Olive, the Other Reindeer (1999)

TV. I really like the inventive animation style, scriptwriting, and voice talent in this fresh Christmas special that's poised to become a new classic. It's full of creativity, though with a slight bent-ishness too. (The Simpsons' Matt Groening is an executive producer.) Drew Barrymore's voice lends emotion and spirit to the character of "Olive, the other reindeer" -- a brown-and-white dog who's always felt a little different than other dogs and doesn't readily do doggish things; she even has a pet flea named Fido. Olive hears on news radio that Santa's reindeer, Blitzen, was injured during preseason practice and won't return to the lineup in time for the Christmas Eve flight, so Christmas may have to be cancelled. Olive immediately feels as if Santa (Ed Asner) has personally called her to come and take Blitzen's place, so she sets out to reach his North Pole compound by any means possible. Martini the penguin (Joe Pantoliano), an escapee from the zoo who sells fake Rolex watches and stolen office supplies out of a suitcase, assists her on the way, esp. against a Grinchlike postal carrier (Dan Castellaneta) who is determined to ruin Christmas by any means necessary so that he can take a holiday too. The show is full of all kinds of improvisational touches, including a road sign for Frostbite Falls, cable TV news reporters, Blitzen's flightless cousin Schnitzel (Michael Stipe), Round John Virgin (Mitch Rouse), and a boatload of really catchy original songs (written by Christopher Tyng with a performance by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy) that you won't be able to get out of your head. The show includes nods to Ultraman and Godzilla, and the Pope receives the gift of a Philadelphia Phillies baseball cap. I love how Olive gets a present from Deus Ex Machina, then later explains "Just look it up"! Everyone does a great job but Drew Barrymore really carries the entire show as she conveys the character of Olive with a vulnerability paired with a can-do and generous spirit. It's about stepping up and having faith and doing your part to help make a dream come true. The only things that might make this show not completely suitable for young kids is some Indiana Jones-like road-jockeying and in-cabin tussling that sends two vehicles tumbling off the road (into the snow) plus one scene that takes place in an isolated northland bar, where Olive is treated roughly at first and a bar fight breaks out, though all as a backdrop to the rollicking musical number "We're Not So Bad." Except for the disgruntled postal carrier, who seems to have snapped, any bad attitudes we see are explained as disappointment over the possible loss of Christmas, which Olive helps make happen. I could watch this show several times every year, even in back-to-back viewings. I plan to own it! I had to locate a copy through interlibrary loan since Netflix still doesn't even list it. 5 stars.