VeggieTales - Rack, Shack & Benny

Starring:Kristin Blegen, Mike Nawrocki, Mike Sage, Lisa Vischer, Phil Vischer
Director: Phil Vischer
Studio: Sony Wonder (Video)
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
The latest in an animated Christian children's series, this video teaches kids the importance of standing up to peer pressure through a thinly disguised Bible story. When Bob the Tomato, our host, sees that Larry the Cucumber is trying to fit into what's "cool" by wearing an oven mitt as a hat, he tells Larry that it's important to be true to yourself no matter what the consequences. Bob tells Larry a story about three vegetables, Rag, Shack, and Benny, who are held hostage in a factory and forced to make chocolate bunnies. When the owner, Mr. Nezzar, takes a liking to them, he offers to promote them if they will only worship a giant chocolate bunny.

Amazon.com

The latest in an animated Christian children's series, this video teaches kids the importance of standing up to peer pressure through a thinly disguised Bible story. When Bob the Tomato, our host, sees that Larry the Cucumber is trying to fit into what's "cool" by wearing an oven mitt as a hat, he tells Larry that it's important to be true to yourself no matter what the consequences. Bob tells Larry a story about three vegetables, Rag, Shack, and Benny, who are held hostage in a factory and forced to make chocolate bunnies. When the owner, Mr. Nezzar, takes a liking to them, he offers to promote them if they will only worship a giant chocolate bunny.

Customer Reviews:

Not suitable for younger children.......2007-06-18

We own several Veggie Tales that our children really enjoy. But this particular one is not suitable for small children at all. We thoroughly read the description and reviews for Rack, Shack & Benny and felt comfortable ordering it, but it turned out to be frightening to our young children (Rack, Shack & Benny were threatened to be thrown into a firey furnace if they didn't sing the bunny song). A warning was added to the description after we purchased it.

A Veggie Classic.......2005-07-15

I thoroughly enjoyed this VeggieTales movie and can understand why it is a favorite for some of my Veggie-loving friends. The plot was good, the characters were lovable (except for Nezzer who of course isn't generally liked, though his singing is fun to imitate). I saw the video version, so I'm not aware of this line-changing business but it does seem kind of sad. I liked the story, liked the characters, liked the silly song too (Larry doing folk dance in spanish is pretty laughable). Highly recommended to any VeggieTales fan that hasn't seen it yet, and actually for those who have. It's one that you can rewatch again and again and still enjoy it.

Main theme in show: Stand up for what you believe in.......2005-06-25

This veggie tales episode is a good one to show children in order to teach them to shand up for what they believe in no matter what (even if they feel pressure from their peers). It also shows the importance of obeying their parents even when their parents aren't around.

It also comes with a silly song about a dancing and singing cucumber (which may be funny to some people but others might find it a bit rude).

In with the old out with the new........2005-02-20

Rack Shack and Benny brings many fine moments to the Veggie Tale franchise. It boasts the first appearance of Mr. Lundt, Mr. Nezzer, Laura the Carrot and George,the security guard narrator who also narrates the Toy that Saved Christmas. With Dave and the Giant Pickle, which came out the same year, Rack Shack and Benny departed from the previous and current Veggie format of two stories regarding the episodes theme by telling a longer story interspersed with a silly song at intermission. And what a silly song at that: An Argentinean cucumber folk ballad sung in Spanish by Larry, translated in to English by Bob; often at the interpreters expense.

The story itself adapted from the book of Daniel takes Shadrach (Bob) Meeshach (Junior Asparagus) and Abednego (Larry) from captivity to cavity prone by making them workers at a chocolate factory. It capably tells the story of standing up to persecution for doing what you know is right. The boys are commanded to bow down to a chocolate bunny and sing the bunny song. They know that many of the words in the song are wrong and refuse to bow or sing. As a result they are sentenced to be thrown in the incinerator with the rest of the "bad" bunnies. I hate to leave you hanging on the plot line but you'll have to watch the video or read the bible to see how it comes out.

The only problem I have with my copy of Rack Shack and Benny is that Big Idea broke one of my favorite credos. That credo being is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

You see there are two versions of Rack Shack & Benny: the original and a re-release, with the only difference being lines of dialogue in the Bunny song. You would not think that switching lines in a song would make much of a difference but in this case it's like watching a video without actually putting in the VCR, it alters the entire presentation.

One of the lines I am referring to sung by Nebby K. Nezzer is:
I won't go to church and I won't go to school that stuff is for sissies but Bunnies are cool. In the re-release they change the first part of the line to: "I won't eat beans and I won't eat tofu". Another change is I don't love my Mom or my Dad just the bunny to something much more benign.

The problem with the line changes is that it undermines and all but obliterates the entire conflict of the plot. It makes Rack Shack and Benny seem to be willing to give their life over gastronomical differences.

Now I understand that the line change may well be in order not to have children singing such bad lines. But the point is that the kids in the story would not sing it. I thought the matter was resolved in the first sing a-long video when a reformed Nebby performs a new improved version of the song advising not to make the bunny an idol.

In all, I would still highly recommend Rack Shack and Benny to veggiephiles everywhere. And if at all possible try to get your hands on the original version and if you can, please send one to me!

Funny Even Without the Bunny Song.......2004-04-25

Veggie Tales star in the story of the Fiery Furnace. Rack, Shack and Benny are faced with a challenge to their faith - bow down to a god other than the God they believe in or die. Our three heroes bravely, albeit a bit hesitantly at first, stand up for what they believe in and get sent to the Fiery Furnace. But their God remembers them just as they remembered Him and intercedes in a majestic way, amid plenty of light and awestruck bystanders. The songs in this movie are catchy and the message is solid - stand up for what is right, no matter the cost. The Silly Songs segment features Larry performaing "The Dance of the Cucumber" which is the most hilarious Silly Song ever!!! The translation by Bob the Tomato is guaranteed to leave you laughing as you watch Bob's gradual slide from mildly miffed to all out aggravated at his friend Larry the Cucumber! See this movie - you'll finish it cheered and smiling.

Average customer rating:

Not suitable for younger children
A Veggie Classic
Main theme in show: Stand up for what you believe in
In with the old out with the new.
Funny Even Without the Bunny Song

VeggieTales - Rack, Shack & Benny
Starring: Kristin Blegen , Mike Nawrocki , Mike Sage , Lisa Vischer , and Phil Vischer
Director: Phil Vischer
Manufacturer: Big Idea
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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