Customer Reviews

Free to Be You and Me [VHS]

5 star:		(57)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When my daughter was born, a relative and I wound up reminiscing about this album and how much we both loved it growing up. Next thing I knew, a copy of the DVD arrived as a gift for my daughter and me. The first time I sat down and watched, it brought back all my memories of being a little girl in the 70's. I could even still sing along with the title song! Right now, my daughter is too young to do much except listen as I sing or play music for her, but I hope she grows up enjoying these songs as much as I did. Yes, the visuals are dated, but I believe the messages of these songs are as pertinent now as they were thirty years ago. Best of all, the songs get their messages across without being "preachy." I think this is a fabulous alternative to much of what's out there for kids today, and dated as some elements may be, "Free to Be You and Me" is still a long, long way from going out of style.

I have been searching for the VHS version of this production for 3 years now. Needless to say, I am beyond excited that it is being re-released on DVD. I was very influenced by this program when I first saw it in the third grade back in 1987. I was just learning how to be a best friend and how to deal with children teasing me for my very long and extremely coarse 'nappy' hair, my 'white' grandmother (she's biracial), and my 'funny' proper accent.

Watching this movie in Mrs. Hammond's 3rd grade class was eye-opening. It taught me that it was okay to cry about things and to talk about how I feel to family, friends, and bullies. I am definitely going to buy this DVD for my 15 month old son and his 1 month old twin sisters so they can enjoy it.

Oh, and the scenes with the baby puppets (a boy and a girl who teach kids about the differences and similarities between girls and boys) are must see--believe me. The scenes are extremely funny--I laugh just thinking about them--and are great for little kids and for dispelling some common social conceptions and misconceptions about gender & gender equality.

This program will re-enforce the lessons my husband and I are trying to teach our kids--epecially since we are a multi-racial family who speaks 3 languages at home and travels between our two homes. DO BUY THIS DVD when it becomes available.

I recently became obsessed with this movie. I'd seen it in pre-school and somehow remembered the songs, stories, and humorous skits up through college. And I'm not alone! Others like me are frantically searching for this piece of their childhood, perhaps the only video to REALLY say to kids, "Just be yourself." A football player tells boys it's okay to cry, a fairy-tale tells girls they don't have to get married, and Mel Brooks and Marlo Thomas approach subjects like gender roles and childcare in four skits that can have even grown-ups laughing out loud. Though the song featuring a young Michael Jackson singing "We don't have to change at all" is extremely ironic and more than a little sad, the video is a fun experience overall. The book and soundtrack are also both wonderful tools to have in raising open-minded children, but I must admit that as cheesy as it sounds, it's the movie that really helped shape my life.

This dvd brings me back to when I was growing up in the 70's. I am happy to share this with my kids. Who can forget the baby puppets in the hospital window trying to figure out if they are boys or girls or Rosie Greer singing "It's Alright to Cry." One of the highlights is the duet by Roberta Flack and a young Michael Jackson singing "You Don't Have to Change at All." I am so happy I am able to have this piece of my childhood to share.

This movie was one of earliest memories of kindergarden. I loved this movie after only seeing it once. However, ever since then I have been trying and trying to see it again. Every year since I turned 18 I have asked if it was out on VHS or DVD. Finally, Amazon had it! Thanks.
This movie brought me so much in the way I live my life. To love others, to respect others - but most of all Respect and Love myself!!
My most memoriable scene is the baby scene with Mel Brooks and Marlo Thomas "are you a girl baby or a boy baby" - making me realize that it did not matter when it came to friends or coworkers.
People make such a big deal that Michael Jackson is in this - I really never remembered this fact. But I did remember Rosie Grier and that made it more memoriable later in life when I learned he knits and when I actually met this remarkable man.
My Dog is A Plumber made me realize as a child that poety can be fun. Even though this was never my strong point nor my field in life, I still appreciate poety to this day because of this first little poem.
And finally, Parents are People allowed me to realize at an ealy age that my parents could make mistakes. This allowed me to get mad at them without hating them when they punished me. Which has (hopefully) made me a better adult in society.

Thank you Marlo, each person and voice in the movie, and thank you Amazon!

I bought this because I remembered loving it when I was a kid in the 70s. Now, my daughter is watching it all the time. The basic theme is timeless even if our daughters already know they can be doctors. It's fun and socially educational.

I purchased this DVD for my almost-three-year-old through a sentimental haze; I suppose I hadn't seen this on television since 1977 or so. Back in the day, this show was broadcast annually, so I couldn't remember it too well - the puppets in the hospital nursery was about it.
But I certainly still had the songs in my head (my record was played daily) as well as the ideas, and these I wanted to share with my son. So, I bought the book and the CD and the DVD, all to make certain my son knows he is free to be, darn-tootin'.
The DVD, however, has turned out to be somewhat of a letdown. As another reviewer wrote, it is dated. I can't see this show, in 2004, as the most effective vehicle to transport the message to little Sam. As for Mommy, I prefer to sing along with the CD, allowing my son to listen to what he's hearing and not get lost in (or perhaps bored by) what he's seeing on screen.
Somewhere on Amazon I read that the show was developed in response to the success of the record. This reassures me that the content is well-carried without the visuals.
Feel free to profit from my over-enthusiasm - I watched the DVD once after it arrived and probably won't again. And in Sam's book, the Free to Be DVD probably earns 4 stars, but ranks rather at the bottom of his must-see-for-the-43rd-time list.

This movie was such a positive influence on my life growing up.I have the cd and now I will be buying the dvd .It is a wonderful movie that deals with so many problems that occur in every day life for children. It is an upbeat and fun way to learn how to feel good about yourself as a child. I have been searching for the show since I had my first child. I am so happy they are re-releasing it. My son loved it when he saw it on television and he is 6. Thank you amazon for having this movie !

I love this DVD!! And so does my 3 yr old.
I too rented this on a whim and I'm so glad I did. There is no better message to send to your kid than tolerance.
Proaganda? Yeah...LOVE was a new voice of the time. This is just a 45 minute movie showing kids that it is OK to be yourself.

I have to address Atalanta...finally a princess I can get behind!! My daughter is in full princess mode right now. She saw Cinderella and Barbie movies at our neighbors. Plus they have a closet full of princess dress-up gowns (even a wedding dress for a 2-4 yr old which I find a bit disturbing) But I let her play because she loves it.
She dresses up, twirls around and talks about being beautiful.
Disney has created this artificial world of beauty and helplessness. They won't be happy until Prince Charming sweeps in and carries them away.
What does Atalanta want? To read, travel the world and LEARN. She and 'John from the town' have mutual respect and are friends.
The 'Ladies first ' girl in the pink dress was rude. Yes there is a custom of ladies first but she walked to the front of the line when other girls were waiting as well.
Seems some folks missed the point on this one.
Anything that is commercial free, not telling me what toothpaste to buy or what talking/blinking hammer to buy for my kid is all right for me.
And yes I will be taking my daughter to Disneyland.

And one more thing...Ms. Thomas is no Aretha but I think she is free to be....Ms. Thomas.
Cut her some slack, she was doing something positive, for the world.

My 4 year old daughter likes her DVD. Dad bought it for her because he remembered it from his childhood. He was disapointed that some of the skits he remembered were not included in the DVD but on the whole it rated well with him. It gets watched pretty often in our house.