A young boy (Brian Henson) plays with a toy car. As he plays with his toy and he sees the Wheels That Go around, he reminisces about a series of experiences with his mother. He thinks about cars, trains, and other things with wheels, and the world gets to see how important these seemingly insignificant moments are in a person’s life.
Jim Henson has often had a unique way of telling stories and of bringing to life his many ideas. Oftentimes he has created films that step outside the norms of filmmaking, and he invites his viewers into energetic and invigorating worlds–but Wheels That Go is incredibly different from what fans of J. Henson’s work may have gotten used to. Wheels That Go is simple, down-to-earth, and completely accessible by all. There’s not an existential message to be dug up through the narrative, but rather something that sits right in front of viewers, ripe for the picking. This is a welcome change of pace, and J. Henson, once again, delivers a beautifully calibrated short film about what memories shape a person’s life.
The cinematography is adequate, nothing special–but enough to capture the young boy playing with his toy and to express the memories that he shares with his mother. This plays well with the idea of simplicity, how seemingly unimportant events can shape a person and make them who and what they are. Wheels That Go is made up of very average visuals, enough to convey J. Henson’s message–and it parallels all that this film is.
I happened to listen to a song not too long ago called “Don’t Take the Girl” by Tim McGraw, a song that I’ve known for years, but I heard it differently this time. As the protagonist of the story present in this song navigates life, he finds himself in a number of situations that have helped to define him, and that’s exactly what Wheels That Go is for cinema. A short telling of this boy’s journey with his mother, and how watching trains and cars go by may appear to have no real value in the grand scheme of life, these seemingly insignificant moments are monumental to this boy. This is the way the world works, and it’s often difficult to put into words this reality, but J. Henson, being as brilliant as he was, found a way to represent this visually, and it’s beautiful.
The music developed for Wheels That Go was done by Ramond Scott. Scott creates very calming, welcoming sounds that invite viewers into this journey through this boy’s mind. He accompanies the story with expertise, and the score ultimately takes the place of dialogue throughout Wheels That Go. Had dialogue been present, I’m not sure that the message would have been this well received, but the inclusion of Scott’s score allows viewers to appreciate all that is being done.
Wheels That Go is incredibly short. There isn’t much time to absorb all that is being said and done throughout the film, so J. Henson is tasked with making every second of his short film matter, and he does this with great aplomb. J. Henson does it again, but this time with simplicity. He captures human nature, and the importance of making memories. Wheels That Go is a touching tribute to the human psyche and family.
Written & Directed by Jim Henson.
Starring Brian Henson.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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