Harry Situation’s 12 Days of Holiday Reviews: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Let's start off my 12 Days of Holiday Reviews with a familiar name. You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen. Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen. But do you recall the most famous reindeer of all? It's Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Hard to believe what started as a promotion for Macy's turned into a successful holiday classic.

You're all familiar with the story by now. A reindeer named Rudolph discovers that he has a shiny red nose, and if you ever saw it you would say it glows. All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names, and never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games. But what that catchy song left out was that he meets an elf who wants to be a dentist, a gold-obsessed minor, the abominable snowman, and an island full of misfit toys. Eventually Santa Claus asks him with his nose so bright to guide his sleigh and you know the rest.

What more could I possibly say about this special? It's fun, it's charming, it's a classic Rankin/Bass Christmas special. I remember all the characters by heart. Rudolph, Santa, Hermey, Yukon Cornelius, Clarice, Bumble, and Sam the Snowman voiced by iconic singer Burl Ives. Hell, I can actually make a pretty good impression of Coach Comet from the special. "NAAAAWW!"

I remember every scene and every quote of dialogue. And also, bullshit Honest Trailers! I still remember all those songs by heart too. I remember the elf song, the song the misfit toys sing, and you bet your holly jolly ass I remember Holly Jolly Christmas at the end.

The one bummer, to me, is actually Santa himself. Instead of the kind gentle man we all know and love, this guy comes off as a stick-in-the-mud throughout most of the special. Even when he's shaming Rudolph's father for hiding his son's nose, he goes from St. Nick to St. Dick. Also, I hate to mention this since it's going to be brought up every time but let's face it, the stop-motion animation is choppy at times. But what do you expect from something with a shoestring budget? 

I don't want to go on to long because A) I have finals to get done, and B) it's just a classic animated special that everyone, myself included, just loves to watch again and again each year. It's impossible to say anything too negative about it. I never grow tired watching and you can bet I'll be watching it again with a family of my own. 

                          Positives:                              Negatives:

                         -Songs                                  -Some choppy animation

                         -Characters                           -Bad Santa

                         -Lots of fun

                         -Memorable

                         -Timeless classic

                         -Christmas feel

Final Grade: A+

So that was Review #1 for my 12 Days of Holiday Reviews, and we're off to a good start. Have you seen this special? What are your thoughts? What's your favorite part of this special? Please be kind, leave a like and comment, and check back again for more holiday reviews right here on Prose!

Best Quote:

Yukon Cornelius: "Didn't you know? Bumbles bounce! Wahoo!"