Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey
Submarine Entertainment | Release Date: October 21, 2011 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
71
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Critic Reviews
Positive:
19
Mixed:
4
Negative:
1
Watch Now
Buy on

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
New Orleans Times-PicayuneMike ScottDec 1, 2011
His a wonderful, touching story, one that made me want to scoop up every kid I know who has a scrap of creative talent, and have them watch the film. Because Elmo's story is sweet -- but Clash's is nothing short of inspiring. Read full review
100
Entertainment WeeklyOwen GleibermanNov 2, 2011
A marvelous movie. Read full review
90
The Hollywood ReporterJustin LoweOct 16, 2011
Being Elmo is a rare documentary that will connect across generations and cultures to delight viewers worldwide for years to come. Read full review
88
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie RickeyOct 27, 2011
Though one gets a sense there is part of the story Marks isn't telling, we do pay attention to the man behind the curtain. Read full review
83
Portland OregonianShawn LevyNov 23, 2011
It might have poked a bit more into Clash's personal story, but as a story of man and puppet it's grand. Read full review
83
Christian Science MonitorPeter RainerOct 21, 2011
The greater the illusion the greater the manipulator, and few are as good as Kevin Clash, the subject of Constance Marks's sprightly six-years-in-the-making documentary Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey. Read full review
83
The A.V. ClubNoel MurrayOct 19, 2011
The moral to Clash's story? It's surprisingly easy being red. Read full review
83
IndieWireEric KohnOct 17, 2011
Despite its predictably cheery vibe, Being Elmo implies a certain darkness lingering beneath the surface of Clash's life. Read full review
80
Total FilmJamie GrahamApr 16, 2012
2012 is the year of the Muppet, and we don't mean Ashton Kutcher. After Jason Segel's fur-filled revival, rejoice in a documentary to make you laugh and, yes, cry. Read full review
78
Austin ChronicleMarc SavlovDec 1, 2011
Despite its short running time, Being Elmo is an engrossingly layered documentary. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleWalter AddiegoDec 15, 2011
A breezy account of a man whose obsession began early. Read full review
75
St. Louis Post-DispatchJoe WilliamsDec 1, 2011
The most mesmerizing parts of the movie make up a tutorial about how the Muppets are made and moved. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertNov 22, 2011
Backstage at the Muppet works, we see countless drawers filled with eyeballs, eyebrows, whiskers and wigs. It's the only world Kevin wanted to live in, and he made it. Read full review
75
Boston GlobeMark FeeneyNov 17, 2011
The most interesting part of this lively, likable documentary is the journey. Read full review
75
New York PostSara StewartOct 21, 2011
This Muppet virtuoso is so visibly thrilled to work in Henson's weird and wonderful world, and so good at bringing joy to little kids, you'd have to be a true Grouch not to be moved. Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesSheri LindenNov 3, 2011
A documentary as gentle as its subject: the story of a boy who realized his dream and, on the film's evidence, received a lot of encouragement and support along the way. Read full review
70
The New York TimesNeil GenzlingerOct 20, 2011
The film, by Constance Marks, is a little light on details of Mr. Clash's personal life once he broke through, but otherwise this is a winning tale of the persistence and creativity behind one of the most famous and fuzziest faces in the world. Read full review
70
VarietyJohn AndersonOct 16, 2011
All in all, the pace -- although buoyed by Joel Goodman score -- is rather plodding until Clash's life story intersects with that of the little red guy, at which point it lifts off. And even yanks a tear or two. Read full review
63
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Marsha LedermanMar 16, 2012
The film is narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, who also shows up as an interviewee, and in a Sesame Street clip, which frankly feels odd. Worse: the script she has to work with is often lacklustre. Read full review
60
New York Daily NewsElizabeth WeitzmanOct 21, 2011
For any adult feeling overwhelmed by bad news and dark times, your antidote is right here. Read full review
60
Time OutKeith UhlichOct 18, 2011
But take the puppet off his arm and he seems somehow vague and incomplete, like the Wizard of Oz without his curtain. Read full review
50
Washington PostMichael O'SullivanNov 10, 2011
And that's the moral of this story. Or one of them, anyway. Clash's success is shown as the result of a combination of talent, gumption, pluck, misadventure, supportive parents, following your dreams, luck and, yes, love. Read full review
50
Village VoiceMelissa AndersonOct 18, 2011
Constance Marks's documentary on Kevin Clash, the kind, gentle man who created the Muppet beloved by every single child in the world, rushes through the intriguing points its interviewees bring up to devote more time to banalities. Read full review
25
Slant MagazineAndrew SchenkerOct 16, 2011
Not everyone's life is compelling enough to warrant the documentary treatment, but whether this truism applies to master puppeteer and current Sesame Street producer Kevin Clash is a question that Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey, Constance Marks's fawning portrait of the Muppet- master fails to answer. Read full review
More From This Movie

71 Critic Reviews

7.3 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 77 Project Hail Mary
2 75 Send Help
3 73 Hoppers
4 72 The Sheep Detectives
5 68 Crime 101
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL