Follow That Bird Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A giant canary gets bird-napped to Illinois, then ditches his dumb foster family to go back to his trash-loving friends on Sesame Street, while a bunch of other muppets drive around looking for him.

🍿 Follow That Bird: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Big Bird Leaves Sesame Street

The film opens with ‘The Feathered Friends’, an organization dedicated to bird welfare. They decide that Big Bird, an orphaned bird living on Sesame Street, should live with a proper bird family. Miss Finch, a social worker, convinces Big Bird to leave his friends and move to Ocean View, Illinois, to live with the Dodos. Big Bird says a tearful goodbye to his Sesame Street family.

Life with the Dodos

Big Bird arrives at the Dodos’ home, but he quickly realizes he doesn’t fit in. The Dodos are odd and restrictive, and Big Bird misses his friends, especially Snuffy. When the Dodos reject Snuffy’s offer to visit, Big Bird decides he’s had enough. He sets out on foot to return to Sesame Street, unaware of the long journey ahead.

The Search Begins

News of Big Bird’s departure spreads. Miss Finch vows to return him to the Dodos, while his friends on Sesame Street organize a search party. They split up, with some traveling by car and others by plane. Meanwhile, Big Bird encounters various people on his journey, including friendly farmers and a singing truck driver.

Captured by the Sleaze Brothers

Big Bird is tricked and captured by the Sleaze Brothers, two shady characters who run a traveling carnival. They paint him blue and bill him as the “Bluebird of Happiness,” forcing him to sing sad songs about being away from home. Two children recognize Big Bird and contact Sesame Street, alerting his friends to his location.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Big Bird (Caroll Spinney): A kind and well-meaning eight-foot-tall canary who embarks on a journey to return to Sesame Street after being placed with a foster family.
• Miss Finch (Sally Kellerman): A well-intentioned but misguided social worker who believes Big Bird belongs with a bird family.
• Sid Sleaze (Joe Flaherty): One half of the Sleaze Brothers, a pair of unscrupulous carnival owners who exploit Big Bird for profit.
• Sam Sleaze (Dave Thomas): The other half of the Sleaze Brothers, who helps his brother capture and exploit Big Bird.
• Oscar the Grouch (Caroll Spinney): The resident grouch of Sesame Street who, despite his grumbling, participates in the search for Big Bird.
• Maria (Sonia Manzano): A resident of Sesame Street who helps lead the search for Big Bird and defends his right to stay with his chosen family.
• Mr. Snuffleupagus (Martin P. Robinson): Big Bird’s best friend who is always there to support him, representing unconditional friendship.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Oscar the Grouch: “I love trash!” – Sung during the opening credits, summarizing Oscar’s fondness for all things garbage.
• Big Bird: “I’m going home!” – Declared with determination, Big Bird makes up his mind to return to Sesame Street.
• Maria: “On Sesame Street, there are all kinds of people and things, and we’re all happy together, even if we aren’t all the same!” – Maria makes the point that a family is who cares for you and who you care for, even if those people are of different species. She says this in protest of Miss Finch.
• Big Bird: “Home at last!” – Big Bird says it after his adventures are over and he has returned home to Sesame Street.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $8,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $13,961,370
• Worldwide Gross: $13,962,404

💥 Follow That Bird Reviews

Personal Review

I remember watching ‘Follow That Bird’ as a kid and feeling so worried for Big Bird when he was alone! Seeing all the Sesame Street gang trying to find him was really comforting. The scene where Big Bird is singing the ‘Bluebird of Happiness’ but he’s actually sad always got to me. It’s a genuinely sweet movie about friendship and finding your place, even if your friends are monsters and grouches. I still get choked up at the end when Snuffy is waiting for him!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Families with young children”
  • “Fans of Sesame Street”
  • “Those looking for a heartwarming and wholesome movie”
  • “Viewers who enjoy road trip movies”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mild peril when Big Bird is captured”
  • “Brief moments of sadness when Big Bird is separated from his friends”

Professional Reviews

• The Film Stage: “While aimed at children, ‘Follow That Bird’ surprisingly resonates with adults through its humor and message. Cameos from Chevy Chase and John Candy are delightful. It’s a heartwarming movie that embraces diversity and friendship.
• Common Sense Media: “A great movie for young children and their parents. It avoids crudity and imparts meaningful lessons about friendship and the definition of family, all wrapped up in a fun and accessible package.

Audience Reactions

The cameos by Chevy Chase, John Candy, and Waylon Jennings made it fun for the adults, too.: The movie is heartwarming and teaches great lessons about friendship and family.

The Grouch Diner scene was hilarious!: The humor appeals to both kids and adults.

Overall Consensus: ‘Follow That Bird’ is a charming and heartwarming family film that manages to entertain both children and adults, with its blend of humor, memorable characters, and positive messages.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Caroll Spinney, the actor who played Big Bird, broke down in tears after filming the song “I’m So Blue”, reflecting the emotional weight of the scene.”
• “The film features cameos from several well-known comedic actors, including John Candy, Chevy Chase, and Joe Flaherty, adding to its appeal for both children and adults.”
• “The movie was filmed in various locations, including Bolton, Ontario, Canada, to create the cross-country feel of Big Bird’s journey.”

🖥️ How to Watch Follow That Bird?

Follow That Bird is currently available for streaming rental or purchase on platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. Check your local listings for television airings, as it occasionally appears on family-friendly cable channels. Physical copies (DVD/Blu-ray) are also available from major retailers like Amazon and Walmart.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Follow That Bird, you might like these similar films:

• The Muppet Movie (1979): Features Jim Henson’s Muppets on a cross-country road trip with a heartwarming message about friendship and following your dreams.
• The Great Muppet Caper (1981): Another Muppet adventure with similar humor and heart, this time set in Europe as the Muppets investigate a jewel heist.
• The Dark Crystal (1982): A Jim Henson fantasy film with complex puppetry and a hero’s journey, appealing to those who appreciate Henson’s artistry.
• Paddington (2014): A modern family film with a similar heartwarming message about finding your place and the meaning of family, featuring a charming CGI bear.

🛒 Follow That Bird Related Products

• Sesame Street: 50 Years and Counting: Celebrate 50 years of Sesame Street with this commemorative book. Filled with history, photos, and behind-the-scenes stories, it’s a treasure for any fan.
• Sesame Street Elmo’s On The Go Letters: A fun educational toy with Elmo. It includes interactive games to learn letters and sounds, great for preschoolers.
• Sesame Street Cookie Monster Bean Plush: A soft and cuddly plush version of Cookie Monster. It’s perfect for kids and collectors alike, made with high-quality materials for durability.
• Sesame Street Little Golden Book Favorites: This collection brings together classic Sesame Street stories in one ebook. Enjoy reading about Elmo, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, and all your favorite friends anytime, anywhere.

🎧 Soundtrack

Follow That Bird features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Sesame Street Theme” – performed by Joe Raposo, Jon Stone, and Bruce Hart
• “Ain’t No Road Too Long” – performed by Waylon Jennings
• “I’m So Blue” – performed by Big Bird

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Follow That Bird – Nostalgia Critic

Ever wonder if your childhood favorites hold up? The Nostalgia Critic dives into ‘Follow That Bird,’ and his review is both hilarious and insightful. I didn’t realize how weird some parts of this movie were until he pointed them out!

Nostalgia Critic “JUMP and he’s like NOOOOO”

Need a quick laugh? Check out this hilarious clip from the Nostalgia Critic’s review of ‘Follow That Bird.’ The delivery is perfect, and it captures the absurdity of the scene so well!

✨ Rate