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Comments index for Olive, the Other Reindeer
Date: 30 December 2002
Summary: Funny but more straightforward than you'd hope from Groening
Olive is an ambitious little dog who hears that one of Santa's reindeer has
been injured and may not be able to pull the sleigh. Olive sets out to set
into the place of the reindeer, making a few friends along the way.
Meanwhile a bitter mailman sets out to ruin Christmas for all
concerned.
I caught this early on Christmas Day buried in the middle of every channel
trying to put up some feel good programmes and films about Santa and
reindeers – mostly animations. This one struck me because how different the
animation was – a little weird and off-kilter to be just another banged out
Christmas animation. Then I noticed it was produced by Matt Groening – he
of Simpsons and Futurama fame. I had hoped that this would be as sharp as
some of the better episodes of those series but it didn't quite make
it.
Generally it was amusing and it did have a few characters that were sharp
and delivered one liners and I suppose the whole set up is inventive enough
and different enough to stand out from the crowd of feel good animations on
this morning. But it wasn't in the same league as Groening's Simpsons
episodes. However the humour is sufficient to make it stand out and the
voice work helps a lot.
Barrymore brings a relentless cheerfulness to Olive and the various side
kicks help. Pantoliano is the best voice as the penguin Martini while
others include Jay Mohr, Castellaneta, Stipe and MacNicol. It's not star
studded which is good as that can often replace a quality product, but the
cast are all good enough to deliver on the story's potential.
Overall this can't hold a candle to much of Groening's other work but as a
competitor for your attentions amongst a host of other festive cartoons then
this should easily beat many of the other stocking fillers that the networks
serve up to fill the day.
Date: 25 December 2002
Summary: You will laugh, but you won't call Olive names.
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!"
Date: 11 December 2002
Summary: An underrated Christmas classic
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).
Date: 7 December 2002
Summary: A charmer. Deserves a long holiday-season life.
If you've just noticed 1999's "Olive, the Other Reindeer" in your TV
listings (as I did last night)and are checking it out on IMDb, I heartily
recommend it. The script and characters do not ring any of the false notes
that usually undo other Christmas fare. The cute story will keep kids
interested, but is peppered with references and visual gags for
grownups.
Drew Barrymore gives a plucky-not-sucky performance as Olive, and keeps
her
character's likability from turning sappy. Joe Pantoliano (Ralphie in "The
Sopranos"!) as her shady-but-good-hearted sidekick Martini the penguin is
a
likeable Runyonesque pal. Michael "R.E.M" Stipe contributes a wry musical
highlight in the bar scene. Dan "Homer" Castellaneta makes a fine
villainous
postman, and the other voice artists too numerous to mention here are also
first-rate.
The 2D-in-3D computerized animation is highly imaginative but not
gimmicky.
"Olive" is as enjoyable as any holiday entertainment since "A Christmas
Story". Like that film, word-of-mouth should keep "Olive" around for many
Christmases to come.
Date: 23 December 2001
Summary: Cutest movie I've seen in quite awhile
I thought this movie was very cute. The author was clever with Olive's
mistake but it turned into quite an adventure for her!! She's a
good-hearted dog whose only concern was that she "do the right thing" and
help wherever she could. It held my attention for the entire
movie.
Date: 10 June 2001
Summary: 'Olive' is the best! [spoilers]
I rented this at the video store one night when it was around Christmas
time. I didn't expect it to be too good, but I thought that since it was
close to Christmas and I was in the Christmas spirit that I might as well
check it out. I was surprised to be so entertained by this Christmas tale
about a dog named Olive [voiced by Drew Barrymore of the movie CHARLIE'S
ANGELS] who believes that she is actually a reindeer so after hearing that
one of Santa's reindeers has broken a leg, she quickly sets out on a mission
to reach the North Pole before Christmas Eve. I loved this movie so much
that I quickly put it on my Christmas list, it's too bad I didn't get it
though. It will appear on my Christmas list again this
year!
Date: 1 January 2001
Summary: In a word, marvelous.
This show was absolutely hilarious. I sat there, watching it, laughing my
rear off every three seconds. I regretted not recording it when it was on
Fox. I can't even tell you how hilarious it was. Does it have schmaltz,
you ask? that terrible plot ploy that has made several family films into
absolute terrors to watch? Heck no! It's simply a funny, adroit film that
should be on everyone's shelf. Watch it. 'Nuf said.
Date: 25 December 2000
Summary: An excellent movie
I missed this movie the first year it was shown so I was looking forward to
it and it was well worth the wait. Drew Barrymore made the main character
(Olive) very down-to-earth and likable while Matt Groening's trademark
humor
provided a number of good one-liners and sight-gags. DNA, responsible for
the animation, did a great job as well in keeping the storybook appearance
while breathing life into the characters.
It's hard to say who the show was targeted at though since a lot of the
references and humor weren't completely suitable for children and the
whimsical style might have warded a lot of adults off. I found both very
refreshing however and will be looking to purchase the DVD. I think this
one
is bound to become a new holiday classic.
Date: 25 December 2000
Summary: Adorable. Just adorable.
I missed the end of this film! I'm so upset. Now I'll never know if Olive
succeeded in saving Christmas. There I was, Christmas Eve, sitting on the
couch, flicking channels, waiting for my ride to turn up. A long night of
drinking and general carousing awaited. Suddenly I was tuned into Channel 4
and watching a streetwise penguin trying to sell fake designer watches to a
talking dog. Well, it happens every day, doesn't it?
So anyway, I could talk about plot, like that matters, and I could go on
about how funny it was, or how heart warming, but would you really care?
Would you? Let me just say this, I was utterly charmed the gloriously flat
CGI characters in a totally unique 3D universe. And despite what some of the
other reviewers have said, I found Drew Barrymore's characterisation
absolutely perfect.
Barrymore's squeaky little confused voice was the delightful embodiment of
this dopey, self-deluding dog. A dog who manages to convince herself that
Santa, after a minor Pre-Christmas Reindeer incident, was relying on 'Olive,
the Other Reindeer' and NOT the 'all of the other reindeer' he actually
refers to.
How could you not love this film?
Just thinking about it now, I feel certain that Olive must have helped Santa
save Christmas. If she didn't, where did all those presents come from this
morning? I was certainly in no fit state to help out.
Date: 5 December 2000
Summary: Soon to be Christmas Classic
The animation in "Olive, the Other Reindeer" is truly impressive. The
unique style of J. Otto Seibold has been captured in a most beautiful way
by
the animators at DNA Productions in Dallas. Most people don't realise
that
"Olive" is a three dimensional animated special, yet it manages to carry
the traditional charm and warmth of any classic 2D holiday cartoon.
Date: 2 December 2000
Summary: Drew Barrymore ruins an otherwise great movie
Olive The Other Reindeer is a very cute movie with one big
problem....Drew Barrymore. When it comes to envisioning Olive's voice, they
should have gotten someone who can do a voice that is neither male nor
female. It needed to be a mix of the two, because it's a cartoon dog! With
a female or male voice, it seems too human, and that's where this movie goes
wrong. Some people have a good voice for animated characters, Drew
Barrymore does not. I know I'm going on and on about Barrymore, but she
just does not work in this role at all, and I was kind of disappointed,
because the movie could have been so much better. Olive has a great story,
and the rest of the casting is perfect. The movie is mainly for kids, but I
enjoyed it just the same. The animation is really cool, and very unique.
Overall, it's a fairly good movie that could have been a great movie if not
for Barrymore.
Date: 22 November 2000
Summary: This film is bad
I saw this on TV last year, and wish that I hadn't. Despite the amount of
talent that was involved, this turned out to be a very disturbing holiday
experience. (What could Billy West and Matt Groening have been thinking,
they drive two of the greatest animated shows ever!) The only saving grace
was Martini the penguin; for some reason he just made me laugh. Apart from
that, Drew Barrymore should be banned from any acting for at least 2 years
because of this travesty, and the writer publicly flogged. Watch it only
to
mock the sheer hideousness and all those involved.
Date: 19 July 2000
Summary: Great holiday fun
Olive, the Other Reindeer is a delightful holiday special that aired on
Fox
last winter. Drew Barrymore voices Olive the dog, who thinks she is a
reindeer and goes on a quest to help Santa after one of reindeer can't.
With
the help of a Martini the penguin, they try to accomplish their task while
dodging the evil mailman who wants to stop Christmas. It's a hilarious
special and should be seen when ever possible. I have taped this animated
special and have watched it regularly. To sum it up, it's
great!
Date: 23 January 2000
Summary: Enchanting Christmas Movie
This Christmas movie, is destined to be a wonderful Christmas classic.
Olive the other Reindeer is a charming Christmas story with a bit of
abstract modern animation that still manages to be very endearing and quite
original compared to the very frequent re-hashings of Christmas type
stories. I hope they release this movie on DVD or Video, I would certainly
buy it. I hope this wonderful movie is aired again next
year.
Date: 31 December 1999
Summary: GREAT FUN!
I loved this animated special on the FOX network. And Drew Barrymore just
brought the main character to life. It's about a dog (Barrymore) who
thinks
she is a reindeer and goes on a quest to help Santa after one of the other
reindeer can't. With the help of a little penguin named Martini, they
accomplish their task while dodging the evil mailman who wants to stop
Christmas. I hope this comes to video and DVD. I think it will be
another
instant classic like "How the Grinch Stole X-Mas" and "Rudolf the
Red-Nosed
Reindeer". 5 out of 5 stars! So if it is aired next Christmas, DON'T
MISS
IT!
Comments index for Olive, the Other Reindeer
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