`ELMO IN GROUCHLAND' GOOD-NATURED MUSICAL FUN.Byline: Chris Hewitt Chris Hewitt is a sound engineer, manager and entrepreneur best known for his contributions to the British music industry, particularly in the North West of England , specifically Rochdale, and in particular his close association with the cult rock band Tractor. Knight Ridder Newspapers I worry about Elmo. His bright red pelt pelt the undressed, raw skin of a wild animal with the fur in place. If from a sheep or goat there is a short growth of wool or mohair on the skin. screams ``propensity for heart problems.'' Speaking of oneself in the third person, as he does, is an early warning sign of a serial killer serial killer Forensic psychiatry A person who commits serial murders Prototypic SK White ♂ age 30; 97% are ♂; 80% are sociopaths. See Dahmer, Depraved heart murder, Ice Man. Cf Megan's law, Son of Sam law. . With his squeaky, tease-inviting voice, he'll be dead meat the minute he hits kindergarten. And, what with all those people and furry things hanging around on Sesame Street, it strikes me as sad that his best friend is a blanket. That sad blanket touches off ``The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland.'' When it gets tossed down Oscar's trash can, Elmo follows it and finds himself in an upside-down land where stinky is considered fragrant, where garbage is considered beautiful and where Mandy Patinkin's falsetto falsetto (fôlsĕt`tō) [Ital.,=diminutive of false], high-pitched, unnatural tones above the normal register of the male voice, produced, according to some theories, by the vibration of only the edges of the larynx. is not considered irritating. Actually, Patinkin is hammily hilarious as the evil overlord o·ver·lord n. 1. A lord having power or supremacy over other lords. 2. One in a position of supremacy or domination over others. o who purloins Elmo's blanket (or ``wooby,'' as Patinkin insists on calling it), sending Elmo on a brave mission to retrieve it. ``Elmo'' is low-tech, good-natured, melodious fun that plays to a very young age - roughly Elmo's, in fact. He's 3, and the counting games and other lessons that are effortlessly woven into ``Elmo'' are designed to appeal to his peers. Upping the toddler-friendliness of the project are Bert and Ernie Bert and Ernie are two Muppets on the long-running PBS children's television show Sesame Street. The two appear together in numerous skits, forming a comic duo that is one of the centerpieces of the program. , who pull a Pat Summerall, popping up periodically to recap the action and reassure all of us - even those of us who worry about Elmo's stability - that the little red furball is going to be just fine. THE FACTS The film: ``The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland'' (G). The stars: Elmo and assorted Muppets. Behind the scenes: Directed by Gary Halvorson. Released by Columbia Pictures. Running time: One hour, 17 minutes. Playing: Citywide. Our rating: Three stars. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: A lost blanket touches off Elmo's adventure in Grouchland. |
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