The Star of Christmas (2002) (V)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Tim Hodge

Writer:

Phil Vischer (writer)

Release Date:

29 October 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Musical | Comedy | Family

Plot:

Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber appear as Cavis Appythart and Millward Phelps, respectively--two...

Plot Keywords:

Play | Christmas | London | Nativity Play | Star

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Dan Anderson	...	Rev. Gilbert (Dad Asparagus) (voice)
Matthew Hodge	...	Wiseman Pea (voice)
Tim Hodge	...	Charles Pincher / Walla Group (voice)
Mike Nawrocki	...	Millward Phelps (Larry the Cucumber) / Winston (Jean Claude Pea) / Constable (Jerry Gourd) / Faerie Peas / Stranger Pea / Cast Members (voice)
Jim Poole	...	Moyer (Scooter) (voice)
Jacquelyn Ritz	...	Miss Effie Pickering (Madame Blueberry) / Laura Carrot (voice)
Mike Sage	...	Tradesman (voice)
Lisa Vischer	...	Edmond Gilbert (Junior Asparagus) (voice)
Phil Vischer	...	Seymour Schwenk (Pa Grape) / Cavis Appythart (Bob the Tomato) / Percy Pea / Phillipe Pea / Arthur Hollingshead (Archibald Asparagus) / Plumber (Jimmy Gourd) / Prince Fredrick (Mr. Lunt) / Uncle Ebenezer (Mr. Nezzer) / Faerie Peas / Stranger Pea / Cast Members (voice)
Shelby Vischer	...	Abigail (Annie) (voice)
Josh Vulcano	...	Angel Pea (voice)
Ian Anderson	...	Walla Group (voice)
Aimee Dupriest	...	Walla Group (voice)
Adam Frick	...	Walla Group (voice)
Peggy Heinrichsen	...	Walla Group (voice)

Also Known As:

Big Idea's VeggieTales: The Star of Christmas (USA) (video box title)
VeggieTales: The Star of Christmas (USA) (video box title)

Runtime:

USA:47 min | USA:48 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Certification:

USA:Not Rated

Company:

Big Idea Productions

Trivia:

Real-life playwrights William S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan (a.k.a. Gilbert and Sullivan) are referenced in several ways: o Cavis and Millward are loosely inspired by Gilbert and Sullivan o On the wall of Cavis' office are framed posters for "H.M.S. Pinafore" and "The Mikado", two of Gilbert and Sullivans' most famous works o The Asparagus family becomes the Gilbert family o Also, The Mikado was later used as the basis for the final segment of VeggieTales: Sumo of the Opera (2004) (V).

Quotes:

Laundry Man: [delivering convenient laundry cart, into which Cavis and Millward fall] Why does everyone want their laundry picked up at night all of a sudden?

Movie Connections:

References VeggieTales: Rack, Shack & Benny (1995) (V)

Soundtrack:

Flushing in Vain

Starts out great but fizzles...

Bob the Tomato is trying to produce a play (co-written by Larry) only to find that their opening night competition is a small church play. So they plan to sabotage the their competition. Oh yes, and the opening night is Christmas Eve.

The Star of Christmas has everything you'd want and expect from Veggietales videos: Silly songs, obnoxious humor, French Peas and a Christian message. Even some of the setpieces are great like the rehearsals for the play, and Larry and Bob's attempts to escape from the "hands" of Moyer the Destroyer. Or, in fact, the usual lines like that ring with silly humor. The Star of Christmas delivers up to a point.

Then the producers attempted one final "comic chase scene" in a rocket powered motorcar. This unfortunately fails to be funny and seems rather desperate for laughs. In all honesty the movie could have done without; it adds very little to the story. In the scene there are great moments but they don't help.

Other than that, the Star of Christmas is great entertainment. 7/10