Shari & Lamb Chop (2025)

User Review

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  ScreenZealots

  6 / 10

  “Shari and Lamb Chop” is a warm, whimsical, and surprisingly touching documentary that pays overdue tribute to a true pioneer of children’s television, Shari Lewis. Long before Fred Rogers or Jim Henson became household names, Lewis was charming young audiences with her quick wit, musical talent, and the unforgettable sass of a sock puppet named Lamb Chop. Director Lisa D’Apolito crafts a loving portrait of Lewis and highlights her talent as an entertainer, innovator, and perfectionist whose legacy is far richer than most remember.
  
  The film traces Lewis’s journey from a magician’s daughter in the Bronx to an Emmy-winning performer. By showcasing not just her joyful television moments but also the bumps along the way (including serious career setbacks, industry sexism, and personal heartbreak), D’Apolito introduces audiences to the very real woman behind the fun-loving public persona.
  
  There’s something delightfully paradoxical about Lewis, a highbrow artist performing low-fi ventriloquism. D’Apolito includes a treasure trove of old performance footage, letting the joy and humor speak for itself. It’s so fun to watch the magic as Lewis brought a simple sock puppet to life, giving an inanimate object a sense of comedy mischief. The documentary captures that feeling, never losing sight of the emotional bond between Shari and her audience (and her puppet, too).
  
  Nostalgic clips, intimate home movies, and interviews with modern ventriloquists and fans round out the story, revealing Lewis as both an unsung hero and a fierce advocate for children’s self-worth. Her message of creativity, confidence, and compassion still resonates, and it’s something the world could still use a bit more of today.
  
  “Shari and Lamb Chop” is a documentary that’s full of soul, wit, and enduring charm. What a fitting and joyful celebration of a woman who made childhood a little brighter for generations.
  
  By: Louisa Moore / SCREEN ZEALOTS

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