I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story - B

Unrated, 90 minutes
Wes's Grade: B

"I Am Big Bird" a touching, fascinating drama about the man behind the suit

If you grew up watching the TV show "Sesame Street" as I did in the 1970s, you knew full well who Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch were, though until recently I hadn't seen the man who performed these characters. Caroll Spinney, has entertaining children for over 40 years yet at 81 years old, he has no intention of stopping. The touching, fascinating new documentary "I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Spinney Story" takes a look at Spinney's life and work at "Sesame Street. Co-directed by documentary filmmakers Dave LaMattina and Chad Walker and written by LaMattina, "I Am Big Bird" is engaging, and both powerful and often syrupy, especially recalling memories of Jim Henson and the early days "Sesame Street," though you better have plenty of tissues handy when they show the clip of Big Bird performing at Henson's funeral, one of the film's best scenes. There are plenty of interviews, all of whom have plenty of nice things to say about Spinney, including his second wife Debra, all of his children, Henson's daughter, his Big Bird stand-in and Frank Oz, among many others (including a host of old Sesame Street performers). It's also a fascinating behind-the-scenes look, especially when they show the operation of Big Bird's suit and they also mention an interesting fact: that Spinney (as Big Bird) was originally intended to go on the fateful Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986, though he couldn't fit and teacher Christa McAuliffe went in his place. It's also a nice dichotomy of sorts to know that the man behind such an uplifting character as Big Bird also voices his polar opposite, Oscar the Grouch (one of my favorite characters). "I Am Big Bird" does tend toward the touchy-feely, but it is inspiring to see Spinney in his old age continuing to work, without any intention of retiring.  As Big Bird himself would likely say, that just fine. Worth a look whether for "Sesame Street" fans or those who enjoy an entertaining behind-the-scenes story.