Plot: What’s it about?
Although the title sums up the sheer basic event here, there is a little more to this story, at least in this animated version. It seems that with Christmas just mere hours away, Grandma has vanished and if you ask most people, it was Santa Claus that caused the whole mess. But of course, no one believes he is the real Santa except for one young man named Jake Spankenheimer, the grandson of the missing woman. As the evidence points to a hit & run accident that places the blame on Santa, you might think this is an open & shut case, which is what some folks believe. But if you delve a little deeper, you’ll see some signs point toward another person, one closer to the victim than anyone would like to think about. Jake’s cousin Mel has all kinds of curves and ambitions, as she wants to take over Grandma’s store and if that isn’t enough, ruthless businessman Austin Bucks is also involved somehow. Can Jake manage to prove Santa’s innocence, rescue his grandmother, and save Christmas, all in such a short span of time?
Based of course on the ever popular holiday song, Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer is an animated film (60 minutes in length) that won’t be a new classic, but it is worth a look. I wasn’t expecting much from a cartoon flick based on a song, but this has some nice moments and if you’re in the holiday spirit, I imagine it’s even better. The basic elements from the beloved song are all present, as well as some new details, in order to flesh out the story, which is needed to make it longer than three or four minutes. The story is a by the numbers rendition, but should work for younger viewers and Christmas nuts, I would think. The animation leaves a lot to be desired when compared to high end feature films, but stands up well to Saturday morning cartoons, so no need to panic, though I do think this should have been slicker in places. As far as voice talent, I’d never heard of any of the players and if you ask me, some kind of known workers should have been used, even if just one main player to showcase. I wasn’t as taken with this animated movie as I was the original song, but kids and those craving holiday themed entertainment will be interested.
Video: How does it look?
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer is presented in a full frame transfer, as intended. The image here looks excellent in all respects, from the pristine print used to the bold colors to the stark black levels. The animation hasn’t lost a beat in this transfer either, so it looks as fluid and visually pleasing as it should. This was a 2000 production, so the move to DVD in 2001 allowed little time for wear and that’s evident, as the image is clean as a whistle and sharp as a tack. As I mentioned, colors look rich and contrast is on the mark, so no complaints in those areas. In the end, this is a superb looking presentation and I think all viewers should be pleased.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included 2.0 surround option is a good one, especially when it comes to the songs and musical portions of the show. The rear channels provide some nice depth in that respect, so the songs seem more broad, never thin in the least. The sound effects are cartoonish in nature and sound solid enough, while dialogue is clear and never suffers from volume troubles. This disc also features language options in Spanish & French, as well as English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes some information on the cast & songwriter, a look at the costumes seen in the movie, Grandma’s Guessing Game, and the film’s trailer.
