Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Featuring unprecedented access to Jim Henson's personal archives, filmmaker Ron Howard brings us a fascinating and insightful look at a complex man whose boundless imagination inspired the world.
Ron Howard's documentary benefits enormously from unprecedented access to Henson's personal archives, making it a singular portrait of one of entertainment's most distinctive creative minds. The archival footage and personal materials give it an intimacy and depth that elevates it above standard biographical documentaries. Novelty scores high because Henson himself was so singular, and the documentary captures that unmistakable creative voice in a way no previous film has. The cinematography is competent but unremarkable for the documentary form. The narrative structure is solid if conventional, and the ending, while emotionally resonant given Henson's untimely death, follows expected biographical arc without surprising the viewer.