Now How About the Rest of Us?
Obviously, a lot of work went in to this disc. The different pieces of artwork (particularly the recreations of the Minnesota forest, the moving water in the Mississippi, and the St. Louis World's Fair) are quite stunning. The music too is inspired — drawing on both folk and Dixieland roots.
But Big River Rescue lacks the inspired wackness of Veggie classics like Rack, Shack and Bennie or the early Larry Boy videos. It has a nice story and some wonderful music and animation, but it's ultimately upstaged by the trailer for The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything (which looks absolutely amazing) and the ad in Special Features for the greatest hits of Silly Song.
The newest Silly Song (“The Biscuit of Zazzamarandabo”) is almost guaranteed to get kids singing along and laughing as the old '60s van keeps stopping and starting each time the driver, Larry, remembers some new thing he's forgot. Unfortunately, most of the gags guaranteed to get kids laughing are guaranteed to induce groans in most adults. And (as the ad for greatest Silly Songs also reminds us) this song is a long descent from the heights of "Dance of the Cucumber" and "Song of the Cebu" and "Barbara Manatee" and "You Are My Cheeseburger"... and especially "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything"! (now a major motion picture).
Still, a lot of fun stuff comes with this disc. The Bonus Features include "Behind the Scenes: The Making of Big River Rescue," Art Gallery, Interactive Family Activities: Family Activity, Video Trivia, Interactive Storybook, Book Reference, Discussion Guide, Why We Do It, Fun Games: How to Draw, DVD-Rom Fun.
Big River Adventure may not be the best of all possible Veggie worlds, but it's decent entertainment. And for families, it's a lot of entertainment for your buck.
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