Olive, the Other Reindeer (1999) (TV)

Director:

Steve Moore

Writers:

J. Otto Seibold (book) &
Vivian Walsh (book) ...

Release Date:

17 December 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Animation | Comedy

Plot:

After mis-hearing a radio broadcast about Santa canceling his Christmas trip due to an injured reindeer...

Plot Keywords:

Postman | Christmas | North Pole | Penguin | Dog

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Dec. 12	1:00 PM	TOON
Tue. Dec. 15	8:00 PM	TOON
Sun. Dec. 20	4:30 PM	TOON

Cast

Drew Barrymore	...	Olive (voice)
Dan Castellaneta	...	The Postman (voice)
Joe Pantoliano	...	Martini (voice)
Edward Asner	...	Santa (voice)
Peter MacNicol	...	Fido (voice)
Tim Meadows	...	Richard Stands (voice)
Jay Mohr	...	Tim (voice)
Michael Stipe	...	Schnitzel (voice)
Diedrich Bader	...	Zoo Director (voice)
David Herman	...	Guard Shack Elf (voice)
Tress MacNeille	...	Mrs. Claus / Mrs. Eskimo (voice)
Mitch Rouse	...	Round John Virgin / Comet (voice)
Kath Soucie	...	(voice)
Billy West	...	Mr. Eskimo (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Matt Groening	...	Arturo (voice)
Danny Jacobs	...	Additional Voices

Runtime:

45 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

The title is based on a "misheard lyric", a spoonerized or comically misinterpreted phrase from a popular song; the title is from the passage "all of the other reindeer" from "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer". Several of the character names are similarly derived. The name "Richard Stands" is a malapropriation of the phrase "which it stands" in the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance. Likewise, the character name "Round John Virgin" is taken from the phrase "round yon virgin" from "Silent Night".

Quotes:

Martini: Genuine Rolexes! Ten bucks!
Olive: I didn't know Rolex had three X's?
Martini: Typographical error. Factory seconds.

Movie Connections:

References "The Bullwinkle Show" (1961)

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.