Jim Henson Idea Man-A Flawed, But Very Touching Tribute to Jim Henson

Jim Henson Idea Man does everything the film can to act as a lovingly made tribute to Jim Henson and all the warmth, kindness, and passion he exuded. Each interview from close friends, family, and colleagues perfectly captures all the warmth and brilliance of the man. Seeing all the trials and tribulations Henson faced throughout his life, be it the loss of his brother, the projects he never got off the ground, or his struggles to balance his work and family life, all laid out in such a clean manner made me appreciate Henson and just how passionate and hard-working of a man that he was. There's also something so inherently fascinating about going behind the scenes to Henson's work and seeing the passion and artistry that went into it. Some incredibly charming footage throughout the film shows the genuine camaraderie Henson had with all of his collaborators.

There's an evident passion for Henson and his work throughout, as every stylistic choice for the documentary acts as an homage to Henson's work in one way or another. There are the psychedelic visuals similar to Henson's experimental films, the rapid-fire editing style that replicates Henson's editing style, and even the production design for the interview space is a close recreation of the set of Henson's short film, The Cube. The music, in the sweet-sounding motifs throughout the film, fits perfectly with the warm nature of the interviews and the archival footage.

However, at only 104 minutes, the film doesn't quite have enough time to capture Henson's life and substantial body of work in much detail, and so it rushes along so much of Henson's life at such a fast pace that it can sometimes be quite overwhelming. Much of Henson's later work, such as Fraggle Rock and Jim Henson's The Storyteller, get rushed along with a quick mention in the film's final minutes. There are also some jarring omissions throughout the film, such as the lack of any mention of Jim Henson's relationship with Steve Whitmore, the man who took over for Kermit at the request of Henson and who played the part for nearly two decades. The film also omits the fact that the deal with Disney put immense stress on the man, which made his already failing health worse, leading to his untimely passing. It makes much of the documentary, particularly the final minutes, feel too incomplete and artificial-feeling to be this ultimate tribute to Jim Henson.

I may have grievances with the film regarding its pacing and the information it chooses to rush along, falsely portray, or omit entirely. But despite those grievances, the film still works as a lovely portrait of Henson. Most of that is due to the immense love, passion, and respect everyone involved with the documentary had for Jim Henson as an artist and a man.

Now Streaming on Disney+ in the U.S.