Olive, the Other Reindeer

Despite being Emmy nominated, here's a Christmas film virtually nobody talks about anymore.

Olive, the Other Reindeer is a 2D computer animated TV special. It has Olive who is a dog, a Jack Russell terrier, I think. Her best friend is a penguin who sells fake Rolex watches (Rolexxx to be precise). An evil postman plots to stop Santa delivering presents; because he's sick of delivering letters to Santa. After a misheard radio announcement Olive comes to the rescue as the other reindeer to pull the sleigh.

This film is very charming. It's now regarded as a classic. To be honest it's not up there with The Snowman, or some of the Rankin Bass productions, but it is great fun. The film has some grown up humour, but nothing sexual or edgy, mainly just pop culture references and wordplay. I preferred this over "Hooves of Fire". There's a superb mix of voice talent on show, Drew Barrymore is excellent; bringing a cute naivety to the role without being irritating.

Unfortunately, given this uses computer animation from over 20 years ago it looks a bit rough around the edges. I saw it in 2000 and I remember it looking great and it has a very unique style, which is sort of flat. Viewers will be reminded of early South Park episodes and Cel-shaded videogames like Wacky Races on the Dreamcast. Once you get over the dated look there is a lot to enjoy. At 46 minutes long it does outstay its welcome by about 15 minutes.

It was first broadcast and produced for Fox Television with Matt Groening serving as executive producer. It was later repeated on Nickelodeon the year after and on Channel 4 in the UK in 2000. It was repeated for a few years after, but it hasn't been broadcast in the UK since 2003 to my knowledge. A DVD has been released with a nice picture and some extras.

A little puppy named Olive hears a radio broadcast about a mishap with one of Santa's reindeer, which threatens to cancel his annual nighttime deliveries, and somehow thinks she can and/or should help, by becoming "the other reindeer." Teamed-Up with a Penguin, and chased by a demented postal worker, they runaway to the North Pole to take the place of Santa's ill-fated reindeer. No, this was not written by Matt Groening, but you'd think it was especially if you've ever read some of his "Life in Hell" comic strips. Most of the jokes revolve around mondegreens, like the title as well as "Richard Stands"(from the USA's Pledge of Allegiance.), and "Round John Virgin(from "Silent Night."). Round-John Virgin and crew are found by Olive and her pal at an arctic roadside bar & grille, and almost get in a fight.

Like many modern Christmas specials such as "Beavis and Butt-head Do Christmas" from four years earlier, it puts new spins on traditional folklore that almost threaten to contradict everything we were taught as children. However this special retains the child-like innocence of Christmas specials produced by Rankin-Bass in the 1960's and '70's. People born before the baby boom might be intimidated by the post-punk, and other contemporary references, but that shouldn't stop the rest of us from enjoying it. It's as safe for the kids as it is hip and enjoyable for us.

One of the least accomplished episodes of "The Simpsons" was "Insane Clown Poppy," with Drew Barrymore as the voice of Krusty's illegitimate daughter Sophie. Happily, she and Matt Groening pre-emptively made up for this in 1999 with the charming "Olive, the Other Reindeer," which they executive produced, and which featured one of them (hint: not Matt) as the voice of the title character.

When Santa Claus faces a crisis that may mean his deliveries won't get through, lovable dog Olive mishears him on the radio hoping to depend on "all of the other reindeer," and believing that Mr. Kringle is counting on her, she's off to the North Pole with the help of her penguin friend Martini, but with a conniving postman (!) out to stop her. Only Scrooge would not be rooting for Olive and Martini to succeed in the course of this special, not least with the warm and winning voice work (particularly Barrymore as our four-legged friend, Joe Pantoliano cast against type as good guy Martini, and Michael Stipe as one of Santa's reindeer - who has a very funny joke about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer).

A good, heartwarming story with computer animation from DNA Productions that looks more traditionally cartoony than the norm, which is not a bad thing here; Drew also does her own singing, and it must be said that she won't be giving Alicia Keys a run for her money - but her scrappy enthusiasm on her numbers ("Merry Christmas After All" provides an oddly endearing blend of Miss Barrymore's slightly flat vocalising and the truly musical Big Bad Voodoo Daddy) only adds to the special's charm. Funny and non-sick-making, this is up there with Channel 4's adaptation of "Father Christmas" and some of Rankin/Bass's seasonal cartoons in the winner stakes; one to tape.

"Warp speed, captain!"

This has been somewhat overlooked, but it really is a terrific special. It's clever and witty (a characteristic that you don't see enough of these days). Olive is a dog, who thinks she can substitute for one of Santa's reindeer and save Christmas. The choice of villain is inspired -- a mailman who wants to stop Christmas so he won't have to deliver all the cards. Not a lot of big laughs, but it's filled with gentle smiles.

The voice work is excellent, and the style is outstanding. There's little attempt to be "realistic," but rather it looks like a picture book (and seems to be sticking closely to the style of the original book).

I really enjoyed this special when I was little, and revisiting it again after, ooh, six years I loved it as much as I did even then.

The only minor quibble I have is that sometimes the pacing is a tad too slow, but because I enjoyed Olive the Other Reindeer so much I was past caring.

The computer animation is highly imaginative, and does have this sophisticated look. Plus it stayed true to the illustrations of the book it is based on.

The music is just as delightful. The incidental music is lovely and fitting with every scene and the songs themselves and there are only a few are well above average.

The writing is also spot on, and the writers certainly did their homework by allowing the hilarious puns to come thick and fast. And I loved the sweet and heart warming story That just leaves the voice acting. It was marvellous, Drew Barrymore gave a very expressive and heartfelt voice to Olive, who is plain adorable and spirited. Joe Pantoliano was hilarious as the penguin Martini, and Edward Asner is suitably merry as Santa. The villain is a postman bent on ruining Christmas; he isn't the most sophisticated villain ever but he is a funny one. As usual, Dan Castallenetta was great.

All in all, an unexpected Christmas cracker. 9.5/10 Bethany Cox