Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & The Island of Misfit Toys (2001)

Thirty-seven years after his famous TV debut, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer returns in a sharp-looking computer-animated feature. Using excellent voice casting with actors that sound like the originals, this new Rudolph looks and sounds grand. There's a mysterious Toy Taker gobbling up toys around the world. Rudolph and his team (including deer-friend Clarice, elf-turned-dentist Hermey, and the Abominable Snowman) try to track the toys down and save Christmas again. While the setup and songs hold no candle to the original, and the lessons learned are borrowed from Toy Story 2, the final third succeeds--it's always good to have a flying reindeer when you are chasing a blimp. Kids ages 3 to 9 who have seen the original will certainly want to see the sequel; however, their parents might be less enthusiastic. --Doug Thomas Amazon.com

Awful!!!

I came across this on tv the other day and I was appalled! The only reason I kept watching it was because I wanted to see who the Toy Taker was. I cannot believe they tried to continue it in an animated fashion rather than the claymation/stop motion style of the original. It looked like someone decided one day to write a quick script, and throw things together in time for the holidays. The quality is just not there. And they made it an hour an a half long! I was definitely disappointed. December 16, 2008

Fun family film

Rudolph and the Island of Misfit Toys is an enjoyable holiday film for the whole family. It has good, crisp animation, a clever story line, a little humor, and even some mystery and suspense. The DVD has some scenes not shown in the TV version. Of course it has a happy ending, and it delivers a wholesome message. My 4 year old grandaughter has already watched it half a dozen times...in May!!
May 27, 2008

A wonderful addition to the Rudolph story

I picked up this DVD at a garage sale thinking it was the 1964 classic until I read the back when I came home to discover it's a sequel. Regarding the songs, they are horrendous (which is why it loses a point in my rating), but the cartoon, story and all, surprised the heck out of me! All the lovable characters (including Charlie-in-the-box) from the 1964 classic is brought back with a new set of vocal talents that sound so much like the original cast, it's breath-taking and a little eerie. Yes, it's computer-animated instead of the stop-action of the '64 original, but so much attention, care, and love was given to the details, it doesn't become an issue and it gives this installment its own special charm.

Even a new twist on the social issue of Rudolph wishing to be like all the other reindeers was thought-provoking, clever, and wonderfully done. The animators even gave new dimension to Rudolph's nonconformity that does not, in my opinion, ruin the charm of the original. If anything, I look at it as Rudolph's nose changing its nature as he grows older, just as children's traits grow and change and evolve as they go through life.

The writers and animators thought of everything, including Rudolph's continuing relationship with Clarisse, and even giving Hermie the elf a love interest after graduating from Dental School. There are lots of in-jokes galore, including Hermie's vehicle having a modern-day alarm remote that chirps when activated, and there's even a "borrowing" from "Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom."

The main crux of the story is a dark character called the Toy Taker who has taken toys everywhere including all of the toys in Santa's workshop, and it's up to Rudolph and his friends to solve the mystery, catch the Toy Taker and return the toys in time for Santa's run on Christmas Eve.

With all that being said, I heartily recommend you buy or rent this wonderful movie and be in for the treat of your life ESPECIALLY if you're a fan of the 1964 original!! May 26, 2007

Rudolph the sequel

I was surprised how much I liked this movie. Yes the CGI animation isnt top notch but I really liked the story. The only thing I didnt care for was the hippo character which was a little risque although well voiced by Jamie lee curtis.For the reviewers who confused this with the original can't you read? Considering some of the voice actors of the original were
no longer living when this was made the voices are well reproduced. May 26, 2007

Awful

This really is awful- nothing like the original and very unsettling to watch. I DVRed this, thinking it was the old, stop-motion movie. What a HUGE disappointment! January 2, 2007

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