Hey to all my fellow Veggie fans out there! I'm thrilled to be coming to you today with my first VT review!
Today is the everywhere release date of the newest episode Beauty and the Beet, and I'm here to give you the [spoiler-free] dish on this modern take on a "tale as old as time"!
(Thanks, DWA TV, for the advance copy!)
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| Image credit: DreamWorks TV PR |
This episode introduces to us a family band known as The VeggieTones, whose road to fame hits a bump and lands them stuck in an old hotel run by a beast of a guy named Mr. Beet. But I'm getting ahead of myself... let's talk about the VeggieTones, and of course, our lead, Mirabelle.
I adore the VeggieTones' pop-country vibe, something unique and fun to add to VT's long list of musical styles. And I'm not sure they would've had that vibe without the band's lead singer -- and manager Larry Dill's youngest daughter -- Mirabelle, voiced by Kellie Pickler. I'd never heard Kellie Pickler's musical stylings prior to this, but clearly she's super talented both as a singer and actress. She not only brings an amazing amount of heart and soul to the wonderful songs, but also to Mirabelle's character. The opening number, "Show You Love", is a really fun, catchy-but-honest tune, paving the path for the story to come as we watch the VeggieTones go from hometown hits to rising stars at Vegetable Square Garden. (Don't you just love those puns? This episode has a ton of produce puns in the first few minutes alone!)
The first time we see Mirabelle off-stage, it's clear that she's indeed "strange but special" in the eyes of most (cookies for whoever picks up on all the Disney references in this review). While her sisters let the stagehands do the work of moving their instruments, Mirabelle readily lends a hand. But this is far from the only thing that makes this sweet potato such a sweetheart. Her character is just so genuine and real, which is especially seen as she continually shows kindness to Mr. Beet throughout the story. At the same time, she's not made out to be impossibly perfect. This might sound kind of weird, but I love that she and Mr. Beet have an argument. Mirabelle's honest and direct about her feelings on Mr. Beet's attitude, but she never once renounces the love she shows him, even in the midst of that frustrating confrontation. She makes it clear that she's not perfect, and because God loves her despite her imperfections, she's able to love others despite their imperfections. Mirabelle is a role model, y'all!
Then there's that beet, Finnegan J. Beet III. I had no idea what to expect of him -- after all, what would a Veggie variation of such a ferocious character as The Beast look like? But I was hugely impressed by the character they put together! When the VeggieTones are stuck at the old hotel, low on funds and their bus out of commission, the employees welcome them openly. But their manager, Mr. Beet, is not in a mood to listen, not interested in giving handouts, and pretty much makes it clear the only way the family's staying is if they work. He comes off so unlikable at first, just not having it, not caring, and only his cleverly timed sarcasm makes his personality at all appealing (well, his awesome voice actor, the great Rob Paulsen, helps too). But then Mirabelle comes along, convincing Mr. Beet to take a couple of singing lessons from her. And from there on, things slowly start to change -- the Beet's attitude, Mirabelle's impression of him, and even the run-down hotel itself!
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| Image credit: DreamWorks TV PR |
I
really love how Big Idea put their own unique
spin on this familiar tale and the truth at the heart of it. Without hopefully giving too much away, Beauty and the Beet doesn't
center around romantic love specifically (not that there's anything wrong with that), but a broader kind of love that is relatable to all of us.
The bond that ultimately forms between Mirabelle and Finnegan is honest
and real, and it gives me some serious warm fuzzies. With the episode's
thrilling climax and heartfelt ending, its message of real,
unconditional love is absolutely beautiful. There's nothing I can do to not give this episode a full-on five star review. Well done, Big Idea, well done.
Yes, this episode truly has it all. The set pieces and lighting are just gorgeous; the character animation could not be more perfect; the songs are truly top-notch ("Love is the Song" is perhaps my favorite); there are some outrageously funny moments and lines... just the usual VeggieTales awesomeness! And as an extra musical bonus, we also get a pop-rockin' VeggieTones take on
"Deck the Halls" to get us excited for the Christmas season!
Oh and speaking of songs, I have to talk about the new Silly Song, "Mac and Cheese"!
It's a delightfully bouncy opera of Larry's grandparents, whose accidental
meet-cute gave us the cheesy pasta dish we have today. Larry gets dressed
up in a lot of historical outfits in this goodie as he portrays his
grandfather -- and almost everyone else in his cucumber family! It's a
lovely little Romeo-and-Juliet tale told with VT-style silliness, as two warring families come together with macaroni, cheese, and true love. (Bet you never thought you'd hear that sentence, did you?) I say it's a pretty grate addition to the Silly Song roster! Sorry, that was pretty... cheesy!
(I could really go for some blue-box Kraft right about now...)
But in all seriousness, Beauty and the Beet is super fun and a sweet reminder of how we can love others as God loves us. So, go buy it now if you haven't yet -- I'm "certain as the sun rising in the east" that you'll love it!
(OK, that last reference was a little over-the-top...)
GMUS & <3sUVM,
- Chandler
