Blue's Big City Adventure

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.

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. They also 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”.

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. On February 15, 2022, the title was revealed as Blue's Big City Adventure.

Soundtrack
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.

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. Blue's Big City Adventure was released on Paramount+ on November 18, 2022. 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. The film was released on DVD on March 28, 2023. The movie made its linear premiere on Nickelodeon in the United States on May 29, 2023.

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.

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." 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". 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."