An Easter Carol
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| An Easter Carol | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover |
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| Directed by | Tim Hodge |
| Written by | Tim Hodge |
| Starring | Phil Vischer, Mike Nawrocki, Rebecca St. James, Lisa Vischer, Tim Hodge, Dan Anderson |
| Music by | Kurt Heinecke |
| Distributed by | Sony Wonder |
| Release date(s) | 2004 |
| Running time | 49 minutes |
| Language | English |
| Preceded by | The Ballad of Little Joe |
| Followed by | A Snoodle's Tale |
| IMDb profile | |
An Easter Carol is the 21st episode in the VeggieTales animated series, released in early 2004 on DVD and VHS format. It lacks a subtitle, but the lesson it conveys is to remind viewers of the Christian significance of Easter.
The episode is a parody of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. The story line is similar, with Mr. Nezzer playing the role of Ebenezer, but is transplanted to a different holiday. It is also a sequel to The Star of Christmas and picks up where that episode left off with Cavis and Millward going to work in Mr. Nezzer's Easter Egg factory.
Hope the Music Box Angel is voiced by popular Christian singer Rebecca St. James.
Contents |
[edit] Cast of Characters
- Mr. Nezzer as Ebenezer Nezzer
- Bob the Tomato as Cavis Appythart
- Larry The Cucumber as Millward Phelps
- Junior Asparagus as Edmond Gilbert
- Dad Asparagus as Reverend Gilbert
- Mom Asparagus as Rachel Gilbert
- Hope the Music Box Angel as herself
[edit] DVD Content
Big Idea has consistently packed the VeggieTales DVDs with a variety of additional features intended to appeal to both children and adults alike. This section itemizes the content of the DVD.
[edit] Chapters
- 1. Main Titles
- 2. Bob and Larry's Plea
- 3. Easterland!
- 4. The Vision!
- 5. Hope Awakens!
- 6. Boids!
- 7. Hope of Easter!
- 8. Hope's Song
- 9. Easter Future
- 10. Easter is Here
- 11. The Rescue
- 12. Credits
[edit] Plot
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
The movie starts with Ebenezer Nezzer visiting his grandmother's grave in the cemetery. We see that we're in a city that's presumably Victorian London. Ebenezer is a rich, plastic-Easter-egg-factory owner. The local church is having a new window unveiling service the next day or Easter. We find out Ebenezer used to go with his grandmother to church, but he doesn't anymore. Reverend Gilbert and his son Edmond agree to go visit Ebenezer later on and invite him to the unveiling service.
Next, we see Ebenezer's factory, which is full of mechanical chickens hatching plastic Easter eggs. Cavis Appythart and Millward Phelps are workers in the factory and the two are arguing over who should approach Ebenezer and ask for a day off for Easter. When they finally do ask, Ebenezer goes into a long history of how his grandmother started Easter by making Easter eggs. Before Granny Nezzer died, she whispered in Ebenezer's ear, "Tell every single person Easter means no death." Ebenezer took this to mean that as long as he kept making Easter eggs, his grandmother would be kept alive. This is why he plans to tear down the church and build Easterland in its place.
The Reverend and his son, who have just come, Cavis and Millward attempt to persuade him to not to, but Ebenezer refuses to listen. The latter two are fired.
Evening arrives and everyone is worrying about the demolition of the church. Ebenezer is at his factory, planning details for Easterland when he falls asleep. He sees a vision of his grandmother who tells him he's missed the point completely and that he'll receive a visitor who'll help him understand.
Meanwhile Cavis and Millward are trying to break into the factory to steal the blueprints for Easterland. Scenes of them occur throughout this part of the movie.
Ebenezer has fallen asleep waiting for the visitor when a clockwork egg sudden opens and Hope emerges. She wakes Ebenezer and starts showing him Easter past. First, they visit a past church service. They see young Ebenezer and his grandmother. Granny Nezzer is trying to get Ebenezer to listen to the sermon, but the youngster is busy selling his easter eggs away. Next, Hope shows him a Easter a year ago, when Ebenezer first started making plastic Easter eggs. He talks to an inventor and gets the latter to design the machanical chickens, but doesn't pay him.
They return to Easter present and visit the Reverend's house. Ebenezer finds out that Edmond is very ill and won't live for another year. He is shocked and bewildered as to how his parents can seem so calm with such news. Hope asks him if he's ready to listen and he nods.
She brings him to the church and tells the story of Christmas: Jesus' birth and His ministry, and the story of Easter: His death and resurrection, using the stained glass windows.
Easter future arrives. The church is being demolished. The orphanage is gone and the once-brave police has lost the courage to stop robbers without the hope of Easter. Edmond has died and Ebenezer is horrified at what he's done. Hope disappears back into the egg and Ebenezer pleads with her to come back because they need her. He rushes back to the church to try and stop the demolition, and wakes up.
He realizes it's still Easter present and that he has a second chance. He stops the demolition crew just as they're about to start tearing down the church. But Millward suddenly rushes in. Cavis is trapped in the factory and the chickens are overheating. The entire place is about to explode.
End of spoilers.
[edit] Bonus Features
Audio Commentary – Behind the Scenes – Art Gallery – Documentary: Stained Glass History – Progression Reel – Easter Egg Hunt Game – Trivia Challenge – Karaoke – Maze – 2 Interactive Storybooks – Character Bios – Family Fun Activity – Craft Project – How to Draw Hope & the mechanical chickens! – DVD-ROM Fun – Previews
