"Bumblyburg has the Measles!"

This latest Veggie Tales video, LarryBoy and the Rumor Weed, is notably different from most of the others. There is no countertop scene with Bob and Larry, no Veggie Tales theme song, no Qwerty. Instead, there is the Larry Boy theme song. The tale begins on a dark night outside of a movie theater, where Percy Pea and his brother have just finished watching a scary movie. Suddenly they are approached by the Milk Money Bandit who (yep, you guessed it) takes their milk money. Fortunately, Larry Boy comes to the rescue. With some help from his Super Suction Ears, he apprehends the thief and returns the milk money to the grateful brothers. While reporting his success to his faithful butler Alfred, Larry Boy accidentally knocks a plant out of the window of someone who is gabbing on the phone. It falls into the sewer and a monster is born...

 The next day, Alfred goes to the classroom of Junior Asparagus and Laura Carrot to tell them stories. When the teacher, Mr. Asparagus, suggests that Alfred stay to observe the class, Alfred bows out saying, "I think I need to go home and recharge my battery." Laura and Junior later conclude that Alfred must be a robot -- and they make the mistake of telling the newly-created Rumor Weed. She spreads the news all over town, and each time the story grows worse. Soon Bumblyburg is filled with the pesky weeds and everyone is terrified of Alfred.

Larry Boy receives word of the infestation, and he sets out, determined to eradicate the weeds. Alfred knows just what must be done, but Larry Boy must rely on his friend's directions because he is clueless. Unfortunately, their communication breaks off when Larry Boy reaches the underground lair of the Motherweed, and Alfred must come to his rescue. While Larry Boy tries to fight of the huge weed, Alfred races to town on his motor scooter, begging for assistance. But no one will help because they have been convinced that Alfred is a dangerous robot. As the accusations pile up, the Motherweed rises out of the ground, grabbing Alfred.

In the ensuing confusion, Mr. Asparagus arrives and questions the weed, who says that Laura and Junior are responsible for her growth. When they realize their mistake, Laura and Junior decide that they can counteract the effect by spreading nice words about Alfred. Before long, the town comes to its senses and remembers what a nice guy Alfred is. Thus, the weed becomes harmless and Bumblyburg is safe.

With terrific graphics, great humor, an important lesson to teach, and endearing new characters, this is a fine addition to the Larry Boy Chronicles that kids will treasure for years to come.

Two Thumbs Up for the Little Guy!

Every kid has felt at some point in time like he was under-appreciated and wasn't being given the chance to do all the big, important things he saw his parents doing. Dave and the Giant Pickle shows kids that they're not alone in feeling this way; in fact, the "little people" have had a tough time being taken seriously throughout all of history. More importantly, this video shows that children can make just as big a difference as adults.

Based on the Biblical story of David and Goliath, this video places Junior Asparagus in the role of Dave, the brave young shepherd boy. When all his older brothers go off to fight the Philistines, he is left alone with his father to care for the sheep. When given the opportunity to take food to his brothers, he gladly takes up the journey, only to discover to his dismay that his people are cowering in their tents before the huge Philistine which one of them is supposed to fight.

With grim determination, Dave convinces King Saul to allow him to fight the giant armed only with a slingshot and his faith in God. What transpires next shows once and for all that little guys can, indeed, do big things too.

With the fantastic animation typical of this series, Veggie Tales puts a new spin on an ancient story -- a true story -- and draws mesmerized children into the world of the Bible. The songs are great, and the Silly Song is absolutely hilarious. On older videos (distinguished by a different cover) look for a picture of Sonny Bono in Dr. Archibald's set of Inkblot cards. Other allusions in this story include Batman, Airplane, and Jurassic Park. (If you like Larry Boy, check out his two videos, Larry Boy and the Fib from Outer Space and Larry Boy and the Rumor Weed.) Once again, Veggie tales has taken good Christian values and made them fun and accessible for children living in this fast-paced world.

They're not Bad Bunnies After All

Loosely based on the Biblical account of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednago (I have a feeling I butchered those names), this is the story of Rack, Shack and Benny, a trio of factory workers portrayed by Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber and Junior Asparagus. Their job in Nebby K. Nezzer's chocolate factory isn't much fun, but they need the money to support their families. One day, Mr. Nezzer decides to allow his workers to binge briefly on the chocolate bunnies they've been building. Rack, Shack and Benny only eat a little because their parents said that sweets were bad for them. When it's time to work again, they're the only ones who aren't too sick to stand. Thus, they are promoted to junior executives.

But Mr. Nezzer has big plans that they don't like. On their first day in their new positions, he unveils his 90-foot-tall chocolate bunny and orders them, along with the other workers, to bow to it and sing The Bunny Song. They refuse and are consequently labelled "bad bunnies" and sentenced to be thrown in the furnace. Despite opportunities to back down and be saved, the trio stands firm in their beliefs and the sentence is carried out...but something miraculous happens which convinces Mr. Nezzer that he was wrong and the boys are right.

A great lesson in handling peer pressure, this video deals with a problem many kids face daily. Packed with action and humor and great songs, including the Spanish Dance of the Cucumber, it's a great addition to the Veggie video collection.

"I Don't Wanna Be a Grumpy Berry!"

One of the most recent in the excellent line of Veggie videos, Madame Blueberry is absolutely wonderful. It starts with Larry zipping by in his new Suzy Action Jeep, interrupting Bob's attempts to address the audience. When stopped, Larry explains his glee at receiving this wonderful new toy, but adds that he really needs the camper to add to the jeep. Then he mentions the hang-glider and the jet ski, and before he knows it he doesn't know if he'll ever have enough stuff to be happy. The French Peas come to the rescue this time, presenting the dynamic duo with the tragic tale of Madame Blueberry.

Madame Blueberry was a very rich, very unhappy blueberry. She shunned her own possessions and instead took stock of everything her neighbors had. All day she did nothing but cry about what she didn't have. One day, three strangers came to her door to invite her to shop at the newly opened Stuff Mart. Her butler Bob warned against it, but Larry, her other butler, was excited at the prospect. So, she shopped and shopped and shopped some more, having all of her new things shipped straight to her house. Along the way, however, she encountered two young children who have very little but are very happy. Enlightened, she stopped the shipments, only to discover that they were causing her treehouse to be overloaded. A desperate race to save to house ensued, but they were too late and Madame Blueberry was forced to make a fresh new start.

With lots of humor and fun and just a touch of bitter reality, this video shows that being greedy can lead to trouble, most especially in your own happiness. Sometimes even a complete change in heart may not keep you from trouble, but it can make the trouble much less oppressive. The lush French background contrasted with the huge department store offer a feast for the eyes and the ears while the story offers food for thought. The hilarious songs by the Stuff Mart representatives, the sweet song by the kids and the ridiculous lament of Madame Blueberry put the finishing touch of greatness on this video. Mr. Lunt's ludicrous crooning offers a side of silliness that Larry doesn't usually show us. All in all, this movie's a hit!

No Such Thing as a Little Lie

In Larryboy and the Fib from Outer Space, a shattered Limited Edition Autographed Art Bagodi Bowling Plate spells BIG TROUBLE for Junior Asparagus -- or so he thinks until Fib comes into the picture. A small, bumpy, spherical creature, Fib's full name is Fibrillious Minimus, and he comes to Junior with some advice: Don't tell Dad what really happened to his prized plate. Unsure at first, Junior tells his dad that Laura Carrot broke the plate. Pleased with his success, he goes on to tell more whoppers and Fib continues to grow until he is enormous.

When he captures Junior and carries him to the top of a skyscraper, it seems that there is only one who can help: Larryboy. Larryboy has already been searching the town of Bumblyburg for the vile space alien, and now he must use all the special gadgets his Larrymobile has in order to save the young asparagus. With his butler Alfred's advice, Larryboy gets the Larrymobile in the air but decides to leave the hard part to his Super Suction Ears...until he finds out that there is nothing he can do to stop Fib.

This wildly imaginative video is our first glimpse of Larryboy, who we first encountered in Josh and the Big Wall, at work. And while the hapless hero has little success in his endeavors, that is the nature of the beast. Junior makes an important discovery: When a lie gets you into trouble, it's up to you to get out of it by telling the truth. That is a hard but important lesson for children to learn, and this zany Batman parody makes it easier to hear. This is only the beginning of Larryboy's adventures.

Destined to Become a Classic

Mickey's Christmas Carol. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The Toy that Saved Christmas. What do these have in common? They are all classic Christmas movies for children which appeal just as highly to adults. The Toy that Saved Christmas may not quite be a classic yet since it's so new, but it's well on its way.

In a quaint little town, it's Christmas and trouble is brewing. The source? Wally P. Nezzer, owner of the huge toy store that looms over the houses below in the valley. The children are already excited about Christmas when Mr. Nezzer airs his commercial convincing kids that they need a Buzz-saw Louie for Christmas. The town in thrown into a melee of whining kids as the youngsters urge their parents to buy them this most sought-after toy.

One Buzz-saw Louie, however, "wakes up". For one reason or another he comes to life, and he doesn't like the messages brought forth from pressing his button: "Christmas is when you get stuff." "You need more toys." "Billy has more toys than you." So he sets out to set things right and is discovered by the sledriding Bob, Larry and Junior. Together, with the help of a very wise narrator, they discover the true meaning of Christmas and launch a plan to inform the rest of the town.

Their medium is a television commercial, since that was what started all the trouble. Sneaking into Wally's palace, they use his studio to enlighten the public. Unfortunately, they are caught. The end of the movie is a thrilling, twisty-turny ride leading to the unification of the town and the universal discovery that Christmas is about giving, not getting.

Stunning animation, particularly in the penguin chase scenes, make this movie all the more memorable, and the Silly Song stands on its own as a wonderful mini Christmas story. This is one holiday film your family won't want to miss.

Not Quite Steinbeck...

Bullies. Jerks. People who always make stupid mistakes. We've all had to deal with them. But sometimes we don't deal with them in a very nice way. In The Grapes of Wrath, the cranky grape family upsets Junior Asparagus when they begin calling him names. Disliking his newfound title of "cheese-headed bean boy," Junior hollers for his dad, who explains to Junior that he should forgive the grapes for their unruly behavior. He asks the grapes to apologize, and it seems that all is well...until they find out Junior's name and are given a new reason to tease him. Like Junior, many people would have trouble forgiving someone who was consistently so inconsiderate, but with Mr. Asparagus' help, both offenders and offended learn the value of forgiving those who hurt us.

The next segment, Larry's Lagoon, is a delightful parody of Gilligan's Island. Larry, the Skipper's faithful assistant, shares Gilligan's active imagination, and his daydreaming causes their ship to be marooned. Everyone is so angry about being stranded that they refuse to forgive Larry. Larry, in his dejection, ventures off on his own. It is only after he is gone that they realize how they almost lost a good friend because they were unable to forgive an innocent mistake.

The video teaches a good lesson in forgiving people who do us wrong, whether intentionally (the grapes) or unintentionally (Larry). In place of the silly song is an infomercial advertising the Forgive-o-matic. There are only two songs in this video, less than the usual. In that respect, God Wants Me to Forgive Them!?! may not be quite up to par with the other videos in the series, but all in all it's a great show.

Going to the Promised Land

Did you ever have someone in authority tell you something that you thought was really weird? Then you can identify with Joshua, the Israelite leader so aptly portrayed by Larry the Cucumber in the Veggie Tales video Josh and the Big Wall. After years of wandering in the desert, Josh and his followers have finally found a reprieve. The Promised Land right around the corner, but they can't reach it unless they get through Jericho first. Unfortunately, the city is inhabited by a horde of inhospitable French peas. The Israelites have no idea what to do, so they return to camp to do some serious thinking. While the band of exhausted travelers throw suggestions back and forth, Josh wanders off to do some contemplating on his own. While he's away, he is visited by an angel of the Lord, who presents him with some very unusual instructions.

They don't seem to make much sense at all, but the Israelites agree to give the plan a shot. After a day of walking around the wall and being bombarded with grape Slushies, everyone but Josh is ready to throw in the towel. But a little encouragement from the outside convinces them to follow through. And when they have carried out God's full instructions to the letter, they learn that you should always follow God's directions no matter how weird they sound.

The songs in this video are wonderful, and the Silly Song is simply delightful. The Song of the Cebu, described as a "stereophonic, multi-media event," is a musical slide show gone awry. It features three unfortunate bovines based on the hump-backed cows called zebus and a hippo who poses a threat to their well-being. Unfortunately, the slide projector gets all mixed up before Larry can finish the tale, and Archie Asparagus is so upset that he cancels Silly Songs with Larry until further notice. This is one of the most hilarious Veggie videos yet, and it manages to realistically depict a Bible story too. (Except, of course, for the grape Slushies!)

The Good Asparagus

It was Junior to the rescue in this Veggie video about loving your neighbor. In the story of Flibber-o-loo, a delightful Seuss-style rendition of the Good Samaritan, Larry is an unfortunate altruist who falls victim to three unruly thieves who take his milk money and leave him face down in a hole. He is first approached by his town's mayor and then by his town's doctor, but each is too busy to help. Then along comes Junior Asparagus, who, coming from the rivaling town of Gibberty-lot, has a pot on his head. He sees the shoe by Larry, which tells him that Larry is from Flibber-o-loo. After a small debate with himself, he rescues Larry and restores him to health.

In The Gourds Must be Crazy Junior is recruited to join Bob and Larry on a mission to save the U.S.S. Applepies, an Enterprise-like spacecraft threatened by a popcorn-ball meteor. They are greeted by Scooter (Scotty) and two gourds who love to eat and sing. Though Scooter is convinced that the gourds are crazy, Junior devises a plan that allows them to use their special skills to save the ship.

Great songs abound in this video, and even the Silly Song has a lesson to teach when Larry gives up his prized hairbrush so the Peach, who has hair, can use it. Every bit as good as the first one, Are You My Neighbor? teaches us that being different doesn't make us weird, all the while taking us on a rollicking ride of entertainment we won't soon forget.

Silliness Rules!

One of the greatest thing about Veggie Tales is the songs. Very Silly Songs! offers nonstop singing, interrupted only by Larry the Cucumber's short parodies of existing shows such as Richard Simmons and Home Improvement's Tool Time. It is mostly a compilation of songs from the first few Veggie Tales videos, although a couple of bonuses are added: The New and Improved Bunny Song and the hilarious Pirates Who Don't Do Anything.

This video is great for veteran Veggie viewers because it gives them a chance to sing all the songs they've grown to love without having to wait between tunes. For unseasoned watchers, it provides a good overview of the videos it depicts. Although all the songs in a given video are included, the most catchy are often the Silly Songs, which usually serve no practical purpose and are just plain goofy. So be advised: If you catch yourself singing Oh, Where is my Hairbrush? in the shower or The Water Buffalo Song on your way to work, don't say I didn't warn you!