Out of costume, Spinney is as impossibly sunny as his alter ego (with none of the crankiness of his other incarnation, Oscar the Grouch). At 80, he has no plans to hang up his feathers—welcome news for kids and parents everywhere.
80
The DissolveJen Chaney
The DissolveJen Chaney
I Am Big Bird breezes by a couple of opportunities to dig deeper into thornier subject matter, but those minor oversights don’t hurt the film in any significant way.
This film, by Dave LaMattina and Chad Walker, reminds us that even the most omnipresent cultural phenomena were created by someone, usually through a combination of hard work and happenstance.
60
Empire
Empire
An affectionate portrait of a big-hearted man and a fitting testament to the enduring appeal of Sesame Street.
Where Elmo proved to be spiky Kevin Clash’s alter-ego, this sweet if superfluous doc shows that Spinney is Big Bird, a tireless performer who refuses to retire.
60
Time Out
Time Out
It’s an adoring portrait — almost cloyingly so — with an emotional soundtrack that grates a little.