VeggieTales: Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry Larry's Big River Rescue (NR, 2008)

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.

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.

Studio: Big Idea
Director: Brian K. Roberts
Cast: Jim Poole, Mike Nawrocki, Phil Vischer
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 50 minutes
Theatrical release: July 15, 2008
DVD release: July 15, 2008
MPAA Rating: NR