Parent reviews for The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland

My almost four year old couldn’t handle it. Grouchland is mean and the bad guy is a thief. My son wondered why he wanted to take people’s things. What we love about Sesame Street is the educational value. This is absent in this movie.

This movie was all wrong. The plot is way too thick for a 3 year old. They can't follow the chatter or the story. There is a really weird, bad guy. Someone ends up in jail. It didn't make sense to my child and was hard to explain. Maybe for someone 5 or 6, but I definitely do not recommend as a first movie. Not for the average 3 year old.

The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland was not a very prominent speck in film history, but anyone who watched this as a young child can attest that it was a foundational piece of media. You may have watched Green Book, or Selma, or Forrest Gump, or some of the many other films about civil rights and revolution; but no film will capture the spirit of revolution and democracy like Elmo in Grouchland. Although I support destroying the monarchy, it is clear that the queen of trash is a good monarch, deep down (though she ignores due process). On the other hand, the murderous (and impliedly slave owning) Huxley is a tyrant king (similar to Elizabeth ii). We are presented the story of this oppressed land (which is said to be in America, no thanks to George Bush) through the eyes of a kidnapped tourist, Elmo, but the real hero is Oscar. Through the subtly little dialogue he gives, we learn he lived there until Huxley came, when he was driven out. He comes back to save Elmo, and leads a revolution from the Grouchland jail (just like Nelson Mandela!). This film makes me proud to be an American. 5 out of 5.

I think this is a cute movie and fans of Sesame Street and Elmo will enjoy it. I think a lot of it was lost on my daughter who just turned three. The dialog and scenes are very quick with a lot visually and happening. Things we didn't love were that there was a lot of screaming and yelling and the "sexy" trash queen wasn't necessary. I love the messages taught and how it shows friends helping each other and growing together.

Very appropriate for kids

The Queen of Trash (Vanessa Williams) is just too much! I don't think that a children's movie should show all that cleavage and see through clothing. Why is that necessary, it's really not. Sesame Street has gone downhill. We only watch the older episodes in my home.

My son was terrified when Elmo’s blankey was ripped, lost, then stolen. Screaming, traumatized, fear. It’s been a year and we are still unwinding it. NOT for sensitive kids.