Product Details

• Actors: Drew Barrymore, Dan Castellaneta, Joe Pantoliano, Edward Asner, Peter MacNicol
• Directors: Steve Moore
• Format: Animated, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: October 31, 2000
• Run Time: 69 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004TRD2
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #16,450 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Simpsons creator Matt Groening helped create this delightful animated adaptation of the popular Christmas book. Originally shown on the Fox channel in 1999, Olive deals with a upstanding dreamer of a pooch (voiced expressively by Drew Barrymore) who hears Santa's angst when Blitzen breaks a leg just before the holiday, messing up Santa's delivery schedule. Olive hears Santa's quote about "all of the other reindeer" as "Olive, the other reindeer," and she is convinced she must go to the North Pole to help. Using equal parts traditional Christmas themes (unselfishness, the importance of being good instead of naughty) and Simpsons-esque humor (wordplay, contemporary cultural references), the 45-minute short is a refreshingly fun holiday pleaser. Purists may chafe at the action pieces and a scene in a rough 'n' tumble bar, but the filmmakers keep the spirit--and the unique look--of J. Otto Seibold's and Vivian Walsh's book. With some snappy songs (including one performed by R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe) and great zingers (one reindeer calls Rudolph an urban legend), it's a fine holiday time for ages 5 and older. --Doug Thomas

Product Description
In this delightfully funny animated adventure, "Olive, the Other Reindeer" is erally a kind-hearted dog who sets out to save Christmas when she hears that Blitzen is injured and Santa can't find a replacement! With the help of a smooth-talking penguin named Martini, Olive heads for the North Pole to join the flying reindeer team - but along the way, they must defeat an evil mailman who wants to end Christmas so he can carry less mail! With an all-star voice cast featuring Drew Barrymore, Ed Asner, Dan Castellaneta and Peter MacNicol, "Olive, the Other Reindeer" is sure to become a holiday tradition for young and old!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun for kids and adults, November 16, 2000

By	Greg Bulmash (Lynnwood, WA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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".

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lovely and cute movie..., June 16, 2000

By	Sara "shopgirl_aussie" (USA) - See all my reviews

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.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Olive, the Other Reindeer is a new holiday classic, September 10, 2001

By	Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

How could you not love this story? The title alone will make you smile! But then someone got the great idea of animating this story of a small but brave little dog named Olive who jumps at the chance to join Santa's team of reindeer when Blitzen is injured AND letting Drew Barrymore do the voice of Olive. By the time you recognize the voices of Dan Castallaneta, Ed Asner, Peter MacNichol and Michael Stipe, you realize that they all signed on because this is a quality holiday story. It has been a long time boys and girls since we have had a new one this good to enjoy during the holiday season. Even if you have not enjoyed the charming book by J. Otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh, you will adore the movie. Or visa versa. If you have kids they will want to watch this one over and over, but do not worry about it; you will not mind that one bit.