It took me about 28 years before I finally got around to seeing Follow That Bird and I kind of feel guilty about it.Like many kids, I watched Sesame Street in its prime circa. 1974-82, although I liked The Electric Company more. I grew up watching these actors and Muppets. By 1985, I was too old for Sesame Street and would only watch it while waiting for my younger brothers to finish watching it so I could change the channel to watch music videos. I had a chance to rent it on VHS in 1988 but never did. After awhile, I forgot about the film altogether.Finally, I watched the film a few weeks ago and I realized I missed seeing a joyful movie that is free of the condescending tone and shilling that today's kids fare provides.Big Bird (voiced by Caroll Spinney) is forced to leave Sesame Street by some social welfare group for birds led by Miss Finch (voiced by Sally Kellerman) because they feel children-aged birds would be better off having adult birds and a bird family raising him than the more-than-capable human adults he has for his neighbors. After leaving for Oceanview, Illinois and unhappy with the Dodo family, he decides naively to walk back to NYC and when his friends back home get the Amber alert on the news from Chevy Chase, they all form several groups to intercept him.Unfortunately, the Sleaze Brothers (SCTV's Joe Flaherty and Dave Thomas) also hear the news and see Big Bird as their ticket to $$$. They are able to capture him and it's up to his old friends to free him.What I loved about the movie is that there's no talking down or condescending treatment of the audience. It's just a great children's film that teaches the importance of friendship and devotion to said friends. The actors don't try to change their personas. Maria, Gordon, Bob, Cookie Monster, Grover, etc. are the same people we saw in the T.V. show.The music, sadly, isn't very good but "I'm So Blue", sung when Big Bird is captured by the Sleaze Brothers is an exception. When a painted blue Big Bird sings his sad song, you feel empathy for the guy. I doubt if Barney was painted yellow, anybody would show him the same treatment. It would be seen as the greatest comedy scene in Hollywood instead.While the movie is G-rated, adults will see some spoofs from various movies; subtle as they are. The opening song featuring Oscar The Grouch in front of a U.S. flag reminded me of Patton while the food fight featuring Sandra Bernhard (!) gave me flashbacks to Blazing Saddles.It's too bad the film faired poorly in the box office despite critical acclaim. If you can find a way to see this film and your kids aren't Elmo fanatics (he was nothing in 1985) they will enjoy it immensely. You can only then hope we'll revert to more of Follow That Bird and less of, say, Twilight.

Follow that Bird is a great children's movie. Unlike other Sesame Street productions it can be enjoyable for children well into elementary school, and even parents! All is well on Sesame Street, that is until it comes to the Bird Society's attention that Big Bird is not living with a proper bird family. They send out Ms. Finch, a social worker who is to place our favorite yellow muppet with a bird family. While nervous at first, Big Bird gets excited about the idea of a bird family and is sent to Illinois to live with the Dodos. The Dodos are rather dopey and strange, and Big Bird misses his friends on Sesame Street. Big Bird finally gives up on the Dodos and runs away when they say they do not want him to be friends with Snuffy, as he should have "bird friends". When the gang on Sesame Street hear Big Bird is running home they send out a search party to find him, including Maria, Linda, Gordon, Super Grover, Oscar, the Count, Cookie Monster, Bert, Ernie,and the honkers. We then follow Big Bird's journey home to Sesame Street in New York, while all his friends search high and low for him. On his trip he manages to find help from some farm kids and a friendly truck driver, but also gets kidnapped by the "Sleaze Brothers", two carnies who want him to be a sideshow attraction in their carnival. It is then up to the rest of the gang from Sesame Street to rescue their favorite yellow bird and take him home! I love this movie. It's something I loved when I was little and even if my daughter watches it over and over I don't get annoyed. It has a solid plot and is not just for preschoolers like many other Sesame Street productions. There is a clear positive message of the importance of diversity and even trans-racial adoption. There is also a good message of "don't talk to strangers" and shows the danger of trusting people too eager to get you into their car. While some have said this aspect of the movie is too scary, I disagree. It's far from traumatizing, and it is important that children have some level of fear of people who are clearly up to no good. Follow That Bird is both Jim Henson and Big Bird in their prime. It's definitely better than any Elmo movies, and a must for any Sesame Street fans, young and old.

The gang from "Sesame Street" hit the big screen and they hit a bull's-eye. The story is simple: Big Bird is taken away from his warm nest on SS and taken to live with a ditsy foster family of dodo birds. Homesick and lonely, he sets off on a journey back home while being pursued by his friends, social workers and carnival owners.This movie is pretty much perfect, in it's own way. The all-star cast (a Muppet tradition) just shine and deliver sweet and likable performances with Dave Thomas and Joe Flaherty stand-outs as the bumbling villains. Carroll Spinney also delivers a heart-warming performance as Big Bird. In fact, there's not a dent in sight when it comes to this collection of actors.The story might be simple but would you have it any other way? When comparing this to the sequel, "Elmo in Grouchland", this comes off like "Die Hard" which I consider an amusing comparison. My only real complaint is the forgettable songs.Overall for the kids and young at heart, this is a joy.

Follow That Bird is a five star event that has spectacular music. In my opinion Follow That Bird is a movie the whole family will enjoy. My favorite part is when the Muppet patrons order tossed salad and the Muppet Grouch cook gives them what they ordered via slingshot. Big Bird of Sesame Street is much smarter than the DoDo family of Canary Road. Like their name the Dodos behave extremely ridiculous and Big Bird would rather return to his familiar surroundings Sesame Street. Sandra Berhnard played a Grouch waitress and John Candy played the state trooper both were excellent. The movie was filmed in Canada. The scenery was peaceful rural farmland with fields of corn. Other notable characters, Sally Kellerman sweet voice suited Miss finch. Buy the movie you will love it!