Say, remember in my editorial on Veggietales In The House,
where I showed y'all the new LarryBoy design in that editorial, as well as on a vlog?
Well, seeing that there's finally an episode on that show that features LarryBoy...
-I found this out last night!
...I spent last night and today putting together an emergency review for this one. Yeah, I'm talking about the episode "For The Honor of LarryBoy."
Yeah, I may be a little iffy on the choice of costume, but the episode that he's in shouldn't be too bad, right? Now, I know the show is on Netflix and some of you may not have Netflix, but I still feel that it's my civic duty, as a LarryBoy fan, to bring this to you all.
This is "For The Honor of LarryBoy."
Title Card:
-First of all, look at the design of his costume, and tell me you'd feel the same way as I do. The old design had no problems at all. In fact, the purple and yellow combo looked really good with his mask and plunger ears. Here, the show just said, "Hey, we like this superhero with the plungers. We'll keep those trademarks, only we'll make him a mix between Iron Man and Buzz Lightyear!"
Opening:
Anyway, the episode opens with Veggietales' discount Mr. Nezzer schmuck- Ichabeezer, who just got a big package from who-even-cares.
Ichabeezer: "I present you with my new Super Go-Go Mover!"
But that's nothing- wait until you see some really cool action in this LarryBoy adventure...
Ichabeezer losing control of his segway!
-That's right, LarryBoy fans! You've waited so long after the disappointments made in The League of Incredible Vegetables to see this. And all you had to do was sacrifice (something) dollars a month with Netflix to see this!
-I betcha no matter what scene this old fart Ichabeezer is in, he doesn't seem too invested in whatever's happening.
Ichabeezer: "I'm stuck in my chimney all alone!"
-(mimicking Ichabeezer) You hear that, audience? I don't need to act all worried to get me through this episode of Veggietales In The House!
Eventually, discount Mr. Nezzer gets himself stuck in his chimney, which...
...somehow gets the attention of Archibald Asparagus.
Archibald Asparagus: "This is a job for... LarryBoy."
-Eew! I didn't like that face he made. It's like he's obsessed with that superhero or something. And plus, we've already had trouble stomaching the Fib's look that he gave to Junior in LarryBoy and the Fib from Outer Space.
At home:
Larry the Cucumber is reading a comic book, until Bob the Tomato tells him about the Larry Signal shining outside.
-(pretending to be one of the producers of this show) Um... we tipped the pizza guy $10 to shine a flashlight on the wall and make a shadow puppet of LarryBoy.
So this gets Larry going and turns himself into LarryBoy.
-Not much to say about this transformation scene except...
1. There's no Alfred Asparagus (Archibald Asparagus is too busy being mayor of the veggie town or something).
2. The LarryMobile has a different design (Again, what was wrong with the original design?).
3. And a Siri-type feature in the LarryMobile.
Driving:
So Archibald informs him that Ichabeezer is stuck inside his chimney, but LarryBoy has his doubts.
LarryBoy: "But... but... he doesn't like me!"
Archibald: "Perhaps if you rescue him, he'll change his tune."
-Remember this scene, because that'll prove how totally absurd this Ichabeezer character is.
Ichabeezer's Place:
So LarryBoy arrives and gets Ichabeezer out of the chimney... only to be sassed by the old fart.
Ichabeezer: "Get off my roof!"
"Not until you showed up!"
"Thanks for nothing!"
-What an ungrateful bastard!
Ichabeezer: "Get off my lawn!"
-Uh, no. I think Clint Eastwood said that better in his movie Gran Torino.
LarryBoy: "A wealthy man like you would be an easy target for a supervillain."
-Wait a minute. Ichabeezer is wealthy? Geez! Talk about snobby rich people, then! No wonder this old fart is crabby!
-By the way, LarryBoy's helmet isn't even covering the top half of his face.
Basically, anyone can tell who you are by now. It just steps over the secret-identity part of being LarryBoy.
This, of course, gets LarryBoy upset, and he leaves...
...just as somebody from behind the building pops out of a corner to watch him leave.
-(sounding bored) Oh. Could it be our villain for this episode?
-Plus, this had to be on cue, didn't it?
Back Home:
An upset Larry returns home to Junior and Bob playing video games.
Larry: "What do I got to gain to rescue this guy, that he didn't even thank us!"
Bob: "It would depend on why we were trying to save him in the first place, for thanks or because it's right?"
-Well, I can tell you that no matter the reason, Ichabeezer is an ass. And remember that scene I wanted you to remember? You know, that scene where LarryBoy was telling Archibald about Ichabeezer?
LarryBoy: "...he doesn't like me!"
Archibald: "Perhaps, if you rescue him, he'll change his tune."
I'm sorry. I have to agree with LarryBoy. Ichabeezer is too grumpy to be saved by anyone!
Ichabeezer's:
Ichabeezer tells his pet olive that he doesn't need saving, even though he was saved from his chimney from earlier.
Ichabeezer: "I'm telling you... I don't care less if he never helps me out again!"
-Okay. Moving on...
Then there's more slap-stick with his segway... and what else?
(Ichabeezer standing in front of a villain)
-Ugh! What the hell am I looking at?!
Well, this... pile of ugly-villain-dreams is the town's villain Motato...
-Yeh, this proves that not only can you kind of sort of pronounce the second half of "hakuna matata," but that you learned how to come up with names with that thing that Kowalski used in "Dr. Blowhole's Revenge."
Good job, show.
Motato: "I am Motato, and I am the most super of all villains!"
-The voice-acting for this Motato guy sounds like somebody trying to do a soothing Tim Curry impression... and aren't even coming close to that.
So, what does this evil villain want from Ichabeezer, of all people?
Motato: "...I'm here to take all your nice stuff."
-Um, are you sure you don't want all of Mr. Nezzer's possessions instead? I mean, Mr. Nezzer has a chocolate factory, a toy factory, and an Easter factory. I mean, Ichabeezer is too bland of a character to steal from.
Ichabeezer: "Wrong! You are a supervillain who needs to get off my lawn!"
-Wow, not even the face of evil can faze this crabby old fart!
So Motato...
-Are you sure y'all didn't get the idea of this villain's name from the phrase "hakuna matata"? I mean, they both sound identical.
...sends his evil radish minions to capture Ichabeezer and take him away, along with his stuff.
This gets the attention of Archibald...
-Seriously? He's on Ichabeezer's property when we've already established that Ichabeezer doesn't want people on his lawn?
-And by the way, is Archibald's occupation in this veggie world as also the town's informant? Well, add that to the resume, Archie!
Back at Home:
Ichabeezer's kidnapping gets the attention of the news...
-Listen to how the news people approach this situation. They end the news story by saying "Experts and scientists say that LarryBoy is Ichabeezer's only hope." Seriously, what do the experts and scientists have to do with this? I mean, how would you like it if our experts and scientists go on the news and say "[This person] is our only hope in solving this problem"? I mean, that was so subtle how that was addressed.
Larry's roommates are concerned about Ichabeezer, but Larry wants none of it. Bob tries to talk some sense into Larry.
Bob: "Well, isn't LarryBoy gonna jump into action?"
Larry doesn't budge.
Larry: "I don't know, guys. I'm not sure LarryBoy helps old meanies like Ichabeezer."
-True. I mean, what's Ichabeezer ever done in this series to deem him rescue-worthy? He bitches a lot, he tells people to get off his lawn, and he doesn't seem to feel like he's being kidnapped as he's being kidnapped. LarryBoy should go back to saving people like Junior Asparagus and Petunia Rhubarb.
So the LarrySignal is left on anyway, while Larry continues to sulk.
Archibald: (singing) "Calling LarryBoy..."
-Um... is this warranting of a song? That LarryBoy isn't coming, because he won't save Ichabeezer?
Besides, this show has already established that Ichabeezer is an asshole to everyone. I mean, he hurt LarryBoy's feelings! Shame on you, Ichabeezer! Shame on you! So what good will that do?
Bob: (singing); "Calling LarryBoy..."
-(mimicking the song) Calling LarryBoy, come save us from this show. This is turning very silly. You really ought to know! The silly design! The whacked-out baddie! The Ichabeezer that made this crappy! Calling LarryBoy!
Archibald: (singing) "Calling LarryBoy. There's no time for stalling..."
-Okay! Okay! Y'all need LarryBoy's help, next!
Motato's Lair:
Meanwhile at... a giant bathroom-styled lair, Motato taunts Ichabeezer.
-Normally, I'm supposed to feel sorry for the victim, because they're captured and everything... but nope. Ichabeezer is too dickish to sympathize with.
Motato: "Right! Give me the code to your safe, or I tie each of your nose hairs to the Super-Deluxe Man-Mover... And talk about one-by-one..."
-You know how with Dr. Flurry (The League of Incredible Vegetables) you kind of sort of found his voice to be mildly annoying? Well, Motato's voice is just God-awfully unpleasant to listen to.
Just then, LarryBoy bursts onto the scene to save Ichabeezer.
-So let's see: How does LarryBoy wow us with his crime-fighting awesomeness?
1. throwing banana peels at the minions
2. spraying sneezing spray at a minion
3. carrying Ichabeezer's cage... only to accidentally drop it
Um... can we get the past LarryBoys' take on that?
(showing all LarryBoys from past videos giving their reaction)
Yeah.
LarryBoy pulls out his wings...
-... Feel free to comment about him looking like Buzz Lightyear...
But that doesn't stop Motato from using his segway to take on LarryBoy and Ichabeezer.
Motato: "Time to clock out, hero!"
-Wait a minute!
A villain on a segway? Penguins of Madagascar (TV show), sue something!
Then the fight is taken up into the air.
LarryBoy: "I just followed my code of honor, and did the right thing!"
Ichabeezer: "I said to put me down!"
-You see? Even when he's really in mortal danger, he still acts like a jackass to our hero! This is one a-hole kidnapping victim to please!
Eventually, LarryBoy defeats Motato and throws him in a cage.
Motato: "Oh, sour cream!"
-I heard better villain defeat phrases than that... Just saying.
Back at Ichabeezer's:
So, instead of sending the bad guy to jail...
-Why not send Motato to jail to answer for his crimes of kidnapping and stealing?
...LarryBoy returns Ichabeezer to his mansion, and Ichabeezer thanks him for saving him.
Ichabeezer: "Well, I suppose you expect a thank you?... Don't tell anyone but... thank you."
-(mimicking Ichabeezer) I just want to say thank you... (ten seconds later) GET OFF MY LAWN!
-So what about Ichabeezer's stuff? That's never explained. Then again, screw his stuff. He was a dick earlier. Let him replace his own stuff.
Ending:
So the episode ends with Motato still in a cage...
-I'm starting to think that this villain's appearance is paying homage to the design for Awful Alvin. Yeah! They look pretty similar!
Motato: "Yoo-hoo! Radishes? You can come out now! I could really use some assistance!"
-(mimicking Motato): And I could really use some more villain lessons from somebody like Dr. Blowhole
or...
Dr. Blowhole.
God, I really suck as a villain!
And that was "For the Honor of LarryBoy" from Veggietales In The House. Folks... what can I say?
Well, I don't think this was the worst thing to come from LarryBoy, especially when he's in a different set-up and a different kind of animation. I know I may not agree with stuff like the costume and the things that they had to sacrifice to please DreamWorks, but at least they're still trying to show us that LarryBoy is making some effort in a comeback.
I know the moral of the story is trying to get across, but it just felt like bullshit because of the choice of victim (Ichabeezer), who's nothing more than a nutjob that bitches left and right.
Another thing is the villain: he has a weird name; he has a creepy-as-heck voice (not as creepy as Tim Curry's); and there was a line in the lair scene that's going to stay with me... not in a good way.
-Nose hairs! There, I said it!
Maybe what I'm looking for is if the victim was less of an asshole, and if the villain was a lot more cooler (instead of trying to be like a DreamWorks villain), then this would've been a stronger adventure for LarryBoy.
For what it is, it's not bad, but I don't think it's perfect. Maybe try again in future episodes?
Whatsoever Critic
Sources:
Veggietales In The House
LarryBoy and the Fib from Outer Space
LarryBoy and the Rumor Weed
LarryBoy and the Bad Apple
Penguins of Madagascar (TV Show)
The Pebble and the Penguin
LarryBoy: Leggo My Ego
Courtesy: Big Idea/DreamWorks; DreamWorks Animation; Don Bluth
