Film review: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie
Reworking a cherished Christmastime property into the Disney mold of a musical animated feature, Legacy Releasing's "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie" is suitable for younger children, but its limited opening theatrically in mid-October is a perfunctory move timed with a far more sensible Nov. 10 launch on video.
Produced and directed by William R. Kowalchuk, "Rudolph" boasts a stellar cast of actors providing the voices, including John Goodman as Santa Claus and Whoopi Goldberg as the evil Stormella, an icy queen of the north. Eric Idle, Bob Newhart, Debbie Reynolds and Richard Simmons likewise bring classiness to the project.
In the scenario credited to Michael Aschner, Rudolph is born with a red schnozzle that glows when he's excited. Made fun of by his contemporaries, Rudolph is reassured by Santa himself that the nose is what makes him special. But even his jolliness can't stop poor Rudy from being disqualified after he wins a "Ben-Hur"-like sled race.
Down and feeling rejected, the lead runs away and teams up with a fox (Idle) and bear (Newhart) to rescue Rudolph's doefriend held captive by malicious Stormella. Eventually, as made famous in one of the most popular songs of the past 60-plus years, the resilient Young Buck saves Christmas when a blinding storm unleashed by Stormella makes Santa's mission perilous.
The visuals by Corland Animation are adequate for this gentle, upbeat project. The original songs by Al Kasha and Michael Lloyd, sung with the help of Goldberg ("I Hate Santa Claus"), Reynolds ("What About His Nose") and Idle ("It Could Be Worse") are likewise nothing special but get the job done. Clint Black's rendering of the titular classic is fairly routine, while the big ballad number "Show Me the Light" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes (who last teamed up on the hit "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" from "Dirty Dancing") is reminiscent of a dozen or so similar numbers in the past.
Indeed, "Rudolph" is amiably derivative but thankfully short on topical references, and it doesn't try to overwhelm one with style and technique, or distract one with anything resembling irreverence. Even Goldberg seems reined in, while Goodman is a natural as the legendary gift-giver from the North Pole.
RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MOVIE
Legacy Releasing
GoodTimes Entertainment presents a Cayre Brothers production
Tundra Prods.
Credits: Producer-director: William R. Kowalchuk; Screenwriter: Michael Aschner; Executive producers: Andrew Greenberg, Seth Willenson; Songs, music and lyrics: Al Kasha, Michael Lloyd. Voices: Young Rudolph: Eric Pospisil; Grown-Up Rudolph: Kathleen Barr; Santa Claus: John Goodman;
Stormella: Whoopi Goldberg; Slyly the Fox: Eric Idle; Leonard the Polar Bear: Bob Newhart; Mrs. Santa Claus: Debbie Reynolds; Boone: Richard Simmons. MPAA rating: G. Color/stereo. Running time -- 83 minutes.
Produced and directed by William R. Kowalchuk, "Rudolph" boasts a stellar cast of actors providing the voices, including John Goodman as Santa Claus and Whoopi Goldberg as the evil Stormella, an icy queen of the north. Eric Idle, Bob Newhart, Debbie Reynolds and Richard Simmons likewise bring classiness to the project.
In the scenario credited to Michael Aschner, Rudolph is born with a red schnozzle that glows when he's excited. Made fun of by his contemporaries, Rudolph is reassured by Santa himself that the nose is what makes him special. But even his jolliness can't stop poor Rudy from being disqualified after he wins a "Ben-Hur"-like sled race.
Down and feeling rejected, the lead runs away and teams up with a fox (Idle) and bear (Newhart) to rescue Rudolph's doefriend held captive by malicious Stormella. Eventually, as made famous in one of the most popular songs of the past 60-plus years, the resilient Young Buck saves Christmas when a blinding storm unleashed by Stormella makes Santa's mission perilous.
The visuals by Corland Animation are adequate for this gentle, upbeat project. The original songs by Al Kasha and Michael Lloyd, sung with the help of Goldberg ("I Hate Santa Claus"), Reynolds ("What About His Nose") and Idle ("It Could Be Worse") are likewise nothing special but get the job done. Clint Black's rendering of the titular classic is fairly routine, while the big ballad number "Show Me the Light" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes (who last teamed up on the hit "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" from "Dirty Dancing") is reminiscent of a dozen or so similar numbers in the past.
Indeed, "Rudolph" is amiably derivative but thankfully short on topical references, and it doesn't try to overwhelm one with style and technique, or distract one with anything resembling irreverence. Even Goldberg seems reined in, while Goodman is a natural as the legendary gift-giver from the North Pole.
RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MOVIE
Legacy Releasing
GoodTimes Entertainment presents a Cayre Brothers production
Tundra Prods.
Credits: Producer-director: William R. Kowalchuk; Screenwriter: Michael Aschner; Executive producers: Andrew Greenberg, Seth Willenson; Songs, music and lyrics: Al Kasha, Michael Lloyd. Voices: Young Rudolph: Eric Pospisil; Grown-Up Rudolph: Kathleen Barr; Santa Claus: John Goodman;
Stormella: Whoopi Goldberg; Slyly the Fox: Eric Idle; Leonard the Polar Bear: Bob Newhart; Mrs. Santa Claus: Debbie Reynolds; Boone: Richard Simmons. MPAA rating: G. Color/stereo. Running time -- 83 minutes.
- 12/14/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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