Watch Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird

Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird is a delightful, family-friendly movie from 1985, that brings to life the beloved characters of Sesame Street like never before. Directed by Ken Kwapis and produced by the legendary Jim Henson, the movie features live-action sequences with human actors and puppetry, and showcases the charm and whimsy of Sesame Street with a heartfelt storyline that will tug at your heartstrings.

At the heart of the movie is our beloved blue, feathered friend Big Bird, voiced by Caroll Spinney, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery when he is taken away from Sesame Street and forced to live with a family of dodos in Illinois. The movie begins with the news that a social worker, Miss Finch, played by the talented voice actor Sally Kellerman, has come to Sesame Street and has deemed it unfit for Big Bird to live there any longer. Concerned about his safety, she decides to take Big Bird away to live with the dodos who are the only other birds who share his size and color.

Despite the dodos' best intentions, Big Bird feels lost and out of place in his new home. He misses his friends and is miserable without them. Meanwhile, the rest of the Sesame Street residents, including recognizable characters like Elmo, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie, are worried about their yellow-feathered friend and set out to search for him. They follow the trail of birdseed and feathers that Miss Finch and Big Bird leave behind in her truck, leading them on a cross-country adventure to try and find him.

Along the way, the Sesame Street gang encounters some colorful characters, including carnival workers played by Chevy Chase and John Candy, truck drivers played by Waylon Jennings and Telly Savalas, and even a group of nuns who help them out on their journey. The scenes with these celebrities are brief but memorable, and add to the fun and wackiness of the movie. There are also plenty of music and dance sequences, with catchy songs that will have you tapping your toes and humming along.

As we follow the adventures of Big Bird and his Sesame Street friends, it becomes clear that the message of the movie is about the importance of friendship, family, and the bonds that tie us together. Even though Big Bird is far away from Sesame Street, his friends never forget about him, and their determination to bring him back home is heartwarming. The movie also touches on themes of loss, loneliness, and identity, as Big Bird struggles to find his place in the world and understand who he truly is.

The puppetry and design of the movie are top-notch, with the puppeteers bringing the Sesame Street characters to life in a way that is both charming and believable. You can see the expressions on their faces and feel their emotions, making them feel like real characters with depth and personality. The human actors are also great, with Chevy Chase and John Candy providing some comic relief, and Sally Kellerman playing the stern Miss Finch perfectly.

Overall, Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird is a timeless classic that will delight both children and adults with its humor, heart, and whimsy. It never talks down to its audience and has enough jokes and references to keep parents and kids entertained. It's a movie that reminds us about the importance of friendship, family, and being true to yourself. If you're a fan of Sesame Street, puppetry, or just good-hearted fun, this movie is definitely worth watching.

Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird is a 1985 adventure movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 59.