History Film / SesameStreetPresentsFollowThatBird

* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: The Dodos. They don't recognize Big bird ''as'' a bird when he arrives, asking if he's seen a "big yellow bird" on the plane (when he's the only one) and then think he'd be on the next plane. They're frequently crashing and bumping into each other, and spend the day looking for worms on their manicured lawn even though they never find any. Daddy Dodo doesn't know how to work a riding lawnmower and lets it run away free across the lawn. The children, Donny and Marie, don't understand the concept of imaginary play--they instead "pretend" to be who they already are. And when Big Bird laments that he wants to go home after being told Snuffy can't visit because [[FantasticRacism he's not a bird]], Mommy says without realizing how offensive she's being that Big Bird ''is'' home--then laughs at him dismissively and leaves for outside. Then, as Kermit the Frog is interviewing them and they realize they're on TV, they decide they should all go inside and watch themselves. As Kermit describes them: "They certainly are [dodos]."

* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: The Dodos. They don't recognize Big bird ''as'' a bird when he arrives, asking if he's seen a "big yellow bird" on the plane (when he's the only one) and then think he'd be on the next plane. They're frequently crashing and bumping into each other, and spend the day looking for worms on their manicured lawn even though they never find any. Daddy Dodo doesn't know how to work a riding lawnmower and lets it run away free across the lawn. The children, Donny and Marie, don't understand the concept of imaginary play--they instead "pretend" to be who they already are. And when Big Bird laments that he wants to go home after being told Snuffy can't visit because [[FantasticRacism he's not a bird]], Mommy says without realizing how offensive she's being that Big Bird ''is'' home--then laughs at him and leaves.

* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: The Dodos. Daddy doesn' know how to work a lawnmower and lets it run
-->'''Kermit:''' They certainly are.

* ColorMeBlack: To avoid getting caught for having Big Bird in their captivity, the Sleaze brothers paint him blue, and pass him off as their "Blue Bird of Happiness".

* CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot: After Big Bird is locked in a cage, he asks two kids to call Sesame Street and tell somebody where he is. Too bad he didn't think of this sooner. It's somewhat justified in that he initially thought it would only be a three hour walk, but as soon as he learned it would more likely be three weeks, he should have called somebody. Even if it's an issue of needing to stay put somewhere while waiting (over a day at least), he could have done this during the time he spent with the kids.

* FantasticRacism: The Dodos are built on this trope. They speak ill (although they don't really mean to) of anyone who isn't a bird. The main reason why Big Bird ran away from them is because of [[MoralEventHorizon their refusal to allow Mr. Snuffleupagus to visit]], as he is not a bird and he should only associate with birds. The Board of Birds are too, in the belief that Big Bird ''must'' be unhappy having no other birds around on Sesame Street--[[TokenGoodTeammate minus Hoots the Owl]]. which is probably why he gets [[AscendedExtra to be a bigger character]] later on the show.

* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: The Dodos, obviously.

* ArtShift / BigBudgetBeefUp: Rather than film the movie in the actual studio where the series was taped in New York, a newer, more realistic version of Sesame Street was built on location in Toronto (so a lot of the crew from ''Series/FraggleRock'' worked on the film - they also taped in the Toronto area); this new version of Sesame Street had a considerable amount of scope, in that it not only included the locales of the Fix-It Shop, Hooper's Store, and 123 Sesame Street, but we also saw what was ''across'' the street, as well as what was at the ends of the street, including a TV repair shop, a family clinic, and an auto garage.

** Despite the film being made several years before he [[AscendedExtra became a major character]], and he only appears in a crowd scene towards the very end (and with a completely different voice and personality no less), Elmo is featured prominently on the DVD cover. Later prints have since fixed this and now have Big Bird only on the front cover, though Elmo still appears on the back cover in both variants.

** Elmo is seen at a window in a scene with some nondescript Muppets and gets no audible lines. This was before Elmo became the main character on the TV show.

* WolverinePublicity: Elmo was featured prominently on the DVD cover, despite not being in the film much or even voiced by Kevin Clash. This may be because after the failure of ''Follow That Bird'', the next movie--''Film/TheAdventuresOfElmoInGrouchland''--had since come out and Elmo was now a popular character.

* FantasticRacism: The Dodos are built on this trope, as they speak ill (although they don't really mean to) of anyone who isn't a bird. In fact, the main reason why Big Bird ran away from them is because of [[MoralEventHorizon their refusal to allow Mr. Snuffleupagus to visit]], as he is not a bird. The Board of Birds too, in the belief that Big Bird must be unhappy having no other birds around ([[TokenGoodTeammate minus Hoots the Owl]], [[AscendedExtra which is probably why he gets to be a bigger character]]).

''Follow That Bird'' is one of several travel/road comedy movies of the 1980s, but proves to be a favorite among Muppet fans and families alike, with its engaging plot, fun songs, and classic character antics from favorites like Ernie and Bert, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster, and even Kermit the Frog, among others.

** --> '''Sam Sleaze:''' What's the matter, don't you like your cage?

** '''Big Bird:''' Look, There's a...why...It's Miss Finch!
** '''Big Bird:''' Oh, hi, Miss Finch! *gasps* [[DelayedOhCrap Miss Finch!]]

** TheAllegedCar: The Volkswagen transporting Gordon, Olivia and Cookie Monster is this by the end of the movie, due to Cookie Monster's [[ExtremeOmnivore extreme appetite]]. You could also say the same about the Sloppy Jalopy.

* {{Determinator}}: "I'm going to find Big Bird ''wherever'' he is, and bring him back to the Dodos!"[[note]]Fortunately Big Bird saw the news and knows he'll have to watch out for her.[[/note]]

* EarlyBirdCameo (no pun intended):

* EnemyEatsYourLunch: At the Sleaze Brothers' Funfair, Sam steals an apple from the lunchbox of a little boy who rides the ferris wheel, who is not happy with him when he finds out. Near the end of the film, when the Sleaze Brothers get arrested by the State Trooper, one of their criminal charges is stealing an apple from a kid.

* FaceOnTheCover: Elmo was included on the DVD cover art, despite only appearing in a very brief cameo toward the end of the movie - and this is when Richard Hunt was performing Elmo instead of Kevin Clash.

** Right after Big Bird's "Easy Goin' Day" number, he spots Miss Finch's car coming up the road and promptly panics.

* KeyConfusion: Near the end of the film, Big Bird's friends find him being held prisoner in a cage at the Sleaze Brothers' Funfair. Maria manages to snatch the Sleaze Brothers' key ring from a sleeping Sam and goes through every key on it, trying to find one that will fit the lock on Big Bird's cage without waking up Sam and Sid. Because Big Bird can't keep quiet about what key she should use and the Count counts each key that Maria uses, they result in the Sleaze Brothers waking up and starting up their truck just as Maria finds the right key and unlocks the cage.
* KickTheDog: Sam charging an extra 5¢ to a boy to get off a Ferris Wheel, and just as he gets down, he steals the poor boy's apple.
** TheDogBitesBack: The same boy later helps a [[Creator/JohnCandy state trooper]] catch the brothers, and the apple theft is one of the charges they face.

** Also, Ruthie sings along with Big Bird several times during "Easy Goin' Day".

* LostFoodGrievance: That boy on the Ferris Wheel ''didn't'' take the theft of his apple by Sam Sleaze very well...

** Also, when Big Bird is forced to be their "Bluebird of Happiness", even though he clearly displays blue emotions when in their captivity, even for paying audiences.
** And the Dodo family is clearly a family of, well, dodos.

* {{Muppet}}s

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Entertaining as they are, the Muppets are more hindrance than help in getting Big Bird out of the cage without waking the Sleaze brothers. Cookie Monster not-so-stealthily steals a box of cookies from under Sid's chin, the Count compulsively counts out how many keys are remaining, and Grover tries to break the bars as Super Grover, which is what wakes the brothers. Not to mention Big Bird keeps talking, despite his friends telling him to be quiet while they go through the keys.

* NoPeripheralVision: As the Sleaze Brothers drive Big Bird's cage into a tent, Miss Finch can be seen driving down the road, while Big Bird is in clear sight, yet she doesn't seem to see him from that far (though earlier, when she first found Big Bird, she initially didn't notice Big Bird among the kids walking down the road as well).

--> '''Sam Sleaze:''' What's the matter, don't you like your cage?

** Also earlier..
--> '''Big Bird:''' Look, There's a...why...It's Miss Finch!
** Later...
--> '''Big Bird:''' Oh, hi, Miss Finch! *gasps* [[DelayedOhCrap Miss Finch!]]
** Also much earlier, when Big Bird was watching the news about his running away, he hears Miss Finch's determination of finding Big Bird.

* OpeningShoutOut: In the opening of the film, upon hearing that Big Bird has no legal guardians, Miss Finch goes off to find him, asking one of the fellow executives at the foster care board "Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?", which is then followed by a shot of the street set built for the film, accompanied by an orchestral version of the iconic theme song.

* PoliceAreUseless: Sort of played with. While no police officer is shown to be useless, it's a wonder that Big Bird's friends didn't call the cops when they found out Big Bird was locked in a cage.

* RoadTripPlot: Pretty much a trend in the 1980s.
* RunningGag: During the scene at the Don't Drop Inn, a grouch patron can heard constantly inquiring about the Jell-O he ordered. This goes on up till the end of the scene.

* SeriousBusiness: The Board of Birds take pride in finding lonely birds bird families to be with. Miss Finch is determined to find Big Bird and bring him back to the Dodos (or to another bird family). She doesn't understand why Big Bird would run away in the first place, and refuses to believe that he wasn't happy there. They either never personally met the Dodos or it may just be the simple fact birds should flock together.

--->'''Anchorman:''' [[Series/MisterRogersNeighborhood It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood... a beautiful day for a neighbor... would you be mine?]][[note]]"More on that later."[[/note]]
** During the Count's credit reading, he comes across the executive producer, Joan Ganz Cooney, to which he turns to the camera, waves, and says, "Hi, Mom."
** The two young Dodos are named Donny and Marie, after the most famous members of the Osmond family.

** A really oblique example. Ken Kwapis says that as a young filmmaker he wanted to flex his artistic muscles, so he originally approached the movie as sort of a ''Film/ParisTexas'' for kids, right down to imitating some of the shots, though after a while that idea faded.

* SirNotAppearingInThisTrailer: Neither Miss Finch or the Dodos appear in the original theatrical trailer, and any mention of Big Bird running from Oceanview, Illinois to return to Sesame Street is removed as to not spoil the whole plot.

* StaggeredZoom: When Big Bird turns to notice Miss Finch's truck immediately following the "Easy Goin' Day" montage, the screen jumps closer into his face between pauses.
* StalkerShot: When Big Bird is convinced by Miss Finch to move in with a bird family, we are shown that Maria, Olivia, and Telly happen to be leaning towards Big Bird's wall and overhearing the conversation. They are shocked when they hear Big Bird say "When can I leave? I can't wait!".
* StorefrontTelevisionDisplay: After Big Bird runs away from the Dodos' home to return to Sesame Street, he catches a news report about it in a storefront, particularly the part where Miss Finch vows to hunt him down.
* {{Stepford Smiler}}s: The Dodos.
* TheStinger: [[spoiler:The Count comes in and announces that he counted 278 closing credits.]]

''[The turkey truck passes Sam Sleaze reading a newspaper article on Big Bird]''[[note]]"Big Bird flies coop".[[/note]]

* ThemeNaming: The Dodo children - see the ShoutOut entry above.

* ThisIsGonnaSuck: Big Bird's first reaction to the Dodos renaming him is to look at the camera and say "Big Dodo!?", clearly not looking forward to being part of a DysfunctionalFamily.

* WellIntentionedExtremist: Miss Finch. She finds Big Bird living alone without any other birds and thinks it's in his best interest to live with some. So she takes him away from a loving community and puts him with a family he has a very difficult time getting along with. Then insists on finding him after he runs away.
* WolverinePublicity: See FaceOnTheCover.

* BigBad: Miss Finch.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1c8242d2_2f02_4301_bfe0_82ced2dcefe5.jpeg]]

** And much earlier in the film:
-->'''Big Bird (while still riding with the turkey truck driver, just after the "Ain't No Road Too Long" number):''' You're right. If I keep on going, everything will turn out fine.\\
''[The turkey truck passes Sam Sleaze reading a newspaper article on Big Bird]''[[note]]"Big Bird flies coop".[[/note]]

* LogoJoke:

* AccentUponTheWrongSyllable: When the anchorman (Chevy Chase) is reporting about Big Bird running away, he mispronounces Sesame Street as "Se-sayme Street" before he's promptly corrected.

* AccentUponTheWrongSyllable: When the anchorman (Chevy Chase) is reporting about Big Bird running away, he mispronounces Sesame Street as "Se-same Street" before he's promptly corrected.

* FantasticRacism: The Dodos are built on this trope, as they speak ill (although they don't really mean to) of anyone who isn't a bird. In fact, the main reason why Big Bird ran away from them is because of [[MoralEventHorizon their refusal to allow Mr. Snuffleupagus to visit]], as he is not a bird. The Board of Birds too, in the belief that Big Bird must be unhappy having no other birds around (minus Hoots the Owl, which is probably why he gets to be a bigger character).

* ShoutOut: While Big Bird's friends are watching the news in Hooper's Store, the anchorman (played by Creator/ChevyChase) gives the weather report:
-->'''Anchorman:''' [[Series/MisterRogersNeighborhood It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood... a beautiful day for a neighbor... would you be mine?]][[note]]"More on that later."[[/note]]

-->'''Oscar''': No way, we had lunch at Friendly's, now it's my turn.[[note]]Friendly's is a mainly New England-based chain of restaurants.[[/note]]

* CoversAlwaysLie: Despite the film being made several years before he [[AscendedExtra became a major character]], and he only appears in a crowd scene towards the very end (and with a completely different voice and personality no less), Elmo is featured prominently on the DVD cover. Later prints have since fixed this and now have Big Bird only on the front cover.

** "Ain't No Road Too Long" is a Distant Quartet; first by Big Bird and the truck driver, second by Gordon and Susan, third by Grover, and fourth by the Count.

* LetsDuet: The turkey truck driver starts out singing "Ain't No Road Too Long" as a PepTalkSong to encourage Big Bird to not give up on his journey. The final verse has Big Bird singing along with him, having realized the message.

* MeaningfulName: Sam and Sid ''Sleaze''.

* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: While on the road, Sid notices a haystack (actually Big Bird hiding from Miss Finch) running and casually points it out to Sam, who just remarks, "We're not looking for any haystacks, you chowderhead!" Justified in that Sam was driving and not looking in the direction of the haystack, and Sid doesn't actually say that the haystack was moving.

--> '''Big Bird:''' Oh, hi, Miss Finch! *gasps* Miss Finch!

* MissedHimByThatMuch: Pretty much each of the Sleaze brothers' attempts at nabbing Big Bird, such as them about to catch him in a giant butterfly net, only for Big Bird to coincidentally bend over, missing the net by inches[[note]]Big Bird: "My aching feet."[[/note]], or when they spot a walking haystack in the field they're driving by, but it's actually Big Bird in disguise to flee from Miss Finch.

* DistantDuet: "One Little Star" is a Distant Trio.