On March 2, 2010, Veggie Tales presents its newest family DVD release, Pistachio: The Little Boy that Woodn’t. This video teaches children the value of listening to their parents. With new opening song illustrations, “Extreme Re-do” Qwerty the computer, and a fun video letter, this Veggie Tales video is the dawn of a new age for Big Idea Productions.
The story of Pistachio replicates, like many other Veggie Tales videos, another familiar story, in this case the story of Pinocchio. Much likePinocchio, there is a lonely toy maker (with an insect assistant), who carves the main character from wood, only for that character to encounter several temptations, deviations, and lies just like Pinocchio himself.
Pistachio plays on the idea that the original tale of Pinocchio is Italian by naming the Geppetto character Gelato, a form of Italian ice cream and illustrating Gelato’s brothers to look like famous Italian actors. I think it adds some fun for the adults watching.Some other fun parts of this film are when Gelato takes in three motherless ducklings and teaches them just like he would teach children. Gelato, instead of having a cricket like Geppetto does in the tale of Pinocchio, has a caterpillar named Cricket, which is an ongoing theme throughout Pistachio that’s a source of amusement.
In case you don’t already know, every Veggie Tales movie features an intermission, which is the “Silly Songs” part of the show. This DVD’s “Silly Song” episode is Obscure Broadway Show Tunes from the mock “hit show” Office Supplies: Where Have all the Staplers Gone?
Being a huge Veggie Tales fan I can tell you that 99.9% of their videos are completely kid friendly; there is one section at the end of this segment showing a “scary stapler” with big teeth that may frighten smaller children, something adults may want to look out for.
Aside from the two-second scare, this Veggie Tales movie touches on some great lessons, the main lesson being that listening to your parents is a good idea.
Gelato the toy maker tells Pistachio the parable of the shepherd who left his 99 sheep to retrieve the one sheep that had gone astray. Pistachio remembers this story after being defiant while at the carnival with the two villans, Confetti the Fox and Purina the cat. Soon after, Pistachio realizes that Gelato loves him and that he should have listened to his father in the first place.
After an adventure filled with puppets, ducklings, a whale, and a blue fairy, the wholesome messages shine through. If you’re looking for a virtuous family movie with lots of laughs and great animation Pistachio: The Little Boy that Woodn’t is one you’ll want to add to your collection.
Click Here to view the Family Fun Guide with games and activities that go along with this great movie!
What’s your favorite Veggie Tales movie?
This dvd looks so adorable. My little girl loves to eat her “veggies” and now that she is getting older, this would be perfect to teach her to listen to mom and dad.
It was great and fun my daughter who’l be 3 in May asks to watch it over and over again!