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

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys
DVD cover
Directed by	Bill Kowalchuk
Screenplay by	Michael Aschner
Story by	Kevin Hopps
Based on	Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Johnny Marks (song) and Robert L. May (story)
Produced by	Bill Kowalchuk
Starring	Jamie Lee Curtis Rick Moranis Kathleen Barr Scott McNeil Garry Chalk
Narrated by	Richard Dreyfuss
Edited by	Lennie Nelson
Music by	Bruce Roberts Diana B
Production companies	Golden Books Family Entertainment Tundra Productions
Distributed by	GoodTimes Entertainment (United States) BKN International (Internationally)
Release date	October 30, 2001 (2001-10-30)
Running time	76 minutes
Countries	United States Canada
Language	English

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. 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. Several key personnel were retained from that movie: Kathleen Barr, the voice of Rudolph; Michael Aschner, the head writer; and Bill Kowalchuk, the director. Likewise, Golden Books Family Entertainment was retained as the production company.

The voice cast includes Rick Moranis, Jamie Lee Curtis and Richard Dreyfuss, among others.

Plot

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

• Kathleen Barr – Rudolph, Mrs. Claus, Dolly, Peggy the Piggy Bank, Tooth Fairy, Rocking Horse
• Scott McNeil – Hermey, Yukon Cornelius, Boomerang Who Won't Come Back, Coach Comet, Duck
• Garry Chalk – Santa Claus, Bumble
• Richard Dreyfuss – Scoop T. Snowman
• Rick Moranis* – Toy Taker/Mr. Cuddles
  • Don Brown – Toy Taker's Vocal Effects
  • Bruce Roberts – Toy Taker/Mr. Cuddles (singing voice), Kite Who's Scared of Heights, and Scoop the Snowman's Singing Voice
• Jamie Lee Curtis – Queen Camilla
• Elizabeth Carol Savenkoff – Clarice
  • Shawn Southwick – Queen Camilla and Clarice's Singing Voice
• Colin Murdock – King Moonracer, Reindeer #1
• Peter Kelamis – Foreman Elf
• Brent Miller – Hank
• Lee Tockar – Charlie in the Box, Meowing Wind-Up Mouse, Gingerbread Guard
• Terry Klassen – Telephone, Dizzy Top
• Alec Willows – Kite Who's Scared of Heights, Additional Voices

*Billed as 'Rick Moranis' in opening credits, and as 'Richard Moranis' in closing credits.

Reception

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, as well as keeping the continuity with the original film.

See also

• Christmas film
• List of animated feature films
• List of children's films
• List of computer-animated films
• List of Rankin/Bass Productions films

External links

• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys at IMDb