I Am Big Bird

This film I found to be very interesting and was really a closer look at what is a more famous character than I knew. I knew Big Bird was a cultural phenomenon but not to the level that this film has portrayed. I grew up in an era where Elmo was the centerpiece of Sesame Street and Big Bird was always number two; so to see this film and see what Big Bird meant to pop culture was interesting. More interesting the character of Big Bird himself is the man that has portrayed him over the many years.

Caroll Spinney is the man behind Big Bird and this film is very much the portrayal of how Big Bird and Spinney are one and the same. I think that it achieves this goal excellently as it really captures the spirit of a kindhearted man who really loves being something that brings joy to so many people all over the world.

The film itself I think is very strong and the way it was told with interviews like a standard documentary but it was very effective. It was even more effective because they had an extensive interview with the man himself. I think the most effective part of the film in terms of content was him barely missing dying the Challenger explosion. That moment with his wife and Caroll not saying anything after it happened was very effective. Overall this is very effective film that really lifts the human spirit and is fun to watch such passion.