shows Scrooge Christmas Day one day later. The spirit shows Scrooge scenes involving the death of a “wretched man”. The man’s funeral will only be attended by local businessmen (Weasels) if lunch is provided. His charwoman Mrs. Dilber (Clara Cluck) (Russi Taylor), his laundress (Aunt Gertie) (April Winchell), and the local undertaker (Burny Mattinson) steal his bedroom fixtures while his corpse still lays in the bed, and sell them to a fence named Old Joe (Maurice LaMarche). Tiny Tim is also shown to have died, leaving the Cratchit family to mourn him on Christmas. Scrooge is horrified and asks the spirit whether the images he has seen are sure to happen or can be changed. To little response, the spirit takes Scrooge to a dark and desolate graveyard and reveals Scrooge’s own grave, showing his own date of death as December 25 of a forthcoming year, and forces Scrooge to fall into his empty coffin sitting in a deep grave atop the fires of Hell.

Scrooge suddenly awakens to find that he is alive, and also that it is Christmas Day, and that all three spirits have visited him over the course of one night. He joyously spots a child on the street and sends him to have a prize turkey brought to him, so he can have it delivered to the Cratchit home. He wishes Mrs. Dilber a Merry Christmas as she runs off claiming that Scrooge had gone mad. He gives money to the poor and celebrates with his fellow men when he goes for a walk. Later that night, Scrooge attends his nephew’s dinner. The next morning when Bob Cratchit comes to work late, Scrooge raises his salary before sending him out to buy more coal. As he steps out, Bob Cratchit affirms with the audience that Scrooge has become a kinder man and a second father to Tiny Tim, who survives thanks to Scrooge’s charity. The story closes with the narrator repeating Tiny Tim’s famous words: “God bless us, everyone!”

November 22, 2011
NOVEMBER 22, 2011

The Muppets (November 23, 2011 – March 20, 2012)

Awards: Academy Award for Best Original Song Winner “Man or Muppet”

MPAA Rating: PG (for some mild rude humor)

Critic Score: cf-lg96% Certified Fresh

Average Rating: 8/10

Consensus: Clever, charming, and heartfelt, The Muppets is a welcome big screen return for Jim Henson’s lovable creations that will both win new fans and delight longtime devotees.

Plot

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.

In Los Angeles, the three visit the abandoned Muppet Studios. 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.

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. Convinced to try, Kermit sets off with the three to reunite the group. 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. 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).

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.

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. Unsuccessful, Kermit returns home and 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. 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. Refusing to lose, Richman disables the telephone lines and evicts the Muppets from the theater, after the latter fall short of their monetary goal. Kermit gathers the group in the lobby and delivers a speech, suggesting that they will restart their career together as a family. 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. 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.

People incidents

Harry Morgan (M*A*S*H, Dragnet) died peacefully in his sleep at 3:00 a.m. in Los Angeles, on December 7th, 2011 at the age of 96.

Nicol Williamson (Inadmissible Evidence, Spawn, Excalibur) died peacefully on December 16th, 2011, aged 75, after a two-year struggle with esophageal cancer.