Follow That Bird (1985)

Captivating movie !

Brilliant and touching

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Big Bird is sent to live far from Sesame Street by a pesky social worker. Unhappy, Big Bird runs away from his foster home, prompting the rest of the Sesame Street gang to go on a cross-country journey to find him.Maybe it helps if you grew up with Sesame Street. For me, this was actually the first film I ever saw in the theater. But I feel kids of all ages should still enjoy it today (2017). I have no memory of seeing the film as a kid, but loved it just as much now as I probably did then. Maybe more, because I was able to pick up on the dumbest jokes (like there being an "Oceanview" in Illinois).Parents, please expose your kids to this movie. It is about as fun and harmless as can be. Maybe not educational, but not everything can be.

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.

This film was made in the pre-Elmo age, a better time for Sesame Street, and this was perhaps the zenith of the franchise, at least as far as entertainment. Despite being about a decade older than Sesame Street's target range, this is still one of my favorite movies. The entertainment provided by the classic characters, though simplistic, is clean, creative, and massive. Some may cry, "Nostalgia!" and "Bias!", but after many, many viewings of the movie, I can safely confide in my comments. If a British sitcom or other "high" humor is what tickles your funny bone, you may not appreciate it, but nearly everyone else will find at least enough fun to watch with their young relatives, if not on their own. It is, in my opinion, the greatest family film in existence.Now, some Spoiler-soaked highlights. Oscar's "Grouch National Anthem" Waylon Jennings and the gang singing "Ain't No Road" Ernie and Bert ALMOST reuniting with Big Bird Big Bird's rescue from his cage The tossed salad fight at the Don't Drop Inn.Do yourself a favor. Release the child in you, and see this movie again. I promise you'll love it.