"What do I hafta I share? Why do I hafta I share? And whatever happened to Sonny and Cher?"
So begins the fifteenth - and most polished - Veggie Tales episode. As Larry the Cucumber "shares" these questions with Bob the Tomato, they prepare to begin a series of veggie tales that teach children the value of sharing. But wait - Archibald the asparagus wants the chance to finally host a show himself - will Bob share the spotlight? He grudgingly allows Archibald to take over, and Archibald sets the scene: Ladies and Gentlemen, Masterpiece Theatre meets Veggie Tales!

What Exactly Are the Veggie Tales?

Veggie Tales, created by Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki, is a high quality series of children's videos that focus on Biblical teachings: stories from the Bible like Dave and the Giant Pickle and Rack, Shack, and Benny, and lessons from the Bible about telling the truth and loving our neighbors. No Veggie Tales video is complete without a bit of silliness, and Larry the Cucumber often enters and does a "silly song" as a sort of intermission during the video. Silly songs revolve around fun-filled topics such as "Where is My Hairbrush?", "I love My Lips," and "The Yodeling Veterinarian of the Alps." (WARNING: These songs all have catchy tunes, and you may find yourself singing "If my lips ever left my mouth, packed their bags and headed south, I'd be so sad..." - it can bring on funny looks from passers-by!)

The main emcees and "actors" in each story are Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber (actually fruits, as Bob will tell you in their online interview, but "Fruit Tales" just wasn't as catchy). Junior Asparagus, Laura Carrot, Mr. Lunt, Pa Grape, the French Peas, and many others appear in the videos, and you will find most of them in the newest one also. My husband and I were discussing the Veggie Tales concept just yesterday, and we agreed that Phil Vischer's wife Lisa (the voice of the much-loved Junior Asparagus) must be a very patient and understanding woman... imagine your spouse approaching you one day: "Sweetie, I have an idea for a computer animated series! The main characters will be fruits and vegetables, and they will dress and act as Biblical personalities!" Umm hmm. But his idea took root (literally!), and the rest is history!

Veggie Tales offers a wonderful alternative to much "modern" animation offered to children. The stories do not contain gratuitous violence, and they teach solid Biblical truths. You'll also find amusing references to Star Trek (It's the U.S.S. Applepies, Captain!) and other classic programs that adults will recognize. And each character has faults, making them all the more lovable. We own all fifteen episodes, and if you ever care to hear me quote them word for word, drop me a line. :)

What makes Lyle different from other Veggie Episodes?

I have watched Lyle, the Friendly Viking four times since we bought it at the weekend release, and it has fast become my favorite! Why?

1. The "classic" ideas that made me love Veggies are back! The fourteenth release, Esther was beautiful and an excellent retelling of the story of Queen Esther, but it was quite dramatic and serious. It is great for older children, but it lacked a silly song and doesn't cater to the younger audience present in my home. Well, Lyle manages to reach both the young and the old, and it has a silly song! (The thirteenth veggie tale, King George and the Ducky, had a very odd Silly Song, "Endangered Love," that annoys me like no other silly song can. I'm glad they stepped away from that one!)

2. Archibald Asparagus. I love Archibald, and it is so funny to see him try to turn the program that is hosted in a kitchen, next to the sink, into "Masterpiece Theatre." Down to the comfy chair and fireplace, his silly little accent sets it off perfectly. He plans to start with Hamlet, which turns into "Omelet," about a prince who learns to share his eggs. And each little part is made perfect because of Archibald's narration.

3. The "silly" song. Actually, due to Archibald's leadership, this episode has a "classy" song. Larry sings a song about his "High Silk Hat." Anyone who watched Forrest Gump will immediately notice a few references... the song begins with a single white feather floating down from the sky, and it eventually lands on Larry's tall silk hat, until Larry blows it off. We find Larry wearing his high silk hat while sitting on a bench waiting to catch the... trolly. I suppose a bus would not have been "classy" enough. Oh, and yes, Larry has a box of chocolates on his lap, which he refers to in his song as his "chocolate snack." This is where the Forrest Gump references end, but the song has the sound of something from the 1920's, and it even has little lines across the screen now and then as if it is an old film clip. Cast members from past veggie tale episodes come and sit on the bench near him or stand behind offering background vocals to the operetta-style song. An interesting sidenote occurs at the end... we find that one character, a make Leek who has been in veggie tales since episode one, still has no name (a visit to the website, not referred to there, shows that there is a contest now to name this character). As the song's last line, Larry repeats the refrain, "...now what do ya think of that?" As for me, I think the song is grand!

4. Lyle, the Kindly Viking is the first ever Veggie musical! Every episode has songs, but this one is written in the tradition of Gilbert and Sullivan, and it is a fun step away from Phil Vischer's usual style. (In an interview on the DVD, he says that he purchased an album of The Pirates of Penzance and listened to it over a hundred times to help him keep from repeating the same style he had used in the previous programs. It worked!) The opening finds two viking wives singing about their husbands' occupation, wondering if they should have "married more judiciously." The vikings have names like Olaf, Sven, and Otar, with Mr. Nezzar, the zuchini who plays the part of Olaf, acting as the ringleader of the crew who pillages neighboring islands for loot. His deep, forboding voice is perfect for this, and Junior as "Lyle" is a great foil. Lyle, you see, doesn't join the others in pillaging. He stays home and makes potholders to share with others. Then he takes his share of loot from the others and shares it, along with his potholders, with those in the monestary that was pillaged the day before by his friends. Lyle's main song, "When I share... I get my share... of friends" (punctuated by opperetta-ish "do-do-do-doot-do" between the verses), is used to convince Sven and Otar that he is doing the right thing.

Other songs, particularly the quick-moving duet by Sven and Otar as they try to divert Olaf's attention from Lyle's acts of kindness that would upset Olaf, tell the story in a memorable and entertaining fashion that will have you wanting to run to the theater and catch The Pirates of Penzance or H.M.S. Pinafore the first chance you get! (Of course, if fifteen minute of an operetta is enough for you, then you're in luck, as that's all we get with Lyle.)

5. Great theme! All of the veggie episodes have solid Biblical themes: forgiveness, truthfulness, standing for your beliefs, kindness. The "sharing" theme is another new one, and a great one for children and adults of all ages! On this video, we get to watch Prince Omelette learn to share his eggs, and we see a band of vikings transformed from "the pillagers of the sea" to "the sharers of the sea."

6. Humor! There are quite a few instances of humor that children will not understand, but the parents will! In Omelet, "something is cooking in the state of Denmark!" Children learn through Mr. Lunt's playing of Ophelia (grudging that it is) that in Shakespeare's time, all female roles were played by males. My favorite one-liner in the whole thing, though, is when Prince Omelet sits down and plays battleship with a young pea from his kingdom. Trying to locate the ship, the prince asks, "2B?" The reply, "Not 2B." Archibald, convinced that Lyle is the missing musical of Gilbert & Sullivan, is flummoxed to find at the end that the musical is by Gilbert Jones and Sullivan O'Kelley! There are other little instances here and there that are just too numerous to mention... like Larry and Junior at the end of Shakespearean "Omelet" looking out from the audience, asking each other, "Did you understand any of that?" "Nope, not a word."

What's the final word on Lyle?

If you have children or if you enjoy musicals, don't just walk - RUN to your nearest dealer and pick this up! If you're not sure, visit the Veggie website at www.bigidea.com and get a few clips - I really think you'll be hooked. I am sure it can be ordered online, also, so take a look and see.

If you have a DVD player, the DVD only retails at $15 regular price, while the video runs around $10, and I enjoyed the extras on the DVD. It has a widescreen version of the silly song, an interview with Phil Vischer, and a storyboard segment that is quite interesting. Our local bookstore had a special for preordering the DVD at only $9.95, so we were thrilled to take advantage of this offer!

Bob, Larry, Junior, and company did it again, creating an instant classic. Enjoy!

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8