“Jonah” is the first full-length feature film produced by Big Idea, and was the dream of Phil Vischer from the inception of the company. To date, it is the only feature film released and now that Phil no longer owns Big Idea, who knows if there will be another. But we’ll take what we can get when we can get it.
Bob the Tomato is driving a busload of kids to a concert starring Twippo, their favorite children’s song artist. Laura Carrot won the golden ticket and will get to meet Twippo, and she’s having a marvelous time rubbing it in Junior’s face. He’s starting to get a little annoyed with Laura, and when her ticket flies out the open window, he can’t help but feel a little smug. She deserved it. She was being mean.
The bus breaks down after a run-in with some porcupines and a laundry line, and the group goes in to a restaurant to call a tow truck. While they wait, Junior meets some mysterious strangers, who decide to tell him the story of Jonah, the Old Testament prophet who was swallowed by a whale. As usual, the more frightening elements of the story have been toned down for younger viewers. Historically, Ninevah was the capital of Assyria, and was one of the most vile, most wicked places you can imagine. VeggieTales chose to say that the people of Ninevah liked to slap people with fishes. That definitely works for me.
Archibald Asparagus, in the role of Jonah, is asked to go preach to the wicked city, but chooses instead to rent a ship captained by The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything to sail to Tarshish, as far away from Ninevah as he can get. Along for the ride is Khalil, a little caterpillar whose father was a worm (but he’s okay with that now.) Khalil is a purveyor of souvenirs, and his biggest selling line is Jonah merchandise. He is the most popular prophet, you know.
When Jonah is swallowed by the whale, Khalil is swallowed too, and they are greeted on the inside by a group of gospel singing angels, who explain that God is a God of second chances. Jonah prays and tells God that he would like a second chance, and the whale spits Jonah and Khalil out on the ground near Ninevah.
As we know from the Bible, Jonah preaches to the people and they repent. Jonah, however, still harbors a grudge and can’t understand why God doesn’t smite them off the face of the earth, as He threatened to do. It was a lesson for Jonah to learn the power of repentance and forgiveness.
Junior decides to forgive Laura for her teasing, and together they enjoy a musical number from Twippo, who makes a guest appearance at the end of the film. It’s very goofy, pretty silly, and a whole lot of fun for your family.
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