Olive, the Other Reindeer

Rating:
Summary: The Best Christmas Movie
Review: This is my favorite Christmas movie! I watch it dozens of times each year and it's SO cute!! It features Drew Barrymore, the voice of Olive, a dog who thinks she's a reindeer. Despite the evil postman who wants to destroy Christmas, Olive succeeds in saving the holiday when Blitzen is injured in a practice flight. We taped this special a few years ago, and the picture wasn't very good. I was VERY impressed with the quality of the DVD and the documentary of the making of the movie. This is a GREAT addition to your Christmas collection! If you don't have it, BUY IT NOW!

Rating:
Summary: Great songs and humor, it's just fun
Review: This is such a cool story. Very sweet for the kids, and pretty funny for the adults. The references to "Round John Virgin" like in the carol, and "Richard Stands" like in the pledge of allegiance are funny to the many who thought that was what was really meant when they heard the song Silent Night and the pledge when they were kids.

Some [...] thought it said "Round Young Virgin", we know where that [...] mind was. As for it not being Christian enough, so what? Those that believe Christmas must be strict, and belongs only to those who believe what they believe, are in their own little world anyway. Can't please everyone, thank goodness. Variety and creativity can spread better messages of helping others anyway.

Have fun and watch this little gem for years and years, with or without kids.

Rating:
Summary: A lovely and cute movie...
Review: This is the most adorable movie. It was featured on FOX, as a Christmas special. Drew Barrymore uses her lovely voice to portray Olive, a little dog who thinks he is ment to be one of Santa's reindeers. An evil postal worker plans to ruin Christmas, and stop Olive. It is such a wonderful story; soon to be a new Christmas classic. It is so cute, and a must to buy. Anyone will love this movie.

Rating:
Summary: Winning Xmas story with humor kids and adults will like
Review: This isn't like Rudolph The Rednose Reindeer nor the more traditional holiday fare like Frosty. We fell in love with Olive's story when we picked up the hardcover children's book some time ago. The 1999 television adaption that originally ran on Fox keeps much of the spirit of the original book. The adaption and extension of the original story is quite good as well.

Blitzen has broken a leg and Santa may not be able to deliver all his Christmas toys this year. In a television interview he mentions that without the help of "All the other reindeer" Christmas may literally not get off the ground. Olive, a dog who believes completely in the Christmas spirit (and who can, of course talk and has her own television in her doghouse)becomes convinced (with a little pushing from her pet flea)that Santa actually said "Olive the other reindeer". Olive believes that her owner doesn't care for her anymore (due to the poor hearing of her pet flea. He confuses what her owner says and leads Olive to believe that she isn't loved or wanted. He needs to get his ears checked, Olive).

Convinced that without her help Christmas won't happen, Olive makes a trek to the North Pole. An evil postal worker though tries to stop her along the way--it seems he has problem with Santa going all the way back to his childhood. Olive also gets help from a penguin.

The animation is surprisingly true to the original artwork of the book. The computer animation is rendered as such as that the characters don't have the rounded look of most CGI creations giving Olive a unique look all its own. The songs aren't as instantly memorable as Rudolph The Rednose Reindeer (which everybody seems to forget wasn't a Christmas traditional. It was created for the Rankin-Bass Christmas television special) but, perhaps, these clever songs might eventually occupy a special place given time.

Drew Barrymore gives an outstanding and sincere performance as Olive as do all the supporting voice cast. It's a fun, clever and has multiple levels of humor. Children and adults can watch the program and appreciate the show's humor and get something different out of it every time.

Rating:
Summary: Fun for kids and adults
Review: This tale of a Christmas-loving dog who tries to help Santa make his deliveries is both cute and innocent enough for young kids and hip enough for their Gen X parents. For example there's a great line that parodies the "you're no Jack Kennedy" remark Lloyd Bentsen made to Dan Quayle in the 1988 VP debates. That's going to go over the head of any kid, but they'll be wondering why Mommy and Daddy think it's so funny. And that's not the only joke snuck in for the grown ups.

With a larcenous penguin as a companion, Olive meets interesting and interestingly-named characters as she heads to the North Pole to save Christmas. This special truly deserved its Emmy nomination and will entertain both you and your kids.

A last bit of trivia: When Drew Barrymore (the voice of Olive) was in Woody Allen's musical, "Everyone Says I Love You", she was the only star in it who was able to convince Woody her singing was so bad that she should have a voice double for her songs. That should make it all the more interesting when you get to hear Drew sing in "Olive, The Other Reindeer".

Rating:
Summary: Olive the Other Reindeer
Review: What a cute movie! Loosely based on the popular children's book by Vivian Walsh, this half-hour animated special is appropriate for ages 7 or so and up. Some of the material is kind of mean-spirited and almost too scary for younger kids, and devout Christians have apparently found it quite offensive, but my husband, teenaged daughter, and I enjoyed it quite a lot. If you're looking for a traditional holiday tale, consider Frosty or Rudolph; if you're looking for something a little more edgy and modern, but still sweet, Olive is for you!

Rating:
Summary: Cute
Review: Who says Drew Barrymore ruined this adorable Christmas story? Her voice was appropriate for the insecure, but sweet dog name Olive, who believes Santa needs her help to save Christmas. Hearing an announcement that Santa needs all of the other reindeer to help him, believing it meant "Olive, the other reindeer", Olive sets off to the North Pole to find Santa. So begins this little dog's journey. The illustrations are simplistic, but charming, especially when you see the flying sleigh being pulled by the reindeer and a little dog, being dragged along, flapping her pizza box wings. Sure to be a classic like Rudolph the Red-nose Reindeer, Miracle on 34th Street, and White Christmas.

Rating:
Summary: Olive The other Reindeer
Review: Wow. This little movie is ssssooo good! I'm 16 and the oldest of 5 and this is a perfect family movie, (i think i watch it more then the little kids though. lol.) it puts you in the perfect mood for the holidays and it is so cute - a little dog who saves christmas - it's great! Plus it is only like 45 minuits and it has the vioce of Drew Barrymore of Olive.
I could go on and on (i have to my friends belive me!)but this little writing box is filling up. i know i'll go watch it again!

Rating:
Summary: Fab For Kids, Fun For Adults...
Review: You are just gonna dig the heck out of the mis-adventures of frisky pup Olive (voiced by the always great Drew Barrymore) and her partner in high-jinks, the ultro hip Martini (a street hip penguin who sounds like Joey Pants...because he is), as they journey to the south pole to help Santa do the Christmas thing. Veteran voice over star Dan Castellaneta does the evil Postman some kinda strange justice and you have the music from REM's Mike Stipe. A caveat, however. This is produced by the Simpson's creator Matt Greoning. Also, when it premiered on Fox some years ago, it was right before a special Christmas episode of Eddie Murphy's The PJs. In other words, expect a bit of edginess and hipness not found in, say, the Rankin/Bass production of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. 'Olive...' *is* for kids, but remember these same lil dudes put Schreck on the map, too. In my opinion, it is a winner...