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Parents' Guide to

Blue's Big Musical Movie

By Caroline Sabin, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 3+

Blue puts on a musical.

Movie NR 1999 78 minutes
Blue's Big Musical Movie Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 2+

Based on 4 parent reviews

WinGodSays
WinGodSays Parent
November 7, 2021
age 3+

Wonderful, educational, and FUN!

We watched this movie multiple times a week up until our little was about 7. Now it's a once a year adventure. It's a fun and clean show. Teaches light music theory too.
E_owens23
E_owens23 Parent of 5-year-old
July 12, 2020
age 2+

Kids loved it

Held the attention of my 2 year old and even the 5.5 year old enjoyed it.
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Like the TV series, BLUE'S BIG MUSICAL MOVIE provides its audience with interactive, stimulating exercises in logic. Steve's careful list-making and clue-recording teach the usual organizational skills, while the Blue's Clues game and the "Putting It Together" song encourage viewers to sort and make connections. But this movie goes even further, with a sophisticated yet accessible exercise in musical composition. Viewers learn the difference between notes, rhythm, and tempo. They also make the connection between the notes on a sheet of music and the keys on a piano. In another segment, Sidetable Drawer struggles with shyness. This plot is enriched by the other story lines as each of the characters faces an obstacle to overcome, and the musical's refrain--"You can be anything that you want to be. Don't give up"--becomes the show's mantra.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (3 ):

Blue's Big Musical Movie rises above other Blue's Clues offerings with its discussion of music and character. The musical composition exercise segment is long, but even a two-year-old viewer remained enthralled. As fun as the music segment is--Ray Charles provides the voice of G-Clef--the real appeal of this video is Sidetable Drawer's story, which is heartbreakingly realistic; timid viewers will connect with her and find inspiration in her eventual bravery.

Much soul-searching by the characters dulls the participatory elements of the show-- because of the Sidetable Drawer saga, for example, the audience knows the answer to Blue's Clues from the beginning--but the video is still a powerful, affirming experience.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what the program taught them about music, and find ways to make some of their own music. Families can also talk about what each character learned about themselves. Do you ever feel like any of the characters in the movie?

Movie Details

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