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Follow That Bird (1985)
Released By: Warner Home Video   Rating: G   In Theaters: N/A
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Studio: Warner Home Video
Genre: Family
MPAA Rating: G
Director: Ken Kwapis
Language: English
Official Website: N/A
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: N/A
Cast: Chevy Chase, Frank Oz, Jim Henson, Joe Flaherty, John Candy, Sandra Bernhard
Published ID: 200
UPC: 085391327929, 883929064076,
Plot: The first film to be adapted from the popular children's television series Sesame Street, Follow That Bird follows the story of Big Bird after a social worker (Sally Kellerman) takes him away from Sesame Street to live with a family of birds in Illinois. Unhappy in his new surroundings, Big Bird attempts to hitchhike back home to Sesame Street. Over the course of his journey he meets a number of odd and charming characters, in the form of cameos by Chevy Chase, Sandra Bernhard, Waylon Jennings, Dave Thomas and John Candy. The music for this engaging family film was written by Van Dyke Parks and Lennie Niehaus. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
Love sharing my memories with my children
Added 11/17/2009

This was the very first movie I ever saw in a movie theater and I remembered it vividly. I had to buy it when my children became interested in Sesame Street. It is as much fun as I remember it being plus some. The moral and songs are what you would expect of a Sesame Street movie. It was mentioned that Elmo isn't in it and personally it's nice not having a muppet that is always the favorite and the center of attention being the main character. My children love the movie and I enjoy being able to share a piece of my childhood.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
One of these things is not like the others...
Added 11/2/2009

This is a great movie. I was afraid when I watched it with my daughter that, though I loved it when I was younger, I would find it to be rather disappointing now (as has been the case with many "great" things I remember from my childhood)...not the case at all. I would be glad to watch it many more times again now.

BE AWARE, if you are tempted to bounce over and buy the cheaper 2002 DVD version of this same movie, that it has no widescreen option, and will only play "formatted to fit your screen". If you prefer widescreen stick with this 2009 DVD version.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
This item was mis-described by Amazon: no French version
Added 10/20/2009

The description says the movie's audio track is available in French, Portuguese and English, but in fact it's available in Spanish, Portuguese and English. Since I ordered it to have a DVD to watch with my son, who's in a French immersion program, this was very disappointing.

The movie is fine, but the description is faulty. Unfortunately, I can't find any way to let Amazon know that other than this review.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Psychological regression is gooood
Added 10/15/2009

Whenever I watch this movie, it's like I'm a kid again!!! As most people, my childhood was not perfect but when this movie begins, I think of all the fun things about growing up. When my son grows old enough, I pray he loves this movie as much as his mom! It's a timeless great, the songs are amazing and the character's and actors in perfect form, as usual. Buy this movie...you won't regret it!!!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
This Is A Good Movie!
Added 8/7/2009

This movie was so great! Some of my favorite parts in this movie include Big Bird screaming "HELP! HELP!" when he is caught by the Sleaze Brothers.

The movie opens with Oscar the Grouch (Caroll Spinney, who also played Big Bird, of course) introducing to us his "Grouch Anthem," which at mid-song features other Grouches moaning while Oscar delivered his spoken monologue, before they all sing the song's chorus ("Don't let the sunshine spoil the rain ..."). It then goes to Big Bird pumping up an inflatable "W" which then flies high away and into the sky, where it turns into the "W" in the Warner Bros. shield logo.

The movie resumes with the Feathered Friends organization, who eye Big Bird for adoption by a dodo family living in Oceanview, IL, whose own son (voiced by Eddie Deezen) and daughter (voiced by Cathy Silvers, the daughter of the late Phil Silvers) are named after the two most famous Osmond siblings. Miss Finch (Sally Kellerman) is one of the key people of the FF. We then cut to Sesame Street where Big Bird currently is, where we see the movie's title graphic. Big Bird, after he bids adieu on SS, initially takes to loving his new family, but soon grew tired of them when their traditional family life didn't match that of his own on SS. He left them because only his bird friends could visit them, not his best friend Snuffleupagus. This is where the real journey now starts.

As Big Bird makes his way back to SS, he has to deal with not only Miss Finch, but now he also must face the Sleaze Brothers (Joe Flaherty as Sid, and Dave Thomas as Sam), two circus owners who hope to use him for a major attraction of theirs (The Blue Bird of Happiness, which we witness later on). Big, as Miss Finch refers to him, initially gets help from a turkey truck driver (portrayed by late country musician Waylon Jennings), to which we cue the song "Ain't No Road Too Long."

At the end of the scene where we see Big Bird rescued by way of jumping off of the Sleaze Brothers' truck and onto the front hood of a Volkswagen Beetle, courtesy of Gordon and Olivia. The Sleazes are then apprehended by the state trooper (John Candy) who is assisted by a black boy who we'd seen earlier in the film, for which he accused one of the Sleazes of stealing his apple.

Big Bird returns to SS, and the movie ends after Maria tells Miss Finch all about Sesame Street and its gang.

I also dug the Caroll Spinney interview bonus featurette.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Love sharing my memories with my children
Added 11/17/2009

This was the very first movie I ever saw in a movie theater and I remembered it vividly. I had to buy it when my children became interested in Sesame Street. It is as much fun as I remember it being plus some. The moral and songs are what you would expect of a Sesame Street movie. It was mentioned that Elmo isn't in it and personally it's nice not having a muppet that is always the favorite and the center of attention being the main character. My children love the movie and I enjoy being able to share a piece of my childhood.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
One of these things is not like the others...
Added 11/2/2009

This is a great movie. I was afraid when I watched it with my daughter that, though I loved it when I was younger, I would find it to be rather disappointing now (as has been the case with many "great" things I remember from my childhood)...not the case at all. I would be glad to watch it many more times again now.

BE AWARE, if you are tempted to bounce over and buy the cheaper 2002 DVD version of this same movie, that it has no widescreen option, and will only play "formatted to fit your screen". If you prefer widescreen stick with this 2009 DVD version.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
This item was mis-described by Amazon: no French version
Added 10/20/2009

The description says the movie's audio track is available in French, Portuguese and English, but in fact it's available in Spanish, Portuguese and English. Since I ordered it to have a DVD to watch with my son, who's in a French immersion program, this was very disappointing.

The movie is fine, but the description is faulty. Unfortunately, I can't find any way to let Amazon know that other than this review.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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