Prancer: A Christmas Tale

IN A NUTSHELL: Ten-year-old Gloria and her recently widowed grandfather, Bud, befriend a mysterious reindeer when the family gathers for Christmas. Bud comes to believe that Prancer may actually be magical, but Gloria fears his theory will send him straight to a retirement home.

THINGS I LIKED: I adore James Cromwell and wish he did more movies. As expected, he is wonderful in this.

Darcey Ewart is adorable as Gloria. She and James Cromwell made a delightful, unexpected pair.

We get to see a real reindeer!

This is not a silly children's Christmas movie, but one with serious issues. Some of the topics in the movie really hit home with me because my siblings and I have been making very difficult decisions about our aging parents during the past few years. It's truly heartbreaking watching one's parents get old. The movie addresses an aging father with debt and how his circumstances affect all of his children and grandchildren.

There is magic, wonder, adventure, and mystery.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: Some of the reindeer moments use bad CGI.

Not all of the humor lands.

There are some bad acting moments.

While Acts 1 & 2 took their time, Act 3 flew by too quickly.

TIPS FOR PARENTS: Some profanity Lots of fighting and grumpy people Talk of divorce Talk of the death of a loved one Talk of bankruptcy Someone tries to shoot a reindeer.

!

Solid story. Unique story. Heartwarming and magical. I loved the relationship between grandfather and granddaughter so much. Even the dichotomies in the different relationships depending on the situation. It felt familial. The little girl was beautifully charming. And she and James Cromwell were wonderful together.

If you want to watch something new that you haven't seen done 1000x before but still get the warmth of a classic holiday movie you can't go wrong here.

Nuanced enough to give the viewer something to think about. Christmas spirited and surprisingly good.

Easy and sweet I really enjoyed it.

This is, hands down, the worst Christmas movie I've ever seen, as well as being one of the worst in general. The acting is horrible; I've seen better in B-movies. None of the characters were remotely likeable. I'll never get that 105 minutes back. Good Lord, this was a bad film. Watch Prancer that came out a few decades ago instead. That one was much better. I am utterly astounded that the film maker watched the finished product and decided that he should release this film AND put his name on it. I don't know, maybe if Hallmark or Lifetime movies are too intense and rowdy, then you could possibly enjoy this film. But I doubt it.

I'm scratching my head as to why James Cromwell agreed to act in this. The writing is terrible, characters are flat and unbelievable. The producers seem to rely on cinematography to create something that will win you over.

Most of the acting is cheesy and the story is just meandering garbage. So disappointing.

This might be something you could leave on in the other room for some background noise, or something to entertain young kids if they're bored out of their minds.

Better yet, watch ANY other Christmas movie. Even the worst of cheesy/predictable Hallmark movies would be better than this.

Light hearted, easy to watch family film that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. Just what a Christmas film should do! The casting is superb, as is the acting especially that of the main character Gloria. The filming is just beautifull, helped by the wonderful scenery, sets and reindeer. The director seems to be so aware of all the emotions needed throughout the film making you feel every moment with the characters from sadness to absolute bliss. As a grandads girl myself I couldn't recommend this film more to anyone, especaill those in need of some festive cheer or a reminder of what's most important.