Review of Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey (2011) by Steve S — 21 Jan 2011

***1/2 (out of four).

A great Sundance find. Most documentaries showcase unpleasant people, or brilliant and troubled souls, or someone with an extreme disability. It is really good to see a doc that presents someone who is just plain and simply a nice guy who has worked hard to live his dream and gets joy from seeing how his abilities effect children and others who he comes in contact with.

Kevin Clash was raised in a modest house in Baltimore. From an early age he became fascinated with the puppetry seen on shows like "Captain Kangaroo" and "Seseme Street". He bagn making his own puppets and with the support of his parents he started performing for local events. Before even out of high school he had caught the attention of several major television shows.

The film chronicles the journey he took from the early days until the present where he still works his most famous muppet, Elmo.

It is about making your dreams come true and how the power and support from a loving family home can help boost a childs creativity instead of stifling it.