Customer Reviews

The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie [Theatrical Release]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I took my 3 1/2 year old daughter and the 2 sons of a friend (11 and 13)to see this movie and we loved it. Yes it is a pirate movie, but it is also very much a veggie tale. We know the king is away, and terrible things are happening, but someday he will return and all will be set right. (Very bibical, Christ will return and terrible things happen while we wait) The heroes learn to trust God and each other, and know that God doesn't make mistakes. He chooses the foolish to show the wise they aren't so smart. That is what this movie is about. And it was fun. High seas, a princess, vegetables, and don't forget rock monster sung to rock lobster at the end. Humor on many levels for all ages.

If you and your kids enjoyed the stories of "The Chronicles of Narnia," then this allegorical animated film is for you! Certainly it's different from other Veggie fare, but it's excellent. The animation is beautiful, the story is beautiful, and I laughed out loud throughout the entire feature. Does it mention God? No. But the allegorical nature of the story provides a perfect teaching moment with your kids and is a great segway into a discussion about the nature and character of God.

And it was hysterical to boot!

All in my family are HUGE VeggieTales fans, with a passion. I left the theatre disappointed that there was not talk of God, though of course the King was a God figure, no kidding. I can get a nice - and this is nice - animated story just about anywhere, but we've immersed the family in VT because of how valuable it's been in our spiritual journeys. Phil Vischer's blog wonderfully explains the justifications for the presence/absence of God-talk, which helped me. We missed Bob the Tomato in this, too, small matter. So I get it but don't totally agree with the justifications. Read Phil's blog, though.

We took our seven and three year old to see this movie. Both of the boys adored it. In fact they've been begging me to buy the DVD when it comes out. While I too missed more direct talk about God I felt the movie got its point across quite well. As for the "violence" all of it was very silly and cartoony. In my opinion there was more "violence" in Horton Hear a Who (another move that we loved).

I was clueless when I first saw the movie, I did not pick up at all on the allegory of this story to a Christian's life today, God using ordinary people to do extraordinary things. I'd love to see the movie again to watch it from that viewpoint alone.

Some parts can be a little scary to young children, like the rock monsters and the cheetos that try to eat one of the characters!

I enjoyed the movie, I would recommend, but there are a few scenes that might scare your children, so be forewarned!

I loved the fact that there was such a cute cartoon centered around God. "Loved" as in the past tense of "Love." The Pirates seem to be Veggietales jumping on the bandwagon and missing the message. Don't get me wrong, it is a cute show, my 4 & 7 year olds loved it, but I feel the biblical message has been thrown out for the bucks at the box office.

What Is It?

It has been years since the asparagus incarnation of Jonah hit theaters, but here is the follow up film based on side characters (sort of) from the first. Pa Grape (Phil Vischer), Larry The Cucumber (Mike Nawrocki) and Mr. Lunt (Phil Vischer) play George (Pa), Elliot (Larry) and Sedgewick (Lunt), three guys who work as bus boys at a Pirate themed dinner theater. After being fired, they find a blinking electronic ball that sends them back hundreds of years to the time of Pirates. (Luckily they happen to be dressed in their pirate costumes.) Here they have to overcome their individual issues to follow the clues and save the Prince from the King's evil exiled brother.

How Was It?

I went with my daughter Eowyn. We were one of three families in the theater. When I giggled at a reference to the soap opera "The Days of Our Lives" I brought the grand total of laughter up to "1 giggle". This was a lack luster comedy where everything had the feeling of "haven't I seen this before?" If you have a background in film (by which I mean you have seen more that 15 movies in your life) you will pretty much know what is going to happen by the end of the first 20 minutes. This flat, yet contrived, plot line is then accented by jokes that feel like the script simply said "insert obvious cultural reference here." These references then have no joke connected with them. We are just supposed to think the irony of a kids movie quoting Pacino, in "Scarface" is funny, which unfortunately, it isn't. Even Mr. Lunt running from a mob of living cheese curls, is just not as wacky and fun as you would expect. By the time they are running from giant rock people you just do not care.

Still there were two bright spots. During a useless montage of the pirates "not doing anything" (seriously for 2 minutes 31 seconds.. nothing ) they play a new Newsboys song (Yo Ho Hero) with lyrics written and sung by Christan Music Legend: Steve Taylor! The other spark of genius comes when the credits start and are interrupted by Mr Lunt saying they forgot to show a part of the movie. The following 2 minutes is the Brilliant Veggie wackiness that we have been waiting for the entire film! (Ironically, that song clip is on the Pirates web page! under "Video" and then "A Look Inside")

According to IMDB.com, the script was written before Johnny Deep ever dawned a Captain's hat. This would explain why there are none of the expected references to the Caribbean. Hold on. This film was a pirate movie by people who had done great things in the past, but a contrived plot and the ruining of great characters made it painful other than 2 really cool scenes.... maybe this IS "Pirates of the Caribbean 3!"

Is It Good For Kids?

There is nothing here that is new for the Veggies. The biggest caution would be for children too young to understand repentance and personal growth. It would be necessary to point out that the character's attitudes through the bulk of the movie was wrong, and the right way to respond was when they repented and changed their behavior.

You can see a complete break down of what is on the screen at Screenit.com

What About Spiritual Issues?

There are references to God but there is no time with QWERTY at the end to spell it out for you. It seems to be left open for Parents and Sunday School Teachers everywhere to get to say "Do you know what that means?!"

(Spoiler)

The Father/King who does return at the end had a plan the entire time and meant to help everyone by it. The symbolism is a notch less obvious than Pilgrims Progress, but almost as silly.

The antagonist of the story is the King's evil brother. I could see where some people could twist this to be an endorsement of the Mormon theology of Satan being Jesus brother, but I do not see anyone bringing that up outside of self important religiously minded movie critics trying to over analyze a film to make you dependent on their reviews and recommendations. Ya, you know the type.

What Is Your Recommendation?

I have found that Veggie Tales is very hit or miss. They are very good at taking an existing story and packing it full of irony and gags or doing a short free form bit. They have no talent in coming up with their own story and making it work. (Case in point: Jonah - Story taken from the Bible, Pirates - They made it up.)

It would be a nice thing to support this outing, unfortunately it's so hard to support a poorly done kids comedy. I would wait for the DVD in the hopes that the special features are funnier than the movie was. In the mean time you can down load the MP3's of Steve Taylor and The News Boys doing "Yo Ho Hero" and the ending Veggie song. (I mean download them legally from a site where you pay per song.)
The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything - A Veggietales MovieSound Track
Steve Taylor's Squintalbum and Now the Truth Can Be Told

We saw it opening weekend in Los Angeles: my six year liked it, my eight year old gave it "one and a half thumbs up" and I kept wondering when it would be over(sorry). It's an OK 'kiddie' film. If your children like Veggie Tales, I'd recommend getting a copy. But it isn't Phil Visher's best effort.

We took our 4 year old daughter to watch this movie, she loved it, she also wants us to get her the DVD when it comes out. This movie was fun, and catchy. I read one review that stated that there was so much violence, I would have to dissagree, I did not find it violent compared to other movies or shows that are now on TV. This movie had a good message and the songs were also really good. This movie was really funny, my husband and I were impressed it made us laugh a lot.

Our family is also huge VT fans so we were very excited when Pirates came to theaters. We normally don't spend money to go to the movies because with small kids you never know if you'll even make it to the end but I am so glad we went! My daughter who was a month away from turning 2 and my 4 year old little boy BOTH sat through the entire movie...they absolutely loved it! Yes there are "action" scenes but there was nothing that I felt was inappropriate for kids of any age. I would definitely recommend this movie...the message was great and the characters were hilarious.