The Adventures of Bert and Ernie in Grouchland

The Adventures of Bert and Ernie in Grouchland is a 2021 American-Canadian-Australian-French-Irish-Germany-Belgian live-action puppet-animated musical western adventure comedy film. It is based on the children's television series Sesame Street. The film serves as an origin story for the Muppet duo Bert and Ernie while the film is also set before, during and after the events of The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland. Eric Jacobson and Peter Linz reprise their roles of Bert and Ernie, respectively, while Ryan Dillon, Matt Vogel, Jennifer Barnhart, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Martin P. Robinson, David Rudman, Tyler Bunch, David Goelz, Stephane D'Abruzzo, Bill Barretta, Sonia Manzano, Roscoe Orman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Knowings, Olamide Faison, Desiree Casado, Bill Irwin, Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Cree Summer (in her puppetry debut), and Steve Whitmire headline the supporting cast; Whitmire returned to work on The Muppets franchise after a four year hiatus, former Sesame Street writer and puppeteer Joey Mazzarino returned as an executive producer for the film, and former Elmo performer Kevin Clash returned as the film's puppeteer captain. 
It received mixed reviews from critics, who criticized the overuse of The Jim Henson Company's IPs and a having similar plot to Elmo in Grouchland, while praising its entertainment value and the puppeteers' performances.
== Synopsis ==
As Bert and Ernie watch The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland in a theater, Bert decides to fast-forward to their scenes. Ernie's protest over this eventually prompts Bert to share his backstory, going back to before the beginning of the movie.
(During the Opening Titles, a Theme Tune from MGM/Warner Bros.' Tom and Jerry is showing in the sky)
Bert lives in the outskirts of Sesame Street due to frequently messing things up by accident. Though he is unconditionally supported by his mother and father, Bert dreams for more in life than his family's bleak existence hiding from danger. One day, he is assigned as a guardian for his home, but his daydreaming leads to the near kidnapping of Ernisimo by Bug the bug. Convinced that he will never fit in with his family, Bert decides to leave to find a better life. He meets Count von Count, who advices him to "believe what he counts". Bert takes the advice literally and observes Sesame Street in the distance. Believing it to be his paradise home, Bert ventures there and encounters Ernie on his way. The two quickly form a bond and Ernie accompanies Bert.
The pair arrive at Sesame Street as Elmo plays with his blanket in his bedroom. Bert and Ernie make their way to rent free tickets for staying in a hotel with the help of Whoopi Goldberg. Following this, Bert and Ernie make multiple attempts to set up homes throughout Sesame Street, but wind up being forced away every time after witnessing several events from the original film, such as Elmo singing "Together Forever," Telly Monster rollerskating out of control, and Elmo diving into the bottom of Oscar the Grouch's trash can to retrieve his ripped blanket following a tug of war over it with Zoe. Thinking that Elmo needs their help, Bert and Ernie follow Elmo into Oscar's trash can. As Elmo attempts to retrieve his blanket and gets teleported through a colorful swirling tunnel, Bert and Ernie are also teleported through the tunnel to Grouchland, a city filled with Grouches, trash, and Huxley, a greedy man who steals anything he can grab, including Elmo's blanket. Exhausted, Bert decides to give up, until Ernie discovers a luxurious field near Mount Pickanose he tried to tell Bert about earlier. They finally settle there, encouraging themselves that they will make it if they just take their first step.
Eventually, Bert and Ernie encounter Elmo trapped in a tunnel by Bug and his minions, the Pesties. Bert and Ernie take a minecart through the tunnel with the help of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and the Fraggles, which misleads them to a garbage dump. Also, additionally, a help of Kermit the Frog and his father. Elmo is brought before the Queen of Trash for trespassing. Before the Queen tests him, requesting that he blow 100 raspberries for her in 30 seconds, Elmo meets Bert and Ernie, who encourage the audience to help Elmo succeed. However, Bert and Ernie are caught for trespassing, and end up arrested as they are informed by a grouch police officer that it is against the law to ask for help in Grouchland. Oscar convinces all the Grouches to cooperate, since it is the only way they can stop Huxley from stealing any more of their trash. The police officer decides to release Bert, Ernie, the Sesame Street residents, and the Grouches so that they can to go to Huxley's house to fight for their trash and rescue Elmo. Zoe informs Bert and Ernie that Elmo has decided to travel all the way to Huxley's house on top of Mount Pickanose. Upset that Elmo left them, Bert unsuccessfully tries to persuade Ernie to stay, but Ernie follows the Sesame Street residents, Zoe, and Elmo. Bert indulges in Grouchland's luxuries by himself, but loneliness starts to overwhelm him. Shortly after, Huxley's huge chicken tosses Bert far away. A reflection of Count von Count indirectly helps Bert realize that his true friendship is with the ones he loves (not just the place he sought for), prompting Bert to take off after Ernie, Elmo, and Zoe.
Bert catches up and reconciles with Ernie, before they journey onward to Huxley's house. After convincing Elmo that he has what it takes to be brave, Bert and Ernie run into Ernisimo, who was revealed to be a relative of Ernie's, and Bert's parents, who came looking for Bert, who introduces Ernie to them. Bert proposes that they all help Elmo by rescuing his blanket and defeating Huxley, the huge chicken, and Bug. Elmo falls into a basket with Huxley deciding to make him and his blanket both his property by using a claw to put them on his conveyor stamper, although Bert and Ernie are aided by the Sesame Street and Grouchland citizens to help. Bert's parents and Ernisimo are directed to hold off Bug's group of Twiddlebugs, as at the same time, Big Bird distracts the huge chicken. Before the huge chicken tries to take down Big Bird, Bert is prompted to whack the huge chicken's foot with a stick, making him land on Bug, but causing a box of Huxley's fireworks to start a fire. Mr. Snuffleupagus sprays water from his trunk, putting the fire out, and Bert recovers from minor scratches. Ernie converses with Bug, forcing him to stop Huxley from escaping with Elmo's blanket by sucking Elmo's blanket up with the vacuum cleaner nozzle on his helicopter, and returning it to Elmo. Elmo launches a basket over Huxley's shoulders, incapacitating him. Bert, Ernie, and Elmo return to Sesame Street with their friends, where Elmo apologizes to Zoe and allows her to hold his blanket. She accepts his apology, agreeing that they can resume their friendship. Elmo thanks Bert and Ernie for helping and goes to dance with his friends. Bert takes his mom, his dad, their family, Ernisimo, and Ernie to live in the field to build a new town for his family, and is praised as a hero.
Once the story finishes, Bert's mom and dad, Ernisimo, Elmo, Count von Count, and eventually many other Muppet characters (such as Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, etc.) join Bert and Ernie to rewatch the film in the theater. Bert, Kermit, Elmo and Ernie thanks the audience for your help by saying "And remember, we love you!" With everyone says and waves goodbye to each other with the credits rolling: "Bye-bye!"
== Cast ==
=== Muppet Performers ===
* Eric Jacobson as Bert, Grover, Oscar the Grouch, Guy Smiley, Two-Headed Monster (Left Head), Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Sam the Eagle, and Animal
* Peter Linz as Ernie, Horatio the Elephant, Herry Monster, Captain Vegetable, Walter, Statler and Eugene the Mink
* Ryan Dillon as Elmo, Don Music, Roosevelt Franklin, and Lefty the Salesman
* Matt Vogel as Count von Count, Big Bird, Mr. Johnson, Sherlock Hemlock, Farley and Kermit the Frog
* Jennifer Barnhart as Zoe
* Leslie Carrara-Rudolph as Abby Cadabby
* Martin P. Robinson as Telly Monster, Old MacDonald, and Mr. Snuffleupagus
* David Rudman as Baby Bear, Brad, Cookie Monster, Two-Headed Monster (Right Head), Beaker, and Scooter
* Tyler Bunch as Bug and Louie
* David Goelz as Humongous Chicken, Gonzo, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Waldorf, and Boober Fraggle
* Stephanie D'Abruzzo as Prairie Dawn and Pokey
* Bill Barretta as Johnny Fiama and Bart the Coyote
* Cree Summer as Bert's Mom
* Steve Whitmire as Uncle Ernisimo and Rizzo the Rat
Reprising their Sesame Street puppetry roles includes Noel MacNeal as Madame Chairbird, Carmen Osbahr as Rosita, Stacey Gordon as Julia, John Kennedy as The Amazing Mumford, Christopher Hayes as Hoots the Owl, and Pam Arciero as Grundgetta. Both Hayes and Arciero returned to voice their characters, though footage at the end of the film when they return to Sesame Street was archival footage from Episode 5102, Episode 4828, and Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration, respectively. Bill Barretta reprises his The Muppets roles of Pepe the King Prawn, The Swedish Chef, and Rowlf the Dog, while Brian Henson performs the roles of Sal Minella from Muppet Treasure Island and Nigel from Muppets Tonight. John Tartaglia, Frankie Cordero, Karen Prell, and Donna Kimball perform the Fraggle Rock cast consisting of Gobo Fraggle, Wembley Fraggle, Red Fraggle, and Mokey Fraggle, with Prell reprising her role from Fraggle Rock, respectively.
Additionally, background characters of Sesame Street, The Muppets, Fraggle Rock, and Dog City includes Betty Lou, Fozzie Bear's Dad, Sherry Netherland, Rudy, Harvey Kneeslapper, Mrs. Crustworthy, Little Bird, Mama Bear, Gonger, The Countess, Ronald Grump, Pink Jacket, The Honkers, The Twiddlebugs, Clifford, Droop, Uncle Traveling Matt, Sweetums, Nigel, The Frackles, J.G., Croaker, Roy, Goggles, Artie Springer, Blotch, Kermit's Mom, Yolanda Rat, Bubba the Rat, Pilgrim, Chico, Bugsy Them, Mad Dog, Billy Bunny, Ace Yu, Eliot Shag, Colleen Barker, Miss Belle, Terri Springer, Laughing Boy, Bubba the Bartender, Bruno, Bowser, Ms. Fluffé, Wander McMooch, Clueless Morgan, Angel Marie, Mr. Bitte, Polly Lobster, Black Dog, Real Old Tom, Mad Monty, Calico, Blind Pew, Old Tom, Spotted Dick, Large Marvin Fraggle, Walleye Pike, Jacques Roach, Lenny the Lizard, One-Eyed Jack, Koozebanian Phoob, Steve, and Sprocket. The Pesties, the Stuckweed, Sharon Groan, and Kitty the Caterpillar cameo as spectators of the storyline. Grizzy, the Football Stenchman, and the Colander Stenchman were confirmed not to appear as the puppets deteriorated due to age.
Bear, Ojo, Tutter, Pip, Treelo, and Pop appear in the film's post-credits scene for the sneak peek of Bear in the Big Blue House: The Movie.
=== Special Guest Stars ===
* Brian Henson as Dr. Phil van Neuter, and Seymour
* Louise Gold as Annie Sue
* Michael Winsor as Apollo
* Olly Taylor as Squacky
* Donna Kimball as Sweetpea Sue
* Sarah Lyle as CowBella
* Gord Robertson as Rumple Fraggle
=== Voice Cast ===
* Tom Hanks as Bert's Dad (voice)
* Tim Allen as Kermit's Dad (voice)
* Justin Michael as Boy/Boyzano the Seorcero/Officer Boy/Cosmo Boy
* Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld as Girl/City Safety Inspector and Mom
* Justin Anselmi as Dog/Officer Dog
* Abe Goldfarb as Mouse (With 3D Glasses)/Professor Mouse/Dr. Mouse 
* Erica Schroeder as Cat/The Cat Crusader and Cheese (With Tiana)/The Yellow Rider
* Charlie Adler as Cow/SuperCow, Chicken/Fast Food Restaurant Mascot, The Red Guy/Lance Sackless, I.R. Baboon and Boneless Chicken 
* Michael Dorn as I.M. Weasel/Elvis Plesley 
* Dee Bradley Baker as Dad and Jerome "Doc" Crystal (animated)
* Candi Milo as Mom and Teacher 
* Jennifer Lopez as Juanita (voice)
* Maurice LaMarche as Flem 
* Dan Castellaneta as Earl 
* Jess Harnell as Cerberus
* Billy West as Poochini
* Townsend Coleman as Gobo Fraggle (animated), Wrench Doozer (animated) and Architect Doozer (animated)
* Bob Bergen as Wembley Fraggle (animated), Cantus the Minstrel (animated), The World's Oldest Fraggle (animated) and Archbanger Fraggle (animated)
* Barbara Goodson as Red Fraggle (animated) and Wingnut Doozer (animated)
* Mona Marshall as Mokey Fraggle (animated) and Cotterpin Doozer (animated)
* Rob Paulsen as Boober Fraggle (animated), Sprocket (animated), Marjory the Trash Heap (animated) and Henchy Fraggle (animated)
* Patrick Pinney as Uncle Traveling Matt (animated), Pa Gorg (animated) and Flange Doozer (animated)
* Michael Laskin as Junior Gorg (animated)
* Donna Kimball as Storyteller Fraggle (animated)
* Billy Bob Thompson as Taffy/Mayor Taffy/Scraggs
* Tyler Bunch as Dad and Bentley
* Serra Hirsch as Lady Burlington, Mrs. Muchmore and Mash
* Marc Thompson as Forsythe and Binikos 
* Dan Green as Mish
* Terrence Scammell as Rapido and Eugene
* Rick Jones as Razmo (Yakkity and Zösky's best friends), Kaput (Keo's best friend), Zaput, Boudini's Father, Guy, Fax, Goodgrief, Gwizdo, Hector, Curtis, Cereal Bob, The Beetle (speaking and singing voice), Slax, Philo (animated), Gunge (animated) and Cat (A Cow, A Cat and the Ocean)
* Mark Camacho as Zösky (Yakkity and Razmo's best friends), Kösky, Cousin Zöska, Lyle Lion, George Martin, Harry and Dragon
* John Stocker as Crazy Joe, Boudini, Marvin the Enchanter, Dook and Mr. Rotifer 
* Helen King as Office Lady
* Sonja Ball as Mamma Zösky, Svetlana, Gran and Jennyline
* Tony Robinow as The Captain
* Arthur Holden as Benny
* Teddy Lee Dillon as Dodo
* Marc Montgomery as Gnu
* Kate Hutchinson as Lana
* Dawn Ford as Roxanne the Ostrich and Linette (Pompon Little Bear)
* Ellen David as Monica Martin and Ma Gorg (animated)
* Eleanor Noble as Betty Martin
* Daniel Brochu as Benjamin Martin
* Susan Glover as Mrs. Schuman
* Ricky Mabe as Bobby Schuman (archival audios)
* Bruce Dinsmore as Boris Malakoff
* Harry Standjofski as Lian-Chu
* Annie Bovaird as Zaza and Juju (archival audios)
* Danny Wells as Dook (archival footage) and King Hugo III (archival audios)
* Carrie Finlay as Melody (archival audios)
* Mark Hauser as Riri
* John Vamvas as Merlin
* John Locke as Roger the Talking Carrot
* Kathleen Fee as Granny
* Julian Casey as Geextah
* Katie Standfield as Cow (A Cow, A Cat and the Ocean)
* Oscar Vaillancourt as Billy (Billy the Cowboy Hamster)
* Timothée Bardeau as Billy (Billy the Cowboy Hamster) (singing voice in french)
* Tallula Dinsmore as Suzie (Billy the Cowboy Hamster)
* Hannah Vaubien as Suzie (Billy the Cowboy Hamster) (singing voice in french)
* Angela Galuppo as Jean-Claude (Billy the Cowboy Hamster)
* Kaycie Chase as Jean-Claude (Billy the Cowboy Hamster) (singing voice in french)
* Marcel Jeannin as Scott (Billy the Cowboy Hamster) and Georges (Pompon Little Bear)
* Emmanuel Jacomy as Scott (Billy the Cowboy Hamster) (singing voice in french)
* Ryan Hill as Pompon (Pompon Little Bear)
* Layla Tuy-Sok as Rita (Pompon Little Bear)
* Harland Williams as Newton (speaking voice)
* Ron Pardo as Newton (singing voice)
* Tracey Moore as Ned Flemkin
* Keith Wickham as Corneil
* Ben Small as Bernie Barges
* Dan Russell as John, Uncle Rico and Romeo
* Laurence Bouvard as Beth, Principal Martin and Martha
* Brigitte Lecordier as The Fly (archival audios)
* Clement Reverend as The Beetle (archival audios)
* Krystal Meadows as The Fly (speaking and singing voice), Peggy and Shirley
* Cory Doran as Squish, Squish's Dad and Lynwood
* Brandon McGibbon as Pod and Gusfun
* Robert Tinker as Principal Planaria and Vinny 
* Diane Salema as Helen and Franny
* Bailey Stocker as Holly and Heather
* Scott Thompson as Ruben "Rube" Roach
* Ted Dykstra as Reginald "Reg" Roach
* Lee Tockar as Yakkity Yak (wearing a Old English Edwardian Blazer Barbershop) (Razmo and Zösky's best friends) (special guest appearance) and Jackie Pachyderm (special guest appearance)
* Brian Drummond as Keo (wearing a Carmen Miranda) (Kaput's best friend) (special guest appearance)
* Andrea Libman as Lemony (special guest appearance)
* Tabitha St. Germain as Nikki Tinker and Penelope (special guest appearance)
* Pam Hyatt as Granny Yak (aka Yakkity's Granny) (special guest appearance)
* Michael Daingerfield as Keo's Dad (special guest appearance)
* Ian James Corlett as Andrew "Andy" Larkin, Mr. Reginald Highpants (special guest appearance) and Rondo (special guest appearance)
* Scott McNeil as Big Tree Powell, Jackie Mungo and Professor Crazyhair (special guest appearance)
* Jason Schombing as Trilo (special guest appearance)
* Brenda Crichlow as Wanda Harper (special guest appearance)
* Sam Vincent as Stats (special guest appearance)
* Terry Klassen as Steve Mungo and Gary (special guest appearance)
* Dave Ward as Chuck Damage (special guest appearance)
* Matt Hill as Ebbet Myna
* Jim Byrnes as Rip Hickory
* Teryl Rothery as Lucinda "Lefty" Lane
* Phil Hayes as Reggie Stainback, Jeff Mungo and Mud Flap Flammen
* Michael Dobson as Flamingo Kid
Also appearing are Sammy Spinoza, Jack the Dog, Marcel the Cat, Ricky Sprocket, Bunny Sprocket, Leonard Sprocket, Ethel Sprocket, Bulletproof, LongArm, Mainframe, Bunny and Squirrel from Untalkative Bunny, Brian Baskerville, Janet Baskerville, Darren Baskerville, April Baskerville, Tito, Lance, Louie, Bud and Edna, Junior and Herd, Elmo the Crocodile, Ronald the African Buffalo, Lamont the Hippopotamus, Grandpa Tortoise and his grandsons, Sergeant Rhino, Snake, Frog, Toad, Knights from Potatoes and Dragons, Sharon Flemkin, Eric Flemkin, Linda Bliss, Doogle Pluck, Renfrew, Rusty McCabe, Daniel "Danny" Tadeus Pickett, Lori Mackney, Mr. Larkin, Mrs. Larkin, Gus Monkey, Wally Monkey, Yay-Ok, Ed from Doodlez, Loop Da Loop, Louie, Ludome Ludome, Walter White, Billy White, Wendy White, Ian Kelley, Yvon Ducharme, Tommy Tukyuk, Billy Tukyuk, Mikey, Martha, Reggie, Betty, E. Brian, Link, Dave, Trish, Vice Principal Lardez, Principal Hamhock, Stig, Bob
=== Live-Action Cast ===
* Sonia Manzano as Maria
* Roscoe Orman as Gordon
* Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Himself
* Whoopi Goldberg as Herself
* Chris Knowings as Chris
* Olamide Faison as Miles
* Desiree Casado as Gabi
Reprising their Sesame Street live-action roles includes Nitya Vidyasagar as Leela, Alan Muraoka as Alan, Suki Lopez as Nina, Linda Bove as Linda, Bob McGrath as Bob, Alison Bartlett as Gina, Ruth Buzzi as Ruthie, Emilio Delgado as Luis, and Loretta Long as Susan. Bove, McGrath, Bartlett, Buzzi, Delgado, and Long returned to voice their characters, though footage at the beginning and the end of the film during Elmo's quest for his blanket was archival footage from The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland and Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration, respectively. This was also a final film roles for McGrath and Delgado before their deaths in 2022. Bill Irwin returns as Mr. Noodle from Elmo's World, respectively, and Andrea Martin voices The Lecture Lady via archival footage. Sterling K. Brown, Patti LaBelle, Elvis Costello, Itzhak Perlman, Meghan Trainor, Nile Rodgers, Norah Jones, and Fran Brill have cameo appearances as themselves. While Mandy Patinkin and Vanessa Williams do not appear in the film, their likenesses were superimposed onto CGI stand-in actors portraying Huxley and The Queen of Trash, respectively.
== Production ==
=== Development ===
In late 2017, a Sesame Street project focusing on Bert and Ernie was confirmed to be in the works. Caroll Spinney was originally cast to perform as Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. However, Matt Vogel and Eric Jacobson replaced Spinney as Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch following his death in late 2019. The project was filmed in early 2019. And set to be released in theaters on June 30, 2020. But, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was delayed to June 20, 2021.
== Reception ==
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 58% approval rating based on 5 reviews, with an average rating of 6.25/10.
== Trivia ==
* The Adventures of Bert and Ernie in Grouchland was influenced by the Tom Stoppard play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, a tragicomedy that tells the story of Hamlet from the point of view of two minor characters.
* Tom Hanks and Tim Allen (who both voiced Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Disney/Pixar's animated film Toy Story) additionally voiced Kermit's Dad and Bert's Dad in the film, and Frankie Cordero and Brian Henson puppeteered them.
== Copyright Credits ==
* © Sesame Workshop 2021. 
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