Follow That Bird

This is a really cute kids movie with some really great cameos (was that John Candy?) If your kids like Sesame Street and/or the Muppets they will love this movie. Great stuff. Can't recommend it any more highly, almost as good as the original Muppets!

"Follow That Bird" is a rare sort of children's film...the type that actually will appeal to both the kids AND the parents. Teens, of course, will hate it...because they're teens....but everyone else should have a nice time watching this together.

The story is about a bunch of do-gooder birds trying to find Big Bird an actual family. They place him with a family of dodos in middle America and he turns out to prefer life back on Sesame Street...and his old friends miss him as well. So, these friends set off to find him...and at the same time Big Bird leaves and wanders about aimlessly looking for Sesame Street.

So why did I like this one? Well because although the film is oriented towards kids, there are some genuinely funny moments...mostly starring Oscar the Grouch. He opens the film with a cute and funny song and has many great moments throughout the movie...such as when he takes his friends to the grouch restaurant. And, if that isn't enough, there are plenty of other wonrderful cameos by the Sesame Street muppets...more than enough to satisfy viewers. Well written, sweet and enjoyable from start to finish...this is a Sesame Street film that's hard not to love.

I am 20 years old, and this has to be one of my all time favorite movies! My dad and I watch it together all the time. Maybe this is from me being a Child of the 80's, but I love the older cast of Sesame Street. This movie has so many funny moments. I think my personal favorite part of the movie is when Oscar and Maria are in the Grouch resturant, Don't Drop Inn, and Maria orders a tossed salad... little did she know the salad would be "tossed" over her way! Anyway, a wonderful movie for all ages, that is if you too grew up watching Sesame Street. :)

"Follow That Bird" attempts to take a show written for pre-schoolers and present it to a larger audience. Not only that, they attempt to create a film that is both entertaining and enlightening. For this reviewer, they succeed magnificently. There are many "in-jokes," so to speak, in this movie -- anyone who has ever watched the show will laugh whenever one of the characters asks, "Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?" and the normal audience of Sesame Street will still be amused by their favorite characters, while learning something about friendship and the meaning of family. Sesame Street, the TV show, was rather daring in that it showed black, white, green, purple, furry, and ... other ... living in perfect harmony. Except for Oscar the Grouch!

And, speaking of Oscar, one of the many funny bits (this movie is packed with them, and all of the humor is safe for family viewing) is the Grouch diner. Look for Sandra Bernhard as a Grouch waitress. The cameos in this film are something else; Chevy Chase, John Candy, Sandra Bernhard, even Waylon Jennings, all devoted some of their time and talent to making this roundly enjoyable movie. And listen for the voice of Sally Kellerman as Miss Finch, the social worker from the Feathered Friends Society.

Not that all of this movie is funny and light-hearted. There's a few sad moments with Big Bird -- I always get choked up during the "One Shining Star" song, which features a three-part counterpoint with Bird, Mr. Snuffleupagus, and Olivia all singing about Big Bird being safe back at home. And the Sleaze Brothers' scenes are thinly disguised cartoon villainry. I don't know if any of the Sesame Street characters have SEEN villains before -- Oscar is the closest they have, but he's just Grouchy. He doesn't actually hurt anyone, and the Sleaze Brothers start out nice and friendly to Big Bird.

We learn quite a bit during this movie -- we learn that we should never order tossed salad in a Grouch restaurant, for example. We learn that it's never ok to jump from a moving vehicle -- unless we have Gordon's permission. And we learn our real home is where the people love and care about us. But, perhaps the most important lesson is that there are 258 fabulous credits! Hahahahahaha! (thunder and lightning sound here) And, from the filmmakers we learn that you CAN make a family film that includes the entire family (how many times have "family films" been suitable only for those family members still in diapers?) and refuses to preach? One of the many strengths of the Sesame Street characters is their ability to teach a lesson without shoving it down our throats. We never feel threatened or annoyed by these characters; we're always safe and welcome on Sesame Street.

I had the greatest pleasure this past Christmas (2004) of having the opportunity to watch this beloved movie once more. We never owned it when I was younger, but to my mother's memory, anytime we had an opportunity to rent a kid movie from the video store, without doubt, we would pick Follow That Bird. This year, though, my older brother happen-chanced upon a copy of the tape and bought it as a present for Mom. Anyhow, to get down to business...I was amazed at just how wonderful this movie really was. Yes, it is a kid's movie, and is therefore corny and the such (they do break out into cheesy songs every now and then...), but it had a unique charm that a lot of B-class kid movies just don't have anymore. And while Sesame Street still exists for kids today, the newer stuff just doesn't seem to be the same. So for all of you out there like me who grew up on old school Sesame Street...I totally recommend you watch this movie....nostalgia is one of the greatest feelings in the world!