Customer Reviews

Olive the Other Reindeer

5 star:		(60)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

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".

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.

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.

This is our favorite, along with How the Grinch Stole Christmas. We had the book and nearly went bananas when we saw it on tv.
It is a lovely story and always touches my heart!
Any Christmas video and/or book collection lacking this selection is in need of update!

I just saw, Olive the Other Reindeer a couple of days ago with my neice on video, and I have to say it is one of the best Christmas specials I have ever seen. Now, I am a Grinch who stole Christmas man myself, and even though that will always rank number 1 in my book, Olive is a close 2nd! Olive is a cute Jack Russel who, fearing that her owner doesn't love her anymore, wants to impress him with helping save Christmas. It seems that Blitzen has hurt his hoof and Santa needs help from, "all of the other reindeer" but Olive hears, "Olive, the other reindeer!" The animation is wonderful and the wit of the piece kept me interested for the whole short 45 minutes. This video certainly will have a prize place on my shelf! Oh, Drew Barrymore is great as the voice of Olive.

Who says Drew Barrymore ruined this adorable Christmas story? Her voice was appropriate for the insecure, but sweet dog name Olive, who believes Santa needs her help to save Christmas. Hearing an announcement that Santa needs all of the other reindeer to help him, believing it meant "Olive, the other reindeer", Olive sets off to the North Pole to find Santa. So begins this little dog's journey. The illustrations are simplistic, but charming, especially when you see the flying sleigh being pulled by the reindeer and a little dog, being dragged along, flapping her pizza box wings. Sure to be a classic like Rudolph the Red-nose Reindeer, Miracle on 34th Street, and White Christmas.

I saw "Olive" a few years ago on cable TV, and was charmed - it's the first real new holiday "classic" to come out in a very long time. I bought it for my household Christmas 2007, and my 4 year old son can't get enough of it. He now knows all the songs, and can quote long passages of dialogue with great comedic effect.
With the voice talents of Drew Barrymore, Dan Castellaneta, (of Simpsons fame), Michael Stipe, and music by swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the film has a definite 90's vibe - the humor and attitude, as well as some semi-obscure pop culture references, root this film to the time it was made, but I don't think it is really "dated". The pure charm and cuteness aren't annoying - they're just that - charming and cute. The music is great, the storytelling is great, the animation is really fun to watch. I know 40 year olds who laugh out loud and get involved in the story as much as the kids do. "Olive" will become another member of the pantheon of holiday essential viewing in my house.

My wife and I watched the Olive when it first came out on Fox several years ago and bought the video last Christmas.(I don't own the DVD yet, but will buy it before next Christmas. So, my review is really about the show itself and not necessarily the DVD). This is one of the few Christmas shows that have come out in the past few years that I see myself watching years from now. It truly works well on many levels. My kids love it for the story and the animation, my wife and I are still "getting" cultural references and jokes that we missed on earlier viewings (which flew right over my Children's heads) I strongly disagree with the reviewer that critisized this show as being "anti-Christian propoganda." As a Christian, I see nothing objectionable in it. While it is a secular Christmas show, it is no more offensive than other secular Christmas shows that focus on Santa, etc., instead of the birth of Christ. I found the overall "message" of Olive to be a positive one. I would strongly recommend this show to anyone.

My family loved Olive the Other Reindeer. It's the story of a cute dog whose pet flea convinces her that Christmas will be cancelled unless Olive, the other reindeer, helps Santa out. Of course, Santa really said "ALL OF the other reindeer", but Olive is convinced otherwise, and makes her trek to the North Pole.

The voice for Olive is played by Drew Barrymore, who does a fantastic job. The simple song she sings at the beginning and end of the movie is so cute, and really adds to the special feeling the film has to offer. From the opening shot, the animation is amazing ... it truly has to be seen to be appreciated. The rest of the movie's music is also excellent, and it brings a very festive, joyous tone to the film.

Overall, Olive the Other Reindeer is sure to become a classic holiday hit, that your family will enjoy season after season!

This is my favorite Christmas movie! I watch it dozens of times each year and it's SO cute!! It features Drew Barrymore, the voice of Olive, a dog who thinks she's a reindeer. Despite the evil postman who wants to destroy Christmas, Olive succeeds in saving the holiday when Blitzen is injured in a practice flight. We taped this special a few years ago, and the picture wasn't very good. I was VERY impressed with the quality of the DVD and the documentary of the making of the movie. This is a GREAT addition to your Christmas collection! If you don't have it, BUY IT NOW!