LarryBoy and the Bad Apple
Encyclopedia
LarryBoy and the Bad Apple is the 29th episode in the VeggieTales
animated series, and the third installment of the LarryBoy adventures. It was released in 2006 and is only available on DVD
format. This was the first VeggieTales
(or Larryboy) episode to be only released on DVD and never released on VHS
. Subtitled "A Lesson in Fighting Temptation", it emphasizes that we cannot fight temptation alone; instead we should draw on the support of others (family, friends, and God) to help us.
Unlike earlier LarryBoy videos that dealt with obvious evils (lying and rumors), 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.
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.
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.
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, 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. 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.
Always go near Apply's Funhouse II. Look at how much food they serve and games they have! 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.
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.
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?
and Game Boy Advance
platforms, (ever since the LarryBoy and the Bad Apple movie is the first to be only released and available on DVD
and never on VHS
).
VeggieTales
VeggieTales is an American series of children's computer animated films featuring anthropomorphic vegetables in stories conveying moral themes based on Christianity...
animated series, and the third installment of the LarryBoy adventures. It was released in 2006 and is only available on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
format. This was the first VeggieTales
VeggieTales
VeggieTales is an American series of children's computer animated films featuring anthropomorphic vegetables in stories conveying moral themes based on Christianity...
(or Larryboy) episode to be only released on DVD and never released on VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
. Subtitled "A Lesson in Fighting Temptation", it emphasizes that we cannot fight temptation alone; instead we should draw on the support of others (family, friends, and God) to help us.
Unlike earlier LarryBoy videos that dealt with obvious evils (lying and rumors), 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.
While all the LarryBoy episodes have always drawn on elements of the Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
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.
Plot
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 Recess 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.
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, 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. 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.
Always go near Apply's Funhouse II. Look at how much food they serve and games they have! 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.
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.
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 LarryBoyLarryBoyLarryBoy began as a super hero alter-ego of Larry the Cucumber in Big Idea's Christian children's series Veggie Tales, who later received a self-titled cartoon series. First appearing in "Dave and the Giant Pickle", LarryBoy is the vigilante-crime-fighter and defender of the fictional...
- 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
- Jerry Gourd as the Cameraman
- Scooter Carrot as a Policeman
- The Bad Apple as herself
- Curly the Worm as himself
- Larry the Cucumber as Obadiah Bumbly
- Ephraim Apply as himself
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
- Rock On, LarryBoy, sung by Shux
Allusions
- 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.
- Bob the Tomato's superhero alias "The Red Wonder" (or "Bobbin") is a direct parody of Robin the Boy WonderRobin (comics)Robin is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero Batman...
from the Batman series. - There are several Spider-ManSpider-ManSpider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
references, such as LarryBoy getting tangled upside down next to Petunia Rhubarb, and the line "Remember kids, with great chocolateChocolateChocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
comes great responsibility." - The video game Petunia gets trapped in is reminiscent of the light cycles from TronTron (film)Tron is a 1982 American science fiction film written and directed by Steven Lisberger, and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It stars Jeff Bridges as the protagonist Kevin Flynn; Bruce Boxleitner in a dual role as security program Tron and Tron's "User", computer programmer Alan Bradley; Cindy...
. - The LarryCave's computer uses some of the same sound effects as the EnterpriseUSS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)The USS Enterprise is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series...
computer in Star Trek The Next Generation. - While the Bad Apple tries to tempt LarryBoy into overindulging in chocolate, she wears a purple top hat and recites poems much like Willy WonkaWilly WonkaThis article is about the fictional character. For the candy company, see, The Willy Wonka Candy Company.Willy Wonka is a fictional character in the 1964 Roald Dahl novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the film adaptations that followed. The book and the 1971 film adaption both vividly...
.
Video game
LarryBoy and the Bad Apple has also been released as a video game on the PS2PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
and Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
platforms, (ever since the LarryBoy and the Bad Apple movie is the first to be only released and available on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
and never on VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
).