When it comes to beloved Christmas movies, there are plenty of great options. But as much as I love many of the time-tested classics, e.g. home alone, santa claus, Elfand How the Grinch Stole Christmasthey are undeniably talked about a lot of It’s that time of year. That’s not to say they don’t deserve all the praise and attention. I’m guilty of quoting myself Elf Do it regularly—not just during the holidays. However, it should be noted that there are other less popular Christmas movies that are equally deserving of attention and deserve some recognition. In fact, a children’s Christmas movie will immediately pop into your mind, but you may have completely forgotten about it. I’m referring to the 1989 holiday classic Planser. I feel like this movie is rarely talked about – if at all. but why?
That Rudolph guy and his red nose may get the most attention when it comes to Santa’s furry transport team, but he’s not the only reindeer to earn stripes…or rather, antlers. This is what makes Planser So interesting. Most of the time, Santa’s reindeer are used as background fixtures at best, so a story centered around a lesser-known member of his flying troupe is a blast and one worth adding to your One of the many reasons to watch on Christmas Day.
The cast is all familiar faces
For those unfamiliar with the story, it revolves around a young girl named Jessica (Rebecca Harrell) who stumbles upon an injured reindeer. She is immediately convinced that he is Prancer and vows to help him return to Santa before Christmas. But first, she needs to make some money. To this end, she offers to do housework for a reclusive old woman, Mrs. MacFarlane (Cloris Leachman). Even now, as an adult, I still find the character a bit scary (but that’s thanks to Leachman’s talent).
Meanwhile, Sam Elliott stars as Jessica’s widowed father, John Riggs, who’s fallen on hard times and is trying to send her to live with her aunt for a while. But in the end, helping the reindeer brings them closer and makes him realize that being together as a family is more important than anything else.
Johnny Galecki also plays Jessica’s classmate Billy Quinn. (This is a small, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it role, but it’s still fun to see the actors at work–Roseanne and big bang theory reputation.
Doesn’t require too many scenes
In a way, energy and glam (and red noses) are all well and good, but there’s also something to be said for a Christmas movie that keeps things simple. Prancer doesn’t speak, and a real reindeer was used to play the character rather than some CGI creation (an option that didn’t exist at the time). However, seeing the relationship that develops between Jessica and Prancer, all of this extra stuff is completely unnecessary. In fact, it might distract viewers from their special connection. It’s an understated masterpiece that proves sometimes less is more.
it will hit your senses
From watching Mrs. MacFarlane’s ice-cold heart melt under Jessica’s sweet, innocent charm, to watching her grief-stricken husband begin to appreciate his daughter’s love, this film definitely provides more than a few tear-jerking moments. Because seeing how one girl’s belief and determination for something can be powerful enough to impact an entire town – that’s the real magic. This is what makes Planser The unsung hero of Christmas.
