Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie

Director: Mike Nawrocki, Phil Vischer

Overview

One of the best-known stories from the Bible gets a new and decidedly playful retelling in this animated comedy, the first feature film from the creators of the popular video series VeggieTales. Archibald Asparagus (voice of Phil Vischer) stars as Jonah, who is chosen by God to help spread his message to the world. Unfortunately, his first stop on his evangelical tour is the city of Nineveh, where the residents while away their days bingeing on cheese snacks and arguing, usually settling a war of words by throwing fish at one another. Circumstances force Jonah to set sail across the ocean, where he's assisted by Khalil (voice of Tim Hodge), a carpet peddler who is half caterpillar and half worm ("but I'm OK with that now"), and "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything," who are led by the well-meaning but lethargic Mr. Lunt, Pa Grape (both voiced by Phil Vischer), and Larry the Cucumber (voice of Mike Nawrocki). However, Jonah's mission gets a bit of a setback when a mammoth whale changes his plans. Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki, who provide most of the character voices, also wrote and directed Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie, and also created the original video series.

Product Details

Release Date:	10/16/2018
UPC:	0191329079164
Original Release:	2002
Rating:	G
Source:	Universal Studios

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Phil Vischer	Archibald Asparagus ("Jonah"/"Twippo")/Bob the Tomato/Mr.
Mike Nawrocki	Larry the Cucumber ("Pirate Larry")/Jean Claude Pea/Cockn
Tim Hodge	Khalil
Lisa Vischer	Junior Asparagus
Dana Anderson	Dad Asparagus
Kristin Blegen	Laura Carrot
Shelby Vischer	Annie
Jim Poole	Scooter/Townsperson/City Official
Ron Smith	Crazy Jopponian/City Official

Technical Credits

Mike Nawrocki

Phil Vischer

Mike Nawrocki	Director,Score Composer,Songwriter,Screenwriter
Phil Vischer	Director,Score Composer,Songwriter,Executive Producer,Screenwriter
Stephen Barden	Sound/Sound Designer
Terry Botwick	Executive Producer
Kurt Heinecke	Score Composer,Songwriter
David Mullen	Songwriter
Ameake Owens	Producer
Dan Philips	Executive Producer
Joe Sapulich	Art Director
John Wahba	Editor

Editorial Reviews

The average VeggieTales video -- a faith-based outing marked by cleverly irreverent humor -- clocks in at a crisp 30 minutes. Fans will be pleased to know that in their leap to the big screen, the computer-generated all-veggie cast do not wilt under the feature-length running time. Jonah is a bountiful blend of Python-esque looniness, silly songs, and non-preachy lessons in compassion and mercy. The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything, a root beer-swilling trio, recall the story of Jonah. The prophet basks in the prestige of being God's messenger ("Do not fight, do not cheat, wash your hands before you eat," he sings at one point) but balks at God's command to travel to Nineveh (where the unruly residents slap each other with fish). Desperate circumstances ensue when Jonah finds himself in a whale of an adventure. But an inspired new character, Khalil, joins him. This enterprising traveling buddy touts a mother who was a caterpillar and whose father was a worm ("But I'm okay with that now," he insists). This is all very easy to swallow, even for secular audiences. Viewers of any denomination will enjoy the aptly named "The Credit Song," which runs over the end credits. And not to worry: A disclaimer reassures us that no vegetable was harmed in the making of this film.

Barnes & Noble - Donald Liebenson

Asparagus and tomatoes and cucumbers, oh my! Big Idea Productions and their beloved Veggie Tales animated characters make their first jump to the big screen with enough inspired zaniness to make Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie an unexpected delight. Positing the familiar characters of Archibald Asparagus, Mr. Lunt, Larry the Cucumber, et al. from the popular Christian values-themed video series into this loose adaptation of the Biblical book of Jonah makes for a seamless transition for the series faithful, while also providing a somewhat intriguing introduction for movie-goers less familiar with the VeggieTales canon. Perhaps the most notable and endearing aspect of this film is its lack of overt preachiness -- which is instead replaced with a healthy dose of good-natured humor and creative embellishment, a must since the Book of Jonah is one of the Bible's shortest. Included in the creative embellishment department are a number of loony musical numbers that vary in hilarity -- the best of which can be found at the end of the movie as the credits roll -- and the addition of such plot points as fish-slapping heathens and a self-help addicted caterpillar, two of the most Monty Pythonesque jokes in a film filled with Monty Pythonesque humor. While certainly aimed at younger family members, Jonah is light and witty enough to entertain all members of the family -- which in and of itself is no small achievement.

All Movie Guide - Ryan Shriver