Plot: What’s it about?
For eons, fans have debated which of the classic Silly Songs is the most popular, with camps for each song claiming their choice was tops. It seemed as if we’d never know the truth, but after an extensive wait, we will all know which Silly Song is top of the pops. Hosted by The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything, this countdown provides the information we all what to know, which Silly Songs rank where on all time hit list. The fans have spoken and with the help of the Astonishing Contraption of Silliness, the pirates plan to reveal the top ten Silly Songs of all time. Most of the songs will be old favorites of course, but one songs is all new, Do The Moo-Shoo. Larry and his fellow performers have created some excellent Silly Songs, but the time has come to settle the issues once and for all. Which Silly Song will be named number one on the charts of extreme silliness, will it be Larry’s High Silk Hat or The Cheeseburger Song? How about Love My Lips, The Song of the Cebu, or even perhaps The Yodeling Veterinarian of the Alps? We’ll know soon enough…
I think parents and children will be most pleased here, because as usual, Veggie Tales provides entertainment for both groups. Of course, most of the humor is aimed at the younger ones, but the show is adult friendly also, so parents won’t be bored here. So if you can handle extreme doses of silliness, then The Ultimate Silly Song Countdown is a must see release. As the title says, this is a countdown of the various Silly Songs, performed by the lovable Larry the Cucumber. I’ve seen most of the songs before, but even the older ones were fun to watch again, as they’re so well made and packed with humor. I happen to prefer Larry’s High Silk Hat and The Dance of the Cucumber, but all the videos feature catchy music and whimsical visuals, to be sure. The non musical portions feature the outrageous antics of The Pirates Who Don’t Anything, which means even when the music stops, the entertainment continues. Veggie Tales is a very fun, well made series that promotes good values, but never in a preachy or overbearing fashion, which is much appreciated. As such, this disc comes highly recommended, both for program content and Big Idea’s terrific treatment.
Video: How does it look?
The Ultimate Silly Song Countdown is presented in a full frame transfer, as intended. As per usual, Veggie Tales looks excellent and aside from some minor flaws, I have no complaints to report here. The image looks sharp and clean and at all times, but I do think some scenes look too sharp, though not to the point of distraction. The colors are vivid and stream across the screen, while the vegetable flesh tones look normal and consistent. No issues in terms of black levels, as contrast is smooth and never falters in the least. In the end, this transfer is superb and while not quite perfect, it comes pretty close…
Audio: How does it sound?
The included Dolby Digital 5.1 track is very good, but as per the material, is not too dynamic in the end. I noted some surround use, though not a whole lot, but when the material needs the extra presence, it is there. I do think some songs had more potential, but since the mix is natural in tone and quite pleasant, I won’t complain much. The music sounds terrific here and the vocals are clean as well, while the spoken sections come through in fine form also. This disc also includes a Dolby Digital 2.0 option, in case that better serves your audio needs.
Supplements: What are the extras?
In addition to some terrific hidden extras, this disc also includes bonus countdown footage, karaoke option on Do The Moo-Shoo, storyboards for Do The Moo-Shoo, and an interviews with creators Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki.
