Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie

Originally published Oct 22, 2024

This review goes out to Mike Nawrocki, an exceptional mentor that inspires me to have big ideas.

Do you remember the first movie you ever saw as a child? Everybody has that one nostalgic film, but I’ve heard so many instances where people say their favorite childhood movies don’t hold up in adulthood. While I certainly know some movies that fit THAT criteria for me, I’m happy to report that my first exposure to cinema, Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie is still as great as it was over 22 years ago.

Adapted from the Bible story of the same name, Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie is a bright, bouncy, biblical romp that teaches kids, and perhaps even remind adults, of the importance of compassion and mercy. As a child, I loved this for it’s colorful characters, abundant silliness, and catchy songs, of which I’m happy to say most still hold up. While this still rings true for me as an adult, what’s really amplified my appreciation for Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie is knowing the limitless creativity and resilient determination behind it. This was Big Idea Production’s first attempt at a feature-length movie, and they made it on less than a quarter of the budget of other animated films at the time. Knowing that, I’d say the animation holds up pretty well after so many years. Most of the characters are voiced by two guys, yet they all feel distinct from one another and burst with lovably or silly personality. But, most of all, the message about helping others and the importance of second chances is timeless. In a time where it feels as though we’re more divided than ever, Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie is a friendly reminder that we’re never too old to learn something meaningful while keeping it fun.

To put a number on a movie this personally impactful feels unfair, so I won’t. It’s simply good.