Let's be realistic.

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland (1999): Dir: Gary Halvorson / Cast: Mandy Patinkin, Vanessa Williams, Roscoe Orman, Sonia Manzano, Bob McGrath: Question as to what is inside Oscar's trash can is answered as Elmo anxiously tumbles in after his blanket. He ends up in Grouchland where his cheery personality penetrates. The place is overpopulated with grouches with one common enemy in Mandy Patinkin. He takes ownership of everything he touches including Elmo's blanket. Director Gary Halvorson develops a colorful new world but the story is limited segments or episodes to test Elmo as he draws closer to his prize. Why Patinkin needs Elmo's blanket is something only a psychiatrist can answer but he is perfectly cast and never talks down at viewers. Vanessa Williams plays the Queen of trash given a lame task against Elmo but she manages to glimmer and be of good sport. Veteran performers from Sesame Street including Roscoe Orman as Gordon, Bob McGrath as Bob, and Sonia Manzano as Maria make appearances from the popular show and overact horribly. Elmo may be too annoying for adults but children will grasp the message of sharing and friendship. Grouches learn that there is much in life to smile about while adults may want no dealings in Grouchland. They may take time for that once school report cards are issued. Score: 7 / 10

Elmo sure is a cute cuddly...thing. But is he good enough to base an entire movie around? Sorry but no. The movie misses its target and the message of the movie is too muddled.Most kids will probably find this movie not to be entertaining and stimulating enough. Therefor, The movie misses its targeted audience. Bert & Ernie seem like a last minute addition by the filmmakers to conceal- and distract from the scary parts of the movie. Grouchland shall not seem like a very nice place to go to, for young children. Huxley is a too scary and serious villain for a movie like this.Of course it's no Muppet movie and the movie is filled with only characters from Sesame Street but also on its own, as a children's movie it isn't a very good one. Elmo's adventure is very dull and the songs in the movie are quite poor. Obviously the movie tries to send out a message to the children and tries to learn them sometime but it isn't handled exactly very well in the script and movie with as a result that the message doesn't really come trough.Visually the movie looks like a children's movie but all of the dialog is only really fun for adults. There are some good jokes in the movie.It's far from a horrible movie but the story and the end result, almost completely misses its target.5/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

In 1996, the Tickle-Me-Elmo doll was released and it was an immediate success. This resulted into Elmomania that swept the nation. A TV special, a 20-minute segment on "Sesame Street", many appearances on "The Rosie O'Donnel Show" and a movie.This film does have some good aspects however. There are some very funny bits with Ernie and Bert every 15 or minutes to help settle down intense or sad scenes for the children. These are the lead-in to some very funny jokes:ERNIE: No movie has a sad ending, Bert. BERT: Titanic. ERNIE: Hmmm?BERT: Titanic had a sad ending. ERNIE: Oh, come on, Bert! Roll film!BERT: Gone With The Wind had a sad ending.Huxey is also a very interesting character. Mandy Patakin can be a funny actor in this film. Especially when he talks about a velvet painting of Elvis Presly and "West Side Story".Also, the sets are amazing. Grouchland looks like something that would come right out of a cartoon and almost reminds me of "Ren & Stimpy" or one of those new Looney Tunes shorts Chuck Jones did in the 90's.And then, there are the bad parts. I can spend about 30 minutes of Elmo, maybe 40 minutes. But 70 minutes! It's crazy talk! And the plot is just coo-coo. Elmo goes into Oscar's can (he is illegally going on private property) because his blanket fell in it and then some guy takes it. Who cares if some guy lost his blanket? Who cares about some guy who won't share? And the absence of Ernie and Bert an the street is kind of unsettling.Overall rating: 6/10, was good but could have been better.

This seems to be the Sesame Street adoption of "Labyrinth" (1986, Jim Henson). Yet, I love Labyrinth. TAOEIG is less dark than the original, and generally more funny. Perfect family entertainment (not only for the children) with lots of nice music, jokes and warmth. 10 out of 10.