Joined by fellow Sesame Street denizens Big Bird, Oscar, and the requisite tuneful, high-serotonin grown-ups, Elmo (voiced by Kevin Clash) learns much about perseverance, bravery, and sharing. It's unfortunate, though, that he doesn't learn some pronouns: his habit of referring to himself in the third person gets cloying fast. Quibbling aside, Gary Halvorson's interactive film strikes a pleasing balance of self-reflexive irreverence (there are passing jabs at Starbucks, Doctor Zhivago, and Sharon Stone) and inspired whimsy that's shown to best advantage in the lesson-laced musical numbers. Elmo and his trusty blanket, it seems, have everything covered.