VeggieTales Review: Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry Larry's Big River Rescue

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Funny jokes for everyone with a much needed lesson

Cons: None

The Bottom Line:

Reminder to love

Wrapped in a funny story

For Veggie greatness

"Where Did You Want the Story to End?  The Parking Lot of a KFC?"

The guys at Big Idea have done it again. Their newest VeggieTales video, Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry Larry's Big River Rescue (yes, it's a mouthful) is packed with the humor and good lessons we've come to expect from them.

If you happen to have missed this great series, you are truly missing out. Using computer animated vegetables, they use humor and good storytelling to impart Biblical lessons in a painless way. While they are aimed at preschool and early elementary, the best videos (in my opinion) include lots of jokes for teens and adults as well. Heck, there's a reason I keep collection and watching these. I find them highly entertaining myself.

This addition opens where most of the episodes do, on the Countertop. Host Bob the Tomato is all ready to share a letter when co-host Larry the Cucumber announces that he is late for his book club. Turns out, however, that none of the members of the book club have read this month's selection, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Instead, they've all read "Norm's Notes" on it. Still, it does give Larry an idea for a story to help with the letter.

From there we switch to the main story, which takes up the entire episode. Clark Wayne, our narrator (George the Postman from The Toy that Saved Christmas), sets the scene by describing life on the Mississippi 100 years ago. But the story really begins at Doodle's Lumber Yard when Big Jim (Apollo Gourd) escapes. While the other employees are paid, Jim has been paying off his debt to society after his conviction of stealing Turkey Jerky. A conviction he still flatly denies.

Meanwhile, Tomato Sawyer (Bob the Tomato) and Huckleberry Larry (Larry the Cucumber) are just days away from earning the land they've been homesteading from the government. Huck wants to open an amusement park dedicated to Turkey Jerky, while Tom plans to open the first tax preparer service in the region. And he's not letting the fact that this is 1904, 9 years before income tax started, get in his way.

But when Big Jim's path crosses theirs, trouble ensues. Huck knows they need to help, but Tom is reluctant. Will they do the right thing? And if so can they still earn their land?

Meanwhile, there is the brand new silly song, featuring Archibald Asparagus as he leads a road trip to "The Biscuit of Zazzamarandabo." And anyone who has ever been on a road trip will love it.

If you are looking for a pure spoof of Twain's classic story, don't look here. They sorta take some ideas from it and run with it. I was glad to see The King and the Duke, as played by Jimmy and Jerry Gourd, make appearances, since those characters are so much fun.

But I've got to say what is here is terrific. While there are enough sight gags and silliness to keep the kids entertained, there is plenty here to make the adults laugh as well. Tom's explanation about the IRS and taxes was very funny to me. They even start to explain about records and the history of music. Okay, so it obviously isn't set perfectly in the world of 1904, but considering I'm watching talking, singing vegetables who lift things without hands, I'm not expecting a history lesson.

There is one running gag involving George who, in his get up as Clark Wayne, looks much like the Colonel of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame. The instant I saw him, I made the connection, so I was glad to see them run with it here.

While there are plenty of laughs, the message comes through loud and clear. No, it doesn't get too preachy. But it is obvious we need to sacrifice to help those in need. And it amazes me time and time again that the lesson of the video is exactly the one I needed to be reminded of once again.

Because VeggieTales is done on a smaller budget, this isn't the high gloss stuff we're used to seeing from animated movies today. But it doesn't need all those frills. The animation works. It doesn't detract from the entertainment in the slightest.

So if you or your kids love these veggies, don't hesitate to get Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry Larry's Big River Rescue today. Your entire family will love it.