"Though made for kids, adults will also enjoy this traditional Muppet outing. It is full of charm and humor, and will bring back wonderful memories of your time spent on Sesame Street. "
| | | Jim Henson's trademark storytelling is on full display here, as is his work with the Muppets. This is a great film for younger viewers. They will enjoy its simplistic pacing and humor. | It's a little dry at times. Sesame Street was built for television screens, and it gets lost in the world of cinema. The scope is too big for Bird's meager aspirations. |
Follow That Bird follows in the tradition of Jim Henson's first three Muppet Movies, giving us an adventure for the whole family. It is full of Henson's trademark humor, this time turning things over to the denizens of Sesame Street. All of our favorite characters are accounted for, but the film really belongs to Big Bird. An adoption agency finds out that he has no parents, and moves him in with a family of Foster Do-Do Birds a million miles away from his nest on Sesame Street. Feeling homesick, Bird escapes this loony bin for the high road, and goes across the country, getting embroiled in one failed adventure after the next. Missing Big Bird; Bert, Ernie, Grover, Oscar, and the Count set off in search of their giant yellow friend. Along the way, they keep missing each other. It's a lot like the original Muppet Movie, only slightly dumbed down so that it's more accessible for kids. There are plenty of cameo appearances, including ones from Chevy Chase, John Candy, Sandra Bernhard, and Waylon Jennings. There are a number of original songs that are quite humable. But the true break out star here is Snuffleupagus, Bird's hairy elephant-like dinosaur friend with the stuffed up snout. He gets ample screen time, and utilizes it to its full extent. This is one film your younger children will want to watch again and again. It has an ageless allure that will never dissipate.
There is a great interview here with Carroll Spinney, the man inside the Big Bird suit. It takes us through his history, and reveals what it is like to walk around inside this feathered costume for so many years. The only other special feature is the "Jump to a Song" function, which allows you to automatically access the seven songs contained within the actual move. The DVD-ROM enhanced features include a series of downloadable coloring book pages, and well as the original theatrical trailer.
Follow that Bird is as good as the first three Muppet Movies, if a little less sophisticated. It was made for kids under ten, sure. But parents and hipsters will enjoy it just as much, if not more. It is well worth the purchasing price. I say buy it.
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