VeggieTales—Sheerluck Holmes and the Golden Ruler: A Lesson in Friendship

Popular VeggieTales characters Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber are featured in this computer-animated entry from the popular Christian-value-influenced children's series. Thematically bound together as a pair of stories of friendship, this compilation kicks off with “The Asparagus of La Mancha,” starring Archibald Asparagus as Don Quixote in a tale of rival restaurants, super-hot-salsa-induced bad dreams, and the loyalty of true friends (primarily, potato Pancho, who doesn't jump ship from Don's failing eatery, but sticks by him throughout the craziness and even comes up with an idea to revive the café). The titular second tale finds bumbling London sleuth Sheerluck Holmes (Larry) unwittingly taking all of the crime-solving credit from his talented sidekick Dr. Watson (Bob). Watson's frustrations rise as the duo work on a case involving a Buckingham Palace robbery of the cherished “Golden Ruler” (featuring the admonition to “treat others as you would want to be treated”), but Sheerluck fortunately learns to share recognition just in time for the pair to crack the case. DVD extras include the behind-the-scenes featurette “Sheerluck and the Super Sleuth” (featuring a real-life detective), “studio” and “veggie” commentary tracks, a sing-along, an interactive storybook, and an art gallery. Recommended. Aud: P. (J. Williams-Wood)