Monday, December 19, 2011

Reindeer Games

So my daughter has a new obsession.  It all started with a trip to the doctors office a week ago.  In the waiting room there was a "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" book and in the short time she spent in the waiting room, she read the book several times.  It wasn't the classic Rudolph story, but some sort of generic sequel.  That night when she came home, she could not stop talking about this book.  She could tell you the whole story about Rudolph and some rabbits and something about how somebody ran into a tree.  (Obviously, I did not read the book as I don't have a good idea of what happened in it).  Whatever happened in the story, it made an impression on her because the girl is obsessed!  All we have heard about lately is reindeer and Rudolph. 

So as any good parent would do, we decided to feed her obsession.  She had never seen the actual Rudolph movie so we decided to go to the video store and rent it for her.  After several viewings, she was even more hooked!  So much so that the first thing we hear when she wakes up in the morning is "Reindeer... Rudolph".  The problem was that our rental had expired and had already been returned to the video store.  So after the 37th request for Rudolph on Saturday morning, I found myself headed to Wal-Mart to purchase the movie.  The trip was a success and we returned home with Rudolph in hand.

So after approximately 8 viewings of this movie this weekend, I have come up with a few observations.  Now I could not tell you the last time that I had actually seen this movie.  I have no memories of watching it as a child so for the most part, I was watching this movie with fresh eyes.  First of all, I want to know why Santa is such a jerk!  What happened to his Christmas spirit?  He is extremely crotchety and downright rude!  The head elf is super crotchety too!  While I'm at it, Dasher and Comet are pretty nasty as well.  What's with all the crabbiness? 

Now.. on to the elves.  So Hermy wants to be a dentist.  I don't recall him actually going to school for this.  I'm pretty sure he simply declared himself a dentist and it was so.  If only it were this easy.  If this is the case...  I am formally declaring myself an astronaut!!  I will be expecting a call from NASA any day now!

Unfortunately for Hermy, this declaration made him a "misfit" and he and Rudolf both found their way over to the "Island of Misfit Toys".  Now it is plain to see why most of the toys on the island are "misfits".  The train has square wheels and the cowboy is riding an ostrich.  The ailment of the doll is a little less apparent.  Based on a little light Internet research by my sister-in-law, it was discovered that the doll is a misfit because she has "emotional problems".  Not to ruffle any feathers, but she is a female doll so isn't that a little expected?  Just saying.  Thankfully, by the end of the movie, all of the toys were deemed good enough to be given to children and Santa saved the day.

And now the final question that was raised in the countless viewings of this movie.  Why in the world does Rudolph's nose whistle whenever it glows?  I don't get it!  Anyone have an answer to that?

All in all, I think the movie is a little weird.  Those old kid movies seem to lose a little bit of their magic when you watch them as an adult.  For my daughter, the magic is alive and well.  As all I will hear for the next few days is "Reindeer, Reindeer, Rudolph, Reindeer, Rudolph...."  and on and on it will go.  I fear that I will be watching this movie until late July and continuously singing "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer"!

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