Blue's Clues: Blue's Big Musical

My 2 year old LOVES Blue's Clues, and saw every episode while it was free on Amazon Prime over and over. I'd rate that show 10 stars. This movie, however, doesn't quite capture the show's level of excellence. Probably because it's trying to stretch the exact same elements from 25 minutes into an hour plus long movie and you can feel the middle dragging.

Okay, first the good. Almost all of the characters from the TV show (at the time this movie was made) are in this movie and it's fun to see so many of them together. As always, Steve, our sole live actor, does a fantastic job! As a unique twist, Steve gets a chance to find a clue (rather than the audience pointing them out to him).

The bad: The boring middle section. In the middle, Steve gets a music lesson and I think it's something like 15 minutes of lesson. My two year old got bored at this point EVERY TIME we watched this. He'd wander off. And it isn't the length of show because he'll watch episode after episode in a row if I let him. It's just that the music lesson isn't engaging, either visually or any other way. In the end, I've taken to skipping it for every showing. That's a large chunk of this movie that's "wasted".

Overall, this isn't a bad movie. For a 2 year old, I'd say it is probably one of the best things out there, actually! But if you have to choose, I'd highly recommend buying the episodes over the movie.

***Yes, Blue's Big Musical Adventure is a movie about a CGI dog of an unnatural hue aimed at the Juicebox set.***

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's talk about Steve Burns. WHAT A GUY. It doesn't seem like there'd be much at all to singing a bunch of cheerful, encouraging songs to toddlers, and waiting for them to yell out answers when you find a "clue." But, as the sole human of the house, Burns does all his work in front of a bluescreen (no pun intended.) Must get pretty lonely, don't you think? If not for the neon fur and disproportionate features of Blue, I'd believe Steve was really talking to his cuddly costar - the man's that fantastic.

Ok, I'm 21, and my girlfriend just bought me this movie on DVD, and I loved it. The movie is made for preschoolers, sure, but I don't see how anyone cannot just fall in love with adorable little Blue. She's the cutest little pup around, and Steve is pretty cool himself. The entire gang is here for this adventure, Blue, Steve, Salt and Pepper Shaker, Paprika, Magenta, Green, Side Table Drawer, Tickety Tock, Slippery Soap...almost all of them have major roles in this movie, and they all add their own little nuances. The music is really cool, with Ray Charles doing a bit when Blue scadoos into sheet music, and Steve learns how to make music. The persuasions, a group I've never heard of till now do music in the same scene as the notes on the sheet music. The whole idea of the movie is that the gang is going to have a music show in the backyard. They make costumes, snacks, build the stage, and everything else. It's fun to watch over and over, and when you learn all the music, it's kinda nifty to sing along. Just like the series, the movie incorporates learning into the story, each scene getting a bit more challenging than the last. If you're a Blue fan, you have to get this movie, and if you think you might like it, do the same, it's a great movie that is well written and thoroughly enjoyable.

I think this is great for kids. My three-year old just loves it, and would watch it every day if I let her.

A lot of children's movies are either obnoxiously repetitive, sappy or just plain irritating. Blue's Clues isn't, and this movie is really fun. I also like that the musical "lessons" go from very simple to somewhat more complex to keep children interested when they begin to learn the easier concepts. Problems that the characters have are easy for children to relate to, such as shyness and frustration. The music is easy to listen to, and in some cases, wonderfully catchy.

A special appearance by Ray Charles as "G Clef" and his great friends "the notes" really gives it soul.

I recently re-watched Blue's Big Musical Movie, a childhood classic that still holds up today. The music is infectiously catchy, and incorporating different musical styles is truly impressive. Although the plot is simple and predictable, it's still engaging and enjoyable. The guest appearances by famous musicians are a nice treat, and it's great to see them interact with the show's beloved characters. Overall, I'd give this Blue's Clues film a solid 7 out of 10. It's a must-watch for anyone who grew up with the Blue's Clues franchise, and even newcomers will appreciate the high-quality songs and animation.