It’s been 26 years since Blue’s Clues aired its first episode, again in 1996, taking us on a journey to a magical land of thriller and enjoyable. By breaking the fourth wall and alluring youngsters to develop into a part of the present, Blue’s Clues turned a genuinely interactive media expertise lengthy earlier than dad and mom started to maintain their youngsters busy with telephones and different comparable units. That may clarify the franchise’s ongoing attraction, as older generations attempt to share with the youthful viewers the enjoyment of on the lookout for clues and fixing new mini-puzzles each week. Nonetheless, regardless of the franchise’s success, Blue hasn’t jumped from TV to movie. That adjustments this yr, as Blue’s Massive Metropolis Journey turns into the franchise’s first function movie.
Following the 2019’s reboot sequence continuity, Blue’s Clues & You, Blue’s Massive Metropolis Journey brings Blue (voiced by Traci Paige Johnson) and host Josh (Josh Dela Cruz) to New York Metropolis after Josh will get invited to audition for an enormous Broadway spectacle. The town is not like their animated actuality, although, which will get Josh and Blue misplaced shortly after arriving in New York. So, to search out the audition handle in time, they start a brand new recreation of Blue’s Clues, asking the preschoolers’ viewers to search for canine paws marking necessary locations and piecing collectively what every new clue may imply.
Whereas the function doesn’t deviate from the sequence’ ordinary format, bringing the franchise to New York Metropolis opens a brand new world of prospects. Often, the sequence takes place in an animated surroundings the place solely the host is product of flesh and bone. Nonetheless, in Blue’s Massive Metropolis Journey, the animated forged invades actuality, spreading their pleasure all through NYC. This variation makes it doable to drastically broaden the variety of human characters, which ends up in impressed musical numbers, put collectively underneath the gaze of director Matt Stawski.
Whereas Blue’s Massive Metropolis Journey is the primary function movie in Stawski’s profession, the filmmaker has years of expertise directing Grammy-awarded music movies, which proves important for the flicks’ success. As anticipated, Blue’s Massive Metropolis Journey has a simple story that even the youngest members of the family can comply with. Sadly, which means there may be plenty of runtime to fill so as to push the film to a feature-length. So as a substitute of turning across the identical plot factors, Stawski makes use of the chance to construct a vibrant model of New York Metropolis the place any object can flip right into a musical instrument, and each passerby is able to be a part of complicated dance numbers.
With 4 huge musical numbers unfold over the film and several other smaller ones, Blue’s Massive Metropolis Journey appears like a group of music movies that includes a number of the franchise’s most beloved characters. Utilizing inventive transitions, thrilling performances from visitor artists, and fascinating choreography, Stawski turns Blue’s Massive Metropolis Journey into an homage to avenue artwork in New York, presenting a hopeful and pleasant model of the Massive Apple that each adults and youngsters can take pleasure in. Sure, there’s sufficient repetition within the songs to verify preschoolers get the message that following your goals is a gorgeous journey. Even so, for the reason that New York Metropolis background permits the usage of entire groups of dancers, Stawski reworked every presentation right into a music video that stands by itself. Consequently, the expertise is nice even for adults who’ve already realized that needs don’t all the time come true.
Blue’s Massive Metropolis Journey additionally balances the novelty of the New York Metropolis state of affairs with the nostalgia of older generations. That’s as a result of all three sequence hosts are a part of the film. Steve (Steve Burns), the primary host, is now a non-public investigator who will get enlisted to search out Blue and Josh in New York Metropolis. And to make sure he’ll get all of the skilled assist he can, Steve reaches out to Joe (Donovan Patton), the second host, who now works at a sweet and toy retailer.
Blue’s Massive Metropolis Journey is just not the primary time the three hosts have proven up collectively, as Steve and Joe had been additionally half of some Blue’s Clues & You episodes. However let’s be trustworthy, as a lot as we’d have loved the unique sequence, time is just too brief, and life strikes too quick for us to comply with a preschooler sequence these days. The film, then, serves as the proper excuse for adults to affix the kids in a celebration of happiness and variety, smiling as they see a few of their childhood heroes get new roles within the Blue’s Clues universe.
Blue’s Massive Metropolis Journey doesn’t revolutionize the Blue’s Clues franchise, as a substitute sticking to the TV present’s basic beats. The film additionally revolves across the commonplace message that everybody can see their goals come true ought to they preserve believing and attempting. Even so, Blue’s Massive Metropolis Journey does greater than lengthen an episode of the sequence to function size by permitting director Stawski to discover his music video background. Consequently, Blue’s Massive Metropolis Journey is a film aimed toward preschoolers that’s additionally pleasing for adults, with thrilling musical numbers that assist break the easy story and discover the road artwork historical past of New York Metropolis. Add to that nods to the franchise’s previous and the return of the unique hosts, and also you get a film you gained’t thoughts your youngsters watching over and over.
Score: B
Blue’s Massive Metropolis Journey involves Paramount+ on November 18.
