Jonah: A Veggietales Movie (CD - 2002)

Producers include: Kurt Heinecke, Phil Vischer, Mike Nawrocki.

Original score composed by Kurt Heinecke.

Performers include: Newsboys, Anointed, Chris Rice, Relient K.

Producers include: Steve Taylor, David Mullen, Monroe Jones, Kurt Heinecke.

Founded in 1993 by animator/storyteller Phil Vischer, the Big Idea Foundation is the purveyor of Veggietales, a computer-generated series rooted in the slogan, "Sunday morning values, Saturday morning fun." Befitting the organization's Judeo-Christian roots, the soundtrack to JONAH: A VEGGIETALES MOVIE follows the story's lead, which is based on the Biblical parable of the title character and the whale. Among the most exciting cuts are the gospel rave-up "Second Chances (Anointed)," "Jonah Was A Prophet" (with its Nathan Lane soundalike lead who fronts a swing band) and the straightforward "Message From The Lord" (complete with Disney-like string arrangements).

Little ones will delight to the sing-songy silliness of "Steak And Shrimp," "Bald Bunny," and "Billy Joe McGuffrey." Older 'tweens will no doubt swoon to cameos by Christian popsters Newsboys (the hip-hop-flavored pop of "In The Belly Of The Whale") and their slightly rowdier brethren Relient K ("The Pirates Who Won't Do Anything"). Now if they could only figure out a way to cast William Bennett as a big head of cabbageà minimize