Most of the movies I used to watch as a kid have actually held up well over time (maybe I just had boss taste as a child, but my favourite movies were Pee Wee’s Big Adventure and The Muppet Movie, and both remain amazing). One I remember loving when I was little that I didn’t think would stand the test of time was Follow That Bird. Sure, Big Bird sprang from the golden brain of Jim Henson just like the Muppets, but I figured it’d be too saccharine.
Well, I was an idiot, because Follow That Bird is still good. It has a guest-star list any grownup with a soft spot for 1970s comedy legends would love: Chevy Chase, Sandra Bernhard, and John Candy all make appearances. If you want a zany caper to show a child, this is a very good zany caper to show a child. It also taught me what “wild goose chase” meant.
And no matter how old you are, if you don’t shed a tear at lonely Big Bird you are a demon with a trashcan soul:
The one thing I will say against Follow That Bird is that it just isn’t as good as The Muppet Movie. But The Muppet Movie is setting the bar pretty high. In case you didn’t get a little choked up at Big Bird’s plight, here’s a chance to redeem yourself:
You can buy Follow That Bird on iTunes for $7.99.
Welcome to Movie Night, where Gizmodo staffers tell you what you should be streaming tonight.