Review: Being Elmo (U)

This shouldn’t be a lump-in-the-throat kind of film, but seeing terminally ill kids’ reactions to Elmo, cuddly star of Sesame Street, makes it a genuine winner.
By Tony Earnshaw
Published 27th Apr 2012, 11:06 BST

In essence a modest biopic of puppeteer Kevin Clash, Being Elmo is also a behind-the-scenes look at the mechanics and history of the phenomenon that is Muppetry.

Clash was a kid who enjoyed making his own fun growing up in Baltimore. Entranced by a particular art form – puppetry – he began emulating his heroes on TV, before hitting the big time with Sesame Street and Elmo, the children’s favourite.

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This is a beautiful little film, where Constance Marks considers the impact of his creation. Clash himself recognises the importance of Elmo in modern education both in the US and beyond. It’s become his raison d’être; as one colleague observes “The Dickens in Kevin comes out in little Elmo.”

This engaging history lesson reminds us of Clash’s work and characters like Nobel Price and Hoots the owl. But the key scene involves dying ‘Make a Wish’ children as they meet their furry hero. Clash sits unobtrusively on the floor manipulating Elmo as he makes his junior fans smile and giggle with joy. Standing back, their parents weep. As Clash says: “It’s bigger than me.” He’s right. And this is a charming, unforgettable documentary.

On limited release