Lord of the Beans

Infobox_Film
name = Lord of the Beans
caption = DVD cover
writer = Phil Vischer
director = Mike Nawrocki
distributor = Sony Wonder
producer = David Pitts
starring = Phil Vischer,
Mike Nawrocki,
Lisa Vischer,
Tim Hodge,
Joe Spadaford,
Charlotte Jackson
music = Kurt Heinecke,
Phil Vischer,
Mike Nawrocki
released = 2005
runtime = 52 minutes
language = English
preceded_by = "Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Samson's Hairbrush"
followed_by = "Sheerluck Holmes and the Golden Ruler"
imdb_id = 0791201

"Lord of the Beans" is the 27th episode in the "VeggieTales" animated series. Subtitled "A Lesson in Using Your Gifts", its goal is to teach viewers how they can use their talents to bring joy to others rather than merely bringing glory or satisfaction to themselves.

The story used to illustrate the lesson is a parody of J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings". The parody is overt, taking character names and places directly from the source and changing them to fit the "VeggieTales" context. In spite of this, the plot takes many unexpected turns, and recognizable scenes are freely reinterpretted to create humor or underscore the video's message.

Synopsis

On the opening countertop Larry the Cucumber comes wheeling in on this new unicycle ("ukelele", according to Larry) and announces that he will use this talent to make himself famous, to get on the cover of "Veggie Beat" magazine.

"Lord of the Beans" begins with Randalf's arrival in the Shire for Billboy Baggypants' 122nd birthday party. Billboy, who has experienced many adventures, talks about retiring and leaving, and uses a strange bean to produce a birthday cake. He returns to his home to find Randalf waiting in his living room. Randalf remarks on Billboy's impressive height, his fine clothing, and his luxuriously appointed home. He knows these gifts have come from the bean and warns his friend of using such things lightly. Billboy concedes that it has given him everything except for one special thing, which he intends to leave and find. He announces that he is leaving everything he owns, including the bean, to his nephew Toto and leaves.

Toto soon returns, and Randalf informs him that Billboy has already departed, leaving him everything, and draws his attention to the bean. Toto is curious as to why he would want a bean. Randalf sings about the origin of a magical bean that could produce clothing, consumables, and small kitchen appliances, and also change your appearance. They verify the bean's authenticity from an inscription left by the fire. Toto is anxious about accepting such a gift and tries to pass it off to Randalf, but Randalf explains that we cannot choose our gifts and must determine for ourselves how they should best be used.

He suggests that Toto travel to the Elders of Razzberry forest for insight, and has already gathered some friends to assist with the journey: the ranger Ear-a-Corn; the elf Leg-O-Lamb; the dwarf Grumpy; and "The Other Elf", Leg-O-Lamb's brother who had nothing better to do. The fellowship is born.

They trek through the Mountains of Much Snowia and eventually reach the Razzberry Forest. There, Randalf warns the others not to laugh as the Elders have long ago lost their sense of humor. The Elders welcome them and inform Randalf that they must travel to the Land of Woe. But the others burst into laughter upon hearing the native tongue of the Elders, which is blowing razzberries. This gets them sentenced to detention on a high platform forever. However, a Cockney Eagle "saves" them and they narrowly escape the Razzberry Forest.

They emerge upon the Blue Gate, entrance to the Land of Woe. Randalf observes that they must solve a riddle to gain entrance. Toto provides the answer (an elephant), and the Blue Gate opens, but Toto is the only one small enough to fit through. His desire to learn the purpose of his gift, the bean, compels him to proceed alone.

Randalf learns from the passing Umbrella Boy that the Sporks are after Toto, and have taken a shortcut through the Red Gate. The Sporks, minions of the evil Scaryman, seek to seize the bean for their master to fulfill his evil deeds. The fellowship pursues them to the Red Gate.

In the Land of Woe, Toto encounters a strange creature named Ahem, who seeks the bean for himself. He reveals that he was once a normal Flobbit and the former owner of the bean. The bean had given him the life of ease that he still covets. Ahem accompanies Toto into Woe as a guide.

Meanwhile, the others charge through the Red Gate, only to be trapped by the Sporks. The Other Elf bakes cookies which redeem the Sporks, who haven't eaten anything but maggoty bread for three days (taking a line from "The Two Towers", in which the Uruk-hai complain about having had "nothin' but maggoty bread for three stinkin' days"), and the fellowship journeys on.

Toto and Ahem arrive in Woe to find a desperate people lacking the most basic necessities, such as food and water. Ahem wants Toto to leave them, to use the bean for his own creature comforts, but Toto recognizes that he can use it to help the people of Woe. The fellowship arrives just ahead of Scaryman, who steals the bean. However, Billboy suddenly reappears, recovering the bean and returning it to Toto. Toto throws the bean into the well, bringing water back to the Land of Woe and restoring it to its fertile and beautiful state.

Back on the countertop the Sporks steal the "What We Have Learned" song which upsets Bob and he admits he actually likes the song a bit, but Bob and Larry wrap it up anyway in usual fashion.

Cast of Characters

Lord of the Beans

* Junior Asparagus as Toto Baggypants
* Archibald Asparagus as Billboy Baggypants
* Mr. Nezzer as Randalf
* Larry the Cucumber as Ear-a-Corn
* Jimmy Gourd as Leg-O-Lamb
* Pa Grape as Grumpy
* Jerry Gourd as "The Other Elf"
* Cedric as Scaryman
* Mr. Lunt as Ahem
* Charlie Pincher as Umbrella Boy
* Sporks
* A Cockney Eagle
* Other Flobbits
* Citizens of Woe

My Baby Elf

* Larry the Cucumber as Ear-a-Corn as an Elvish Impersonator
* Miss Achmetha as the Elf Girl
* Jimmy Gourd as Leg-O-Lamb

Segments

* Opening Countertop
* Lord of the Beans
* Silly Songs with Elves: My Baby Elf
* Closing Countertop

Songs

In addition to the ubiquitous "VeggieTales Theme" and "What We Have Learned" (the latter cut very short by the Sporks thievery), this episode contains the following songs:

* "A Little More of This", sung by Billboy Baggypants
* "This Bean", sung by Randalf
* "I'm a Lucky Fella", sung by Umbrella Boy
* "To Have a Gift (Part 1)", sung by Toto Baggypants
* "My Baby Elf" (Silly Song), sung by Ear-a-Corn
* "To Have a Gift (Part 2)", sung by Toto, Billboy, and the Fellowship
* "It's About Love", sung by Wynonna

DVD Content

Big Idea has consistently packed the "VeggieTales" DVDs with a variety of additional features intended to appeal to both children and adults alike. This section itemizes the content of the DVD.

Chapters

* 1. Opening Countertop
* 2. Journey Begins
* 3. Flobbit Hole
* 4. Not an Ordinary Bean
* 5. Travelling Fellowship
* 6. The Razzberry Forest
* 7. Blue Gate
* 8. My Baby Elf
* 9. Chase to Red Gate
* 10. Land of Woe
* 11. What We Have Learned
* 12. Credits

Bonus Features

Behind the Scenes - Wynonna Music Video - Interview with Wynonna - Bob & Larry's Playhouse - (Video Trivia - Sing Along with Larry - Lord of the Beans Game - Toto's Family Activity - The Other Elf's Cookie Recipe - How to Draw Toto and Leg-O-Lamb - Computer DVD Features) - Creating Lord of the Beans - Veggie Commentary - Studio Store - Previews for "Larry-Boy and the Bad Apple" and "Sheerluck Holmes and the Golden Ruler"

References

1. http://movies.families.com/blog/lord-of-the-beans-2005

External links

* [http://bigidea.com/products/shows/shows_content.aspx?pid=58 Official Website]
* [http://www.qubo.com/veggie_show.asp Veggietales at Qubo.com]
* [http://christiancartoons.blogspot.com/2007/05/veggietales-christian-animation-cg-3d.html VeggieTales] at [http://christiancartoons.blogspot.com/ Christian Cartoons Online]
* [http://www.darrenandchristy.com/veggie/classic/index.html Ultimate Veggie]