Veggie Tales An Easter Carol

Factory workers Cavis and Milword (Bob and Larry) are concerned about Nezzer's attitude, but they are more concerned about getting time off to attend the church's Easter service, and subsequent unveiling of the new stained glass window. When Ebby is paid a visit by the Reverend and his little boy, who invite him to church, Nezzer has a surprise for him instead; plans to replace the church with his own version of Easter, Easterland, in honor of Grandma's favorite holiday.

Everyone wants to stop him, but since he owns the property, they are powerless.

Nezzer is resolute; until the small music box on his mantle comes to life, turning into a musical, but somewhat feisty angel named Hope (voiced by Rebecca St. James). It's up to Hope to teach Nezzer the true meaning of the Hope of Easter - before it is too late!!

BAD: There's absolutely nothing bad about this film, except perhaps that younger kids who don't know better might be frightened by Grandma's appearance, protruding from the large painting of her above Nezzer's fireplace. (Grandma quickly explains that there's no such things as ghosts, it's just a vision)

GOOD: It's all good! The film actually deals with serious issues that aren't often explored in children's movies and films, such as life and death. But I think it's great that VeggieTales takes a very healthy approach to the whole thing, and gives a positive outlook on it, as well as the message of Hope.

THOUGHTS: VeggieTales keeps making advances and one-upping themselves, and An Easter Carol certainly does that. Great music (strange for the two guys who don't know how to read music!!), great teaching, great animation. The sequence wherein Hope demonstrates the story of Jesus for Nezzer via the stained glass windows of the church is absolutely gorgeous. I kept expecting her song to turn loud and raucous like some of her more contemporary ones, but it didn't. It really has given me a bit of a new appreciation for Easter.

It's also wonderful to see VeggieTales proclaim Jesus' name. While presenting awesome Biblical values, they've stopped short of mentioning his name in several of their features, but there's no more of that.

Among all the ideas and commercialism asserting that Easter is about bunnies, ribbons, and eggs, it's certainly wonderful to see the message of Easter, even if we've come to expect it from our friends at Big Idea.

Great buy, and a must have. Keep on the lookout for DVD Easter eggs!!