Blue's Big City Adventure

Last updated

Blue's Big City Adventure
Blue's Big City Adventure poster.jpg
Official release poster
Directed byMatt Stawski
Written by Angela Santomero
Liz Maccie
Based on Blue's Clues & Blue's Clues & You!
by Traci Paige Johnson
Todd Kessler
Angela Santomero
Produced byTraci Paige Johnson
Angela Santomero
Starring
CinematographyDerek McKane
Edited byScott Richter
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed by Paramount+
Release date
  • November 18, 2022 (2022-11-18)
Running time
74 minutes
CountriesUnited States
Canada
LanguageEnglish

Blue's Big City Adventure is a 2022 live-action/animated musical comedy film. It is the second installment of the Blue's Clues film series and a standalone sequel to Blue's Big Musical Movie , based on the revival Nick Jr. Channel television series, Blue's Clues & You! . Directed by Matt Stawski, the film stars Traci Paige Johnson as the voice of Blue, alongside Josh Dela Cruz, Donovan Patton, and Steve Burns. As the events of the film take place after the original series and during the fourth season of Blue's Clues & You!, the film follows Josh and Blue as they travel to New York City to audition for a Broadway musical.

Contents

It was released on Paramount+ on November 18, 2022, and received positive reviews from critics.

Plot

Josh has dreamed of singing in a Broadway musical since he was a kid. One day, he receives a letter from Rainbow Puppy, a friend of Periwinkle, telling him to come to New York City later that day to audition for her new Broadway show, Happiness is Magic. Josh is excited, though also nervous, but then receives encouragement from the others. Mr. Salt puts the address of the theater in Josh’s handy-dandy notebook. Blue and Josh later leave for New York City in a bus called the Skidoo Express.

Upon arriving in New York City, Josh decides to look in the handy-dandy notebook to see where the theater is, but realizes it’s missing. Without it, Josh does not know where the theater is. So, Blue decides that they play Blue’s Clues to figure out where Josh’s audition is, with help from the viewer as usual. During their search for clues, they also come across Broadway actor, Ali Stroker, who teaches them that practicing for something makes it less overwhelming. They also encounter singer, Taboo, who helps them find them music to give them more confidence. They eventually find all three clues: a piano, rainbow curtains, and a stage, and discover they simply need to find a theater with a piano, rainbow curtains, and a stage.

Back at the Blue’s Clues house, the others discover Josh’s handy-dandy notebook left at home, so Mr. Salt, Tickety Tock, and Slippery Soap head off to the city in a jet to return the notebook to Josh. They then visit Steve at the Blue Prints Detective Agency for help, and decide to get help from Joe at the present store to create balloons spelling Josh and Blue’s names as a message to them, informing them they’re searching for them, though the balloons later deflate. Meanwhile, at the theater where the auditions are being held, Rainbow Puppy and the director are unimpressed by most of the acts.

After they had figured out Blue’s Clues, Josh and Blue then hitch a ride to the theater in a taxi vehicle, though do not know the exact address to the theater. During the ride, they spot Steve, Joe, Mr. Salt, Tickety Tock, and Slippery Soap, and they join them. Mr. Salt gives Josh his handy-dandy notebook and Mr. Salt tells the address of the theater to the taxi driver: 12345 Broadway. By the time they arrive, however, the auditions have already ended. Josh sings on stage anyway. Rainbow Puppy and the director see Josh singing on the Jumbotron and return to the theater to tell him they want him to play the lead role in the show. Blue, Josh, and the whole gang perform in the show together, which is praised by the audience. After the show finishes, Josh thanks the viewer for all their help.

In a mid-credit scene, as he is getting ready for bed, Josh tells the audience that the movie is over and he and Blue sing “the So Long Song”.

Cast

Voice cast

  • Traci Paige Johnson as Blue
  • Brianna Bryan as Rainbow Puppy
  • Nick Balaban as Mr. Salt
  • Ava Augustin as Tickety Tock
  • Gisèle Rousseau as Mrs. Pepper
  • Breeze Dango as Cuppa Coffee
  • Tianna SwamiNathan as Young Bird
  • Joseph Motiki as Adult Bird
  • Hope Cassandra as 20 Something
  • Jacob Soley as Slippery Soap
  • Shazdeh Kapadia as Sidetable Drawer
  • Doug Murray as Mailbox
  • Lisa Norton as NYC Mailbox
  • Cory Doran as Trash Can
  • Diane Salema as Magenta

Live-action cast

  • Josh Dela Cruz as Josh
  • Steve Burns as Steve
  • Donovan Patton as Joe
  • BD Wong as Director
  • Max Darwin as Audition Person #1
  • Adam John Richardson as Audition Person #2
  • Kara Irene Mikula as Audition Person #3
  • Phillipa Soo as Audition Person #4
  • Evelyn Lee as Kid #1
  • Austin Elle Fisher as Kid #2
  • Sid Kamat as Kid #3
  • Sebastian Ortiz as Kid #4
  • Summer Rae Daney as Kid #5
  • Cameron Keitt as Kid #6
  • Allegra Tumbleson as Kid #7
  • Daniel Shin as Kid #8
  • Ali Stroker as herself
  • Taboo as himself
  • Alex Winter as Cab Driver
  • Steven Pasquale as Janitor

Production

On July 12, 2021, it was reported that a movie based on Blue's Clues & You! will be made to mark the 25th anniversary of the Blue's Clues franchise. Directed by Matt Stawski and written by Angela Santomero and Liz Maccie, the film began production, with Cinematography by Derek McKane, Production Design by Alex M. Calle, and Costume Design by Caitlin Doukas, in summer 2021. [1] On February 15, 2022, the title was revealed as Blue's Big City Adventure. [2]

Soundtrack

Blue's Big City Adventure (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Blue's Big City Adventure album cover.jpg
Soundtrack album by
Alex Geringas
ReleasedNovember 18, 2022 (2022-11-18)
Genre Children's music
Length28:38
Label Republic Records Kids & Family

The film's soundtrack album was released on digital platforms by Republic Records Kids & Family label, on the same day. To promote it, a single version of “On Our Way” was released on October 7, 2022. [3] [4]

No.TitleLength
1."Blue’s Big City Adventure (Opening)"0:29
2."Brand New Day"3:04
3."Mail Time Barbershop (Movie Version)"0:07
4."Mail Time (Movie Version)"0:11
5."We Just Got a Letter (Movie Version)"0:30
6."Got the Audition"0:12
7."On Our Way Skidoo"0:36
8."On Our Way"3:07
9."Happiness Is Magic (Mr. Salt)"0:33
10."How To Play Blue’s Clues (Movie Version)"1:26
11."The Planet Song (Movie Version)"1:33
12."That’s My Song"3:57
13."We Just Figured Out Blue’s Clues (Movie Version)"0:41
14."Rock Blue’s Clues & You (Theme)"1:16
15."Happiness Is Magic (Audition)"1:42
16."Happiness Is Magic (Broadway)"3:30
17."Closing Song (Movie Version)"0:34
18."Happy Puppy Dance"0:15
19."Blue’s Big City Adventure (Score Suite)"4:55
Total length:28:38

Release

The film's trailer was previewed by Josh Dela Cruz at PaleyWKND on October 1, 2022, and later released online on October 3, 2022. [5] [6] Blue's Big City Adventure was released on Paramount+ on November 18, 2022. [7] In a promotion for the film sponsored by Nickelodeon, minor league ice hockey team Atlanta Gladiators wore Blue's Clues jerseys for their match against the Orlando Solar Bears on November 4, 2022. [8] The film was released on DVD on March 28, 2023. [9] The movie made its linear premiere on Nickelodeon in the United States on May 29, 2023. [10]

Reception

On the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, 83% of six critics' reviews have given the film a positive review, with an average rating of 7.3/10. [11]

Marco Vito Oddo of Collider gave the film a "B" rating, writing "As a result, Blue's Big City Adventure is a movie aimed at preschoolers that's also enjoyable for adults, with exciting musical numbers that help break the simple story and explore the street art history of New York City." [12] In a positive review, Calum Marsh of The New York Times praised Dela Cruz's performance, saying he brought "unbridled charisma to a role that is basically a glorified kindergarten teacher". [13] Nate Adams of The Only Critic wrote, "A harmless, colorful and cheery addition to the Blue's Clues canon, Blue's Big City Adventure has something for everyone." [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Dora the Explorer</i> (TV series) American animated TV series

Dora the Explorer is an American children's animated television series created by Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh Valdes, and Eric Weiner that premiered on Nickelodeon on August 14, 2000, and wrapped up on August 9, 2019. The series was produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Burns</span> American actor (born 1973)

Steven Michael Burns is an American actor, musician and television host. He is best known as a fictional version of himself as the host of the children's television series Blue's Clues from 1996 until 2002, for which he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 2001. Burns has also done extensive voice-over work for advertising, including the "Snickers satisfies" advertising campaign.

Nickelodeon Movies Inc. is an American film production company owned by Paramount Global. Originally founded in 1995, it serves as both the film production arm of the American children's network Nickelodeon and the family film distribution label of Paramount Pictures, operating under its Paramount Players division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donovan Patton</span> American actor (born 1978)

Donovan Patton is an American actor and television host. Patton graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy and acted in Shakespeare plays such as Much Ado About Nothing and Romeo and Juliet before replacing Steve Burns as the host of the television program, Blue's Clues in 2002. Series co-creator Angela Santomero stated that Patton brought Joe, his character, closer to the preschool viewer, as Joe was more willing to "jump into a problem rather than figuring it out first like Steve". After Blue's Clues ended in 2006, Patton then voiced Bot on Nickelodeon's Team Umizoomi (2010–2015), and in 2021, he began voicing CatRat on the Netflix original DreamWorks series Gabby's Dollhouse.

Since the 1990s, Nickelodeon, a worldwide children's television network and franchise, owned by Paramount Global, has had an involvement in the creation and theming of amusement parks rides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Trainor</span> American actor and musician (born 1977)

Gerald William "Jerry" Trainor is an American actor and musician. He is best known for his roles as "Crazy" Steve in Drake & Josh and Spencer Shay in the teen sitcom iCarly and its revival series of the same name, winning three Kids' Choice Awards for his performances. He also appeared in T.U.F.F. Puppy as Dudley Puppy, for which he received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination. Since 2004, Trainor has worked primarily on the Nickelodeon network. Outside of this, he has had recurring and guest roles on young adult-oriented shows on the Disney Channel and Netflix as well as in the more mature shows Crossing Jordan and 2 Broke Girls.

<i>Blues Room</i> American childrens live-action puppet television series

Blue's Room is an American puppetry television series spin-off from Blue's Clues. It was created by Traci Paige Johnson and Angela Santomero. The show aired on Nickelodeon as part of its Nick Jr. block, and originated as short segments on Blue's Clues episodes in season 6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nickelodeon (Israel)</span> Israeli childrens channel

Nickelodeon is an Israeli children's television channel launched on 1 July 2003.

<i>Blues Big Musical Movie</i> 2000 film by Todd Kessler

Blue's Big Musical Movie is a 2000 American direct-to-video live-action/animated musical film. It is the first installment of the Blue's Clues film series and based on the original television series on Nickelodeon's Nick Jr. block. It was released on VHS and DVD on October 3, 2000. The film was also aired on television, starting with a primetime premiere on January 13, 2002. This movie was reissued on DVD along with Dora the Explorer: Musical School Days on July 23, 2013. A video game based on the film was released for the PlayStation around the same time, making it the only Blue's Clues video game on a home console other than the V.Smile. A standalone sequel, Blue's Big City Adventure, was released on November 18, 2022.

<i>Dora and Friends: Into the City!</i> American educational animated television series and Dora the Explorer sequel

Dora and Friends: Into the City! is an American children's animated television series. The sequel to the original Dora the Explorer series, this series premiered on Nickelodeon on August 18, 2014 and ended on February 5, 2017 in the United States, followed by its Canadian premiere on September 6, 2014 on Treehouse TV.

The Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Series was an Emmy award given to television programming aimed towards children. Children's television had been recognized at the Emmys since the inaugural year. In 1995, a separate award for pre-school children's television was created, and the two categories had been recognized since then. Starting in 2018, a distinction between children's series and educational series was created, resulting in two separate categories. In November 2021, it was announced that all Daytime Emmy categories honoring children's programming would be retired in favor of a separate Children's & Family Emmy Awards ceremony that was held starting in 2022.

<i>Blues Clues & You!</i> Television series from Nickelodeon

Blue's Clues & You! is a live-action/animated interactive educational children's television series developed by Traci Paige Johnson and Angela C. Santomero for Nickelodeon. It is a revival of the 1996–2006 Blue's Clues television series with a new host, Josh Dela Cruz, and is produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio, 9 Story Media Group, and Brown Bag Films. It premiered on Nickelodeon on November 11, 2019.

<i>PAW Patrol: The Movie</i> 2021 animated film by Cal Brunker

PAW Patrol: The Movie is a 2021 Canadian animated action-adventure comedy film based on the television series PAW Patrol created by Keith Chapman. The first installment in the PAW Patrol film series, it was directed by Cal Brunker, who co-wrote the screenplay with Billy Frolick and Bob Barlen from a story by Frolick. Several cast members from the main series reprised their roles, including Kingsley Marshall, Keegan Hedley, Shayle Simons, Lilly Bartlam, and Ron Pardo. They are joined by Iain Armitage, Marsai Martin, Yara Shahidi, Kim Kardashian, Randall Park, Dax Shepard, Jimmy Kimmel, Tyler Perry, and introducing Will Brisbin in his film debut as Ryder. In the film, Ryder and the PAW Patrol pups are called to Adventure City in order to stop the recently-elected Mayor Humdinger from wreaking havoc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Dela Cruz</span> American actor

Joshua Dela Cruz is an American actor. He plays a fictional version of himself as the host in Blue's Clues & You!. He is the third main host of the franchise, after Steve Burns and Donovan Patton.

References

  1. Lesley Goldberg (July 12, 2021). "Fairly OddParents Live-Action Series, Blue's Clues Movie Highlight Nickelodeon's Global Push (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  2. Joe Otterson (February 15, 2022). "SpongeBob Squarepants Spinoff Movies, Dora the Explorer Live-Action Series Set at Paramount Plus". Variety . Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  3. "Republic Records teams up with Nickelodeon". Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  4. "Blue's Big City Adventure: Paramount+ Unveils Premiere Date and Trailer For 'Blue's Clues & You!' Movie". Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  5. "PaleyWKND Schedule". Paley Center. July 20, 2022. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  6. "'Blue's Clues' Movie Trailer Brings Hosts Steve, Joe and Josh Together for NYC Adventure (Exclusive) | Entertainment Tonight". www.etonline.com. October 3, 2022. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  7. "Blue's Big City Adventure Release Date & Time on Paramount+". ComingSoon.net. November 16, 2022. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  8. "Atlanta minor league hockey team shows off 'Blues Clues' jerseys". Yardbarker. November 10, 2022. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  9. Blue's Clues & You! Blue's Big City Adventure, PARAMOUNT, March 28, 2023, retrieved February 4, 2023
  10. "Nickelodeon to Premiere 'Blue's Big City Adventure' on Memorial Day". Archived from the original on May 6, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  11. "Blue's Big City Adventure". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  12. Oddo, Marco Vito (November 16, 2022). "'Blue's Big City Adventure' Review: 'Blue's Clues' Goes Big in Musical Blend of Nostalgia and Novelty". Collider. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  13. Marsh, Calum (November 17, 2022). "Blue's Big City Adventure' Review: It's Gotta Be the Clues". The New York Times . Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  14. Adams, Nate (November 15, 2022). "Review Roundup: 'Blue's Big City Adventure,' 'A Christmas Story Christmas,' and 'The Santa Clauses'". TheOnlyCritic. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.