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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys

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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys
DVD cover
Directed byBill Kowalchuk
Screenplay byMichael Aschner
Story byKevin Hopps
Based onRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
by Johnny Marks (song)
and Robert L. May (story)
Produced byBill Kowalchuk
StarringJamie Lee Curtis
Rick Moranis
Kathleen Barr
Scott McNeil
Garry Chalk
Narrated byRichard Dreyfuss
Edited byLennie Nelson
Music byBruce Roberts
Diana B
Production
companies
Distributed byGoodTimes Entertainment (United States)
BKN International (Internationally)
Release date
  • October 30, 2001 (2001-10-30)
Running time
76 minutes
CountriesUnited States
Canada
LanguageEnglish

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys is a 2001 direct-to-video animated Christmas adventure musical film directed by Bill Kowalchuk for GoodTimes Entertainment. It was released on VHS and DVD on October 30, 2001.[1] The film takes place after the events of the original special, and revisits characters such as Yukon Cornelius, Hermey the elf (now a dentist), Abominable Snow Monster (Bumble) and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, who is now famous in the North Pole.

GoodTimes Entertainment, three years prior, had released Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie, which was set in a separate continuity with different supporting characters. Golden Books Family Entertainment was retained as the production company. The voice cast includes Rick Moranis, Jamie Lee Curtis and Richard Dreyfuss, among others. Unlike the 1964 special, CGI animation was used instead of stop motion puppetry.

A cover of the eponymous song is performed by Tony Bennett and plays during the film's opening and closing credits.

Plot

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Rudolph is overwhelmed with praise for saving the previous Christmas. Not satisfied with being a "novelty act" that performs tricks with his nose, Rudolph travels with Hermey, now a dentist, to the Island of Misfit Toys to give King Moonracer a root canal dental treatment.

On the return trip, a storm sends Rudolph and Hermey to Castaway Cove, where they meet a hippopotamus-like fairy named Queen Camilla, who fixes toys. Rudolph considers getting a normal nose, but is warned that if he gets a normal nose, he will not be able to lead the sleigh anymore on foggy nights, which could potentially put Santa's deliveries in danger.

Meanwhile, the evil Toy Taker steals the toys from Santa's workshop and Camilla's place, claiming that he is saving them from the unbearable truth that children outgrow their toys and throw them away. With three days until Christmas, Rudolph creates a plan to foil the Toy Taker with Clarice, Hermey, Yukon Cornelius and the Bumble. The team predicts that the thief will go to the Island next, and they disguise themselves as toys.

The Toy Taker's blimp arrives and manages to steal them with the Misfit Toys, except Bumble, who is too big to fit into the blimp, so he follows on a floating iceberg. The Toy Taker realizes that they are intruders, and dumps them out of the blimp. They fly back, and Yukon pursues the thief around the blimp. Yukon's shoes puncture holes, and he falls off the blimp after losing balance, but he is caught by Bumble. Hermey pilots the blimp back to Christmastown, and he is saved by Bumble before crashing. The Toy Taker attempts to escape by heading into Yukon's Peppermint Mine.

A chase ensues, ending with Yukon catching him with Hermey's dental floss. After removing the Toy Taker's coat and hat, the figure is revealed to be an injured teddy bear on stilts named Mr. Cuddles. Cuddles explains that he used to belong to a boy named Steven who outgrew him, and he was thrown away. Afterward, he became the Toy Taker to save other toys from meeting the same fate. Santa explains that although it is true that some children outgrow their toys, he knew that Steven was looking for him.

Rudolph and his friends agree to bring Mr. Cuddles to Queen Camilla to repair him and cheer him. Rudolph also reconsiders changing his nose, realizing that it has more uses.

Santa leaves to deliver presents, and Mr. Cuddles is returned to his owner. Santa tells him that Steven intended to save him as a family gift. He places him in the bed of Steven's new daughter, who awakens and cuddles him. Steven walks into the room to check on his daughter and smiles as Santa and Rudolph fly away into the night.

Cast

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Reception

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The film received mixed-to-negative reviews, with critics citing the poor CGI animation and weak story. However, the film's voice acting was praised, particularly for Curtis and Moranis.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Rick Moranis was billed as "Rick Moranis" in opening credits, and as "Richard Moranis" in the closing credits.

References

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  1. ^ Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. p. 260. ISBN 9781476672939.
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