Review: I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story reveals the man behind Sesame Street characters

REVIEW: FOR almost the entirety of a professional career spanning six decades, Caroll Spinney has been doing one of two things.

Scene from the film I Am Big Bird: the Carol Spinney Story. Vendetta Films

I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story (PG)

Directors: Dave LaMattina, Chad Walker

Starring: Caroll Spinney, Frank Oz, Debra Spinney.

Rating: ***

Have you heard about this bird?

FOR almost the entirety of a professional career spanning six decades, Caroll Spinney has been doing one of two things.

Most days, you will find him inside a gigantic puppet costume covered in bright yellow feathers.

To mix it up a bit, sometimes he will be nestled behind a rather grotty papier-mache garbage can.

Enduring ... Caroll Spinney has been part of the Sesame Street team for decades.

For the past 46 years, Spinney has been in the employ of the Children’s Television Workshop, the makers of the iconic kids TV show Sesame Street.

The two characters played by Spinney on Sesame Street — the infinitely adorable Big Bird and the endearingly irritable Oscar the Grouch — remain unconditionally loved by each new generation of viewers.

While the enduring appeal of Spinney’s signature roles is easy enough to understand, the purity of intent and sophisticated craft he has poured into their creation remains unacknowledged by the general public.

Characters ... the talented Spinny is also the man behind Oscar the Grouch.

The modestly appointed, crowd-funded documentary I Am Big Bird should clear up that oversight once and for all.

Now 81 years of age, Spinney is coming to the end of his tenure on Sesame Street. Not because of any diminishment in the talent department, mind you.

In a revealing sequence in the doco, we learn that operating the Big Bird outfit is an incredibly physical experience that uses up a lot of energy. It’s almost a miracle Spinney has lasted this long.

Filmmakers Dave LaMattina and Chad Walker have timed their run well in capturing the tale of this unsung hero while he is still in full flight.

A kind and gentle soul, Spinney is also a natural raconteur who has a lovely, matter-of-fact way with an anecdote. His recollections of how he met his very supportive wife are just as memorable as the revelation he gave up a seat on the Columbia space shuttle mission that ended in disaster for all aboard.

Originally published as Review: I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story reveals the man behind Sesame Street characters