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The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland
Release Date: May 19th 2000
Distributor: Columbia-Tristar / Sony Pictures
Certificate: U
Starring: Mandy Patinkin, Vanessa L. Williams, Sonia Manzano, Roscoe Orman, Kevin Clash, Dave Goelz, Carroll Spinney, Frank Oz
Director: Gary Halvorson
Running Time: 72 mins
Elmo is a Muppet, one of the loveable 'felt 'n' fuzz' creations from the late Jim Henson's 'Sesame Street', and while this movie doesn't have the sort of budget behind it as one of Kermit and Co's big films, what it does have, is a healthy dose of charm.

The story goes something like this… More than anything in the whole world, Elmo loves his fuzzy, well-worn blue blanket. The day doesn't begin until he's said 'good morning' to his blanket, and he never, ever goes to bed without it. They are inseparable-a perfect team, and Elmo has promised Blanket that they will be together forever.
Which is fine, until, in a tussle with his best friend Zoe, Elmo's beloved blanket ends up in Oscar the Grouch's trash can. Trying to retrieve it, Elmo and his blanket are sucked down into Grouchland, the yuckiest place on earth.

Whilst in Grouchland, Elmo loses the blanket to the nasty and greedy Huxley, who flies through the air in his giant flying machine, The Huxocopter, sucking up everything that isn't nailed down-including Elmo's blanket.

Elmo realizes that he was selfish not to have shared his blanket with Zoe, and sets off on an action-packed and fun-filled adventure to retrieve it.
Also in the film are a host of other characters from the TV show, including Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch and Bert and Ernie, who keep up a running commentary throughout the film (for the benefit of parents I think).

Human characters in the movie include Vanessa Williams as the Queen of Trash and Mandy Patinkin as Huxley, a greedy, grouchy thief who gives redefines the word 'villainy'.

If your kids are too young for Pokemon, and you fancy something a bit more homely than a computer generated cowboy and his friends (as good as they are), take the kids to see 'Elmo…', they won't be disappointed.
Clayton Everett