‘Jim Henson: Idea Man’ Review – The Genius Of A Creative Icon

In a balanced, nostalgic reflection, director Ron Howard and his team of filmmakers take viewers over 70 years back in time to witness the quirky, musical, and sometimes commercial appeal of The Jim Henson Company. Originally known as Muppets, Inc. when founded by Jim and Jane Henson, the documentary additionally provides space for countless other creatives. Along the way, we’re reintroduced to Kermit (performed by Jim Henson), Rowlf (performed by Jim with assistance from Frank Oz ), Big Bird (performed by Carroll Spinney ), and many other muppets and creations from the studio. There are so many iconic characters in the documentary, audiences may struggle to keep track of them all, but one of the best aspects is the chance to see the bodies, minds, and lives of the artists who brought the creations to life, which makes our favorite characters even more memorable.

Jim Henson Idea Man is a series of interviews with family members, actors, directors, and artists overlaid with published and unpublished material from Henson’s catalog. The documentary covers the entire span of his life, from birth in Mississippi, to auditioning with puppets merely to get on a television set, to meeting his wife Jane in college; the film covers his early inspirations for muppets (after spending time in Europe), while never losing sight of his interest in the power of television and film. Because of his eclectic career and interests, the documentary purposefully and inadvertently takes on his various methods of stop motion, experimental film, voice-over work, stage acting, animation, and computer generation, while still respecting puppetry and marionettes. 

One of the overt themes Jim shares in the film is the idea that there’s never enough time and we always want more of it. This mantra took over much of his life, as he often spent days working without much rest, but one likely reason Jim struggles with his genius is that he’s in the midst of a revolution in terms of artistry and culture. Influences such as Soviet montage and Kubrick are clear in the experimental work shared in the film, as is the influence of Orson Welles, who makes a well-timed appearance in clips from the pilot The Orson Welles Show. Jim works alongside New Hollywood greats such as Lucas and Spielberg while also finding his own path at the same time.

Jim Henson: Idea Man handles the nostalgia well, particularly the more positive aspects of Jim’s life. But in an effort to place a twist on the typical ‘darker’ moments most documentaries eventually step into, Howard spreads out and contextualizes the losses Jim goes through. He also provides plenty of time to discuss the tension with his wife, a co-founder of his studio and one of his early teachers and motivators, though outsiders may have thought they were merely falling in love. 

When not highlighting Jim’s time away from his family and the effect of that, the film continues with the trajectory of the studio, illustrating the beginnings of Sesame Street, a five-year run of The Muppet Show overseas, and Jim’s relationship with Frank Oz, puppeteer for Ernie as well as co-director of films such as The Dark Crystal. The documentary emphasizes just how extensive Jim’s dreams were, focusing on all of his interests, from ad-libbing to participating in advertisements to fund larger projects. Jim could easily be described as a spirit unable to find and fill a singular vessel, whether it be ballet, broadway, or architecture. 

The closing of the documentary focuses on Jim’s unexpected final days and his will, which included a script for his funeral. Just before this, the film emphasizes one of the final conversations between Jim and Jane. Their children reveal that Jane was one of the motivations for encouraging Jim to use the funds he’d accrued during his career, even after their divorce, to buy full control of his studio and catalog of shows and movies from a new owner. This risky decision solidified the Henson family, many of whom still work for the studio today. Even though Jim gave everything to the studio, potentially too much of himself, there’s a semblance of relief since his family is aware of the sacrifice, appreciative, and focused on expressing their creativity in healthy ways today.

Jim Henson: Idea Man is currently available to stream on Disney+.