Larry-Boy and the Rumor Weed (1999) (V)

Director:

Phil Vischer

Writer:

Phil Vischer (writer)

Release Date:

July 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Short | Family

Plot:

Junior Asparagus and Laura Carrot start spreading rumors, which spread over Bumblyburg like a weed - threatening to engulf the whole town...

Plot Keywords:

Carrot | Asparagus | Weed | Rumor | Limbless

Cast

Mike Nawrocki	...	Larry the Cucumber (Larry-Boy) (voice)
Phil Vischer	...	Archibald (Alfred) / Percy Pea / Mr. Nezzer / Dad Pea (voice)
G. Bock	...	The Rumor Weed, Madame Blueberry, Woman in the Window
Lisa Vischer	...	Junior Asparagus (voice)
Kristin Blegen	...	Laura Carrot (voice)
Dan Anderson	...	Dad Asparagus (voice)
Lesley Benodin	...	Li'l Pea (voice)
Mike Sage	...	Scallion #3 (Milk Money Bandit) (voice)
Jim Poole	...	Scooter (voice)
John Wahba	...	Dad Carrot (voice)
Steve Leeper	...	Woman #1 (voice)
Henry Caparoso	...	Man #1 (voice)
Justin Eddy	...	School Child (voice)
Steve Eddy	...	School Child (voice)
Gretchen Heinecke	...	School Child (voice)

Also Known As:

VeggieTales: Larry-Boy and the Rumor Weed (USA) (video box title)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:G | USA:Unrated

Company:

Big Idea Productions

Trivia:

Phil Vischer envisioned this as one of the last (if not _the_ last) half-hour VeggieTales episodes, as he pushed the company towards feature-film production. As a result, everything in this video pushed the envelope far beyond what any previous episode had done - from the high-end background paintings, to the 85-voice mens' choir and string section soundtrack. Unfortunately, the first feature film (Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie (2002)) failed to return its significant investment and bankrupted the company, which was bought in 2003 and continues to produce the half-hour format shows.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the giant Rumor Weed first appears in the center of town, her lipstick color is missing. It returns in the following shot.

Quotes:

Dad Asparagus: Did you make up this story?
The Rumor Weed: What? I'm a rumor weed! I never make anything up! I heard it from two very reliable sources! RIGHT, KIDS?
Dad Asparagus: Junior? Laura? Do you have something to tell me?
Laura Carrot: Well, we heard Mr. Alfred tell you that he needed to... recharge his batteries.
Junior Asparagus: So we thought... he must be a robot. Right?
Dad Asparagus: Oh, kids, that was a figure of speech!
Junior Asparagus: A what?
Dad Asparagus: Sometimes grown ups say things that really mean something else. When Mr. Alfred said he needed to recharge his batteries, he really meant that he was tired, and needed to go home and rest. That's all. Listen, if you hear something about someone that sounds bad, or even just weird, you should ask them about it. Or ask your mom or dad. But don't spread rumors. Even if it's true, God doesn't want us to tell stories that can hurt, He wants us to spread nice words.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Features Larry-Boy! And the Fib from Outer Space! (1997) (V)

Great Veggie Tales Short Film...

Spoofing Batman, Larry Boy and the Rumor Weed delivers the laughs we've come to expect from those limbless vegetables. The thing I found odd was this was the first Veggie Tales to not feature Bob the Tomato...doesn't matter, Larry's everyone's favorite, right?

Remember that old cereal motto, "Kid Friendly, Mother Approved?" Same with Veggie Tales-"Kid Friendly, Adult enthused!"

John "Larry Boy" Ulmer