LarryBoy and the Bad Apple

Infobox_Film
name = LarryBoy and the Bad Apple


caption = DVD cover
writer = Richard Liebmann-Smith,
Mike Nawrocki
director = Tim Hodge
distributor = Sony Wonder
producer = David Pitts


starring = Phil Vischer,
Mike Nawrocki,
Cynthia West,
Cydney Trent,
Megan Murphy,
Tim Hodge
music = Kurt Heinecke,
Mike Nawrocki,
Michael Farren
released = July 29, 2006
runtime = 45 minutes
language = English
preceded_by = "Sheerluck Holmes and the Golden Ruler"
followed_by = ""
imdb_id = 0837137

"LarryBoy and the Bad Apple" is the 29th episode in the "VeggieTales" animated series, and the third instalment of the LarryBoy adventures. It was released in 2006 and is only available on DVD format. "LarryBoy and the Bad Apple" has also been released as a on the PS2 and Game Boy Advance platforms. This was the first VeggieTales (or Larryboy) episode to be only released on DVD and never released on VHS. On the DVD version, this is the first time in many years that they showed the old version of the "What We've Learned" song; on DVDs since "The Ballad of Little Joe" or videogamed Sumo of the Opera, different versions were used to fit the format. Subtitled "A Lesson in Fighting Temptation", it emphasizes that people cannot fight temptation alone; instead they should draw on the support of others to help us.

Unlike earlier LarryBoy videos that dealt with lying and gossip, this episode focuses on a more ambiguous problem: while the things that tempt us are not necessarily evil themselves, allowing them to dominate our lives can be problematic and disruptive. The Bad Apple is a reference to the widely-held speculation that the forbidden fruit which Adam and Eve were tempted to eat in Genesis 3 was the apple.

While all the LarryBoy episodes have always drawn on elements of the Batman series, this one is a more overt parody than the others. Some elements, sound effects, and images have been borrowed from the source nearly intact.

Synopsis

Archibald Asparagus joins Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber on the countertop. He and Larry have received a text message concerning one viewer's struggles with the temptation to play video games all day. Pushing the "frail and helpless" tomato out of the way, they present the story.

As the story begins, Bumblyburg is preparing to celebrate its 300th birthday. There is concern, however, about a mysterious web that has appeared around the statue of Obadiah Bumbly in the town square. While the townspeople fret and prepare for the celebration, LarryBoy is in the Larry-Mobile on his way back to the Larry-Cave. He is eating Reese's Peanut Butter Cups; Alfred, speaking through the vehicle's monitor, reminds him that eating too much chocolate will make him ill and compromise his abilities as a superhero.

Back at the cave LarryBoy becomes sick. He admits that he can't control his chocolate addiction and agrees to let Alfred help him. They begin an exercise regimen and aim to limit, rather than eliminate, the chocolate in his diet.

Meanwhile, the Bad Apple is formulating a plan to derail the city's celebration. Her strategy is to enslave everyone by their own personal temptations; once they are incapacitated, she will be free to take over the city of Bumblyburg. She tasks Curly the Worm with identifying the weaknesses of each of the city's most important citizens: Mayor Blueberry, Reporter Petunia, and LarryBoy. Eliminating these three will cripple the city's leadership, communication, and law enforcement, she believes.

She begins by paying a visit to Mayor Blueberry. Her weakness is vanity. Bad Apple preys on this weakness, convincing her that as a representative of Bumblyburg it is her duty to look her best. She spins a web, a trap, in which she claims there are countless beautiful things to improve the mayor's appearance. The mayor, hearing her vanity validated, steps into the trap.

Next she pays a visit to Petunia, whose weakness is video games. Petunia realizes her important role in keeping the city informed, but admits that she could use a break. Bad Apple spins another trap, this one containing a test version of the latest, unreleased video game system. The temptation is too much; unable to resist, Petunia steps into the trap to play. This video game is reminiscent of the light cycles from "Tron".

Meanwhile, back at the Larry-Cave, Alfred has discovered that the mysterious webs have plagued Bumblyburg before. He goes to the Historical Society to do some research. On an old, scratchy film reel he discovers a scene from the distant past when an apple named Ephraim Apply tried to ensnare the settlers of the new town with diversions at an establishment called Apply's Fun House. The people succumbed and the town suffered, falling under the spell of Ephraim. Obadiah Bumbly arrived in time to liberate the people, and Ephraim Apply was banished from Bumblyburg forever.

The Bad Apple pays a visit to LarryBoy in the Larry-Cave, and, having learned of his weakness for chocolate, uses it to gain entrance to the Larry-Cave. Little by little, she dampens his resolve until he too falls into a trap designed specifically for him. While the Bad Apple tries to tempt LarryBoy into overindulging in chocolate, she wears a purple top hat and recites poems much like Willy Wonka. With Larry indisposed in the "Chocolate Room", she easily breaks Alfred upon his return, ensnaring him by the television in front of his favorite cartoon.

With Bumblyburg's leaders and heroes out of the way, the Bad Apple proceeds to the town square to fulfill her great-uncle Ephraim's destiny. She quickly sets up shop: the new Apply's Funhouse 2. She and her sidekick, Curly the Worm, begin to luring the helpless citizens into the funhouse, promising non-stop excitement. At the Larry-Cave, Alfred and LarryBoy realize that they need each other's help to fight temptation. Working together they dissolve the webs of their traps, which prove to be susceptible to the sports drink "Umph!" Freed at last, they quickly set about rescuing Mayor Blueberry and Petunia; then they all rush to the town square, joining forces to fight temptation together. LarryBoy goes to battle against the Bad Apple. The funhouse topples and nearly crushes a mother and her baby, but LarryBoy saves them, flinging the funhouse, along with the Bad Apple and Curly, out of the square and out of Bumblyburg. The baby is Moses.

After the whole ordeal, everyone celebrates. The celebration is shown being played on a video screen, and a metal spider-like leg reaches up to turn the video screen off. The broken Art Bigotti bowling plate from "Larry-Boy! & the Fib from Outer Space!" scrolls past during the closing credits.

As usual, the lessons learned are reviewed on the countertop: that giving in to temptation prevents us from being the people God wants us to be; and that we can't always fight temptation alone. And Bob, feeling left out, makes an unexpected appearance as "The Red Wonder". More to come?

Cast of Characters

* Larry the Cucumber as LarryBoy, Gourd's Gym sweat outfit, Obadiah Bumbly
* Archibald Asparagus as Alfred
* Madame Blueberry as the Mayor of Bumblyburg
* Jean-Claude as the Mayor's Assistant
* Petunia Rhubarb as the Reporter
* Jimmy Gourd as Jim Gourdly and Jerry Gourd as the Cameraman (Jimmy and Jerry Gourd reprise their roles as Jim Gourdly and his cameraman from "Sumo of the Opera")
* Scooter Carrot as a Policeman
* The Bad Apple as herself
* Curly the Worm as himself
* Ephraim Apply as himself
* Bob the Tomato as himself. Bob the Tomato's superhero alias "The Red Wonder" (or "Bobbin") is a direct parody of Robin the Boy Wonder from the "Batman" series.

Segments

* Opening Countertop
* LarryBoy and the Bad Apple
* Closing Countertop
* Music Video: Rock On, LarryBoy

Songs

In addition to the ubiquitous "VeggieTales Theme" and "What We Have Learned," this episode contains the following two songs:

* "The Temptation Song", sung by the Bad Apple
Knock, Knock (Who's there?)
Just a pretty little apple with some time to spare
Open up (Apple who?)
A homeless little cutie with her eye on you.
Open up that door and let me in.
Don't you worry about those hairs on your chinny chin chin.
I'm not preaching moderation.
Knock, knock (What's your name?)
Temptation (Oh no!)
Temptation (Look out!)
Temptation!

The second time some of the lines are different.

Knock, knock. (Who's there?)
Just a pretty little apple with a game to share.
Open up. (Apple who?)
Just a simple little cutie with her eye on you.
Open up that door and let me in.
Don't care about your hairs on your chinny chin chin.
I'm not preaching moderation.
Knock, knock (What's your name?)
Temptation (Oh no!)
Temptation (Look out!)
Temptation!

* "Rock On, LarryBoy", sung by Shux. The band Shux is actually Michael Farren, who wrote and performed the song for the video.

References

1. http://movies.families.com/blog/larry-boy-and-the-bad-apple-2006

External links

* [http://bigidea.com/products/shows/shows_content.aspx?pid=57 Official Website]
* [http://www.larryboygame.com LarryBoy and the Bad Apple Online Game]
* [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]