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

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Cute Huck Finn parody teaches kids to help others.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that like all VeggieTales productions, this story is based on Christian beliefs. In this case, the central Bible verse is James 4:17, which the VeggieTales translates into the idea that not helping others when you know you should is wrong. These kid-friendly parables don't feel "preachy," so non-Christian families will also be able enjoy them. Families who aren't religious may want to fast-forward through the opening and the end, where the verse is repeated.

  • Huck risks losing his homestead to help rescue Big Jim. Tom learns that sometimes by not helping someone, you are actually hurting them.
  • Dooley has his lumberjacks cut down all the trees they can see for profit and wrongfully forces Big Jim to work for him against his will.
  • Not applicable.

What's the story?

In this VeggieTales version of Huckleberry Finn, "Clark Wayne" narrates the story of Huckleberry Larry and Tomato Sawyer, homesteading neighbors who live along the Mississippi River in the early 1900s. They are a couple of days away from owning their homesteads and opening a turkey-jerky emporium and a tax-services office, respectively. Their lives take an unexpected turn, however, when a wrongfully imprisoned lumberjack named Big Jim runs into the duo after escaping from a greedy lumber supplier. As Huck and Tom escort Big Jim down the Mississippi to find his mother, Tom grows increasingly worried that they've involved themselves in a situation that's none of their business. But Huck wants to help the hapless gourd, who just wants to sing with his mama, a stage performer, again.


Is it any good?

 

There are plenty of jokes aimed at parents -- like when Clark Wayne explains what "records" are as if they were ancient artifacts -- and just enough action to keep slightly older kids happy, but the target audience is definitely the preschool and kindergarten crowd. The episode's silly song, "The Biscuit of Zazzamarandabo," is a catchy roadtrip ditty, but it's a mouthful for little ones to remember. Sung by the Twain-like Wayne, the other kid-friendly songs "The Mighty Mississippi" and "She's My Friend" are no less silly and will make the little ones laugh.

So far, there has yet to be a VeggieTales show that isn't entertaining, even if this one is a bit less memorable than some of the others. Even the lesser Veggies are still funny, healthy fare for younger children.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about the importance of helping others, even when it's inconvenient. How is not helping someone the "wrong choice"? What choices did Huck and Tom make that were selfless?


This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
Teen, 17 years old
March 13, 2010
 
I LOVE VEGGIETALES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This movie is hilarious! It has good Christian morals and lessons and is completely kid-safe. True, this isn't their best Veggietales, but it's still great!! I love Veggietales!! I love Veggietales!! I love Veggietales!! I love Veggietales!! I love Veggietales!! I love Veggietales!! I love Veggietales!! I love Veggietales!! I love Veggietales!! I love Veggietales!! I love Veggietales!! I LOVE VEGGIETALES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Teen, 18 years old
December 26, 2009
 
This is nothing but JUNK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dont make any kid older than 8 watch this torment it is a film for very young kids

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Kid, 13 years old
September 13, 2009
 
lame
this is not a funny show.

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Teen, 17 years old
December 15, 2008
 
VEGGIETALES RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Veggietales is AWESOME! This isn't the best one they have done, but it certaintly isn't the worst. I am 13, and I still watch Veggietales A LOT! It RULES!

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This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
Studio:Big Idea
Director:Brian K. Roberts
Cast:Jim Poole, Mike Nawrocki, Phil Vischer
Genre:Family and Kids
Run time:50 minutes
Theatrical release date:July 15, 2008
DVD release date:July 15, 2008
MPAA rating:NR

This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

 

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