critics consensus

Prancer's good-natured holiday cheer -- and a terrific performance from its young star -- are enough to make this yuletide adventure a moderately rewarding watch. Read critic reviews

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Prancer Photos

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Movie Info

Refusing to give up her belief in Santa Claus, a child, Jessica Riggs (Rebecca Harrell), discovers a hurt reindeer in the woods, which she believes to be Prancer. With the help of a sympathetic veterinarian (Abe Vigoda), Jessica takes care of the wounded creature. It's supposed to be a secret, but eventually a store Santa Claus (Michael Constantine), the girl's dad (Sam Elliott) and the entire town find out about Prancer, leading to big problems for Jessica and her family.

Rating:

G
Genre:

fantasy, other, kids and family
Original Language:

English
Director:

John D. Hancock
Producer:

Raffaella De Laurentiis
Writer:

Greg Taylor
Release Date (Streaming):

Jan 7, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA):

$18.1M
Runtime:

1h 43m
Production Co:

Raffaella Productions, Nelson Entertainment, Cineplex-Odeon Films
Sound Mix:

Dolby, Surround
Aspect Ratio:

35mm

Cast & Crew

Sam Elliott
John Riggs

Rebecca Harrell
Jessica Riggs

Cloris Leachman
Mrs. McFarland

Rutanya Alda
Jessica's Aunt Sarah

John Duda
Steve Riggs

Abe Vigoda
Orel Benton

Show all Cast & Crew

News & Interviews for Prancer

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Critic Reviews for Prancer

All Critics (24) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (16) | Rotten (8)

A hodgepodge of Heidi and Meet Me in St. Louis.

December 14, 2014 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer
This is a tale about faith and love, but it's also a story of coldness and death. Prancer, you might say, puts the winter solstice back in Christmas/

December 14, 2014 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
Harrell carries the film with an impressive performance for a child whose only previous experience was as a singing litterbug in a school play.

December 14, 2014 | Full Review…

Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times
Prancer remains a real curiosity -- a movie that`s far from being successful on its own terms, yet better than those terms would suggest.

December 13, 2014 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

Dave Kehr
Chicago Tribune
Its plodding competence can't provide that effortless magical touch that Christmas classics are made of.

May 20, 2003

Caryn James
New York Times
Harrell's brash debut, the use of animism and the story's sincerity add interest.

January 1, 2000 | Full Review…

Rita Kempley
Washington Post
While charming in conception and beautifully photographed in the dead of a Midwestern winter, Prancer is marred by a principal role.

December 14, 2014 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

Roger Hurlburt
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
It's a tribute to veteran TV writer Greg Taylor's script and, especially, to the acting of 9-year-old Ms. Harrell that the movie remains engaging and palatably sweet.

December 14, 2014 | Full Review…

Ralph Novak
People Magazine
In the end, Prancer is a simple pleasure as the story of one special child's faith in the spirit of Christmas, a faith that changes her family and her community for the better.

December 14, 2014 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Dennis King
Tulsa World
This charming and disarming family film offers wish fulfilment to all but the most cynical of youngsters.

December 14, 2014 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Tom Hutchinson
Radio Times
Forgettable Christmas movie featuring Sam Elliott.

March 14, 2009 | Rating: 2/5

Steve Crum
Video-Reviewmaster.com
Prancer deserves to join the select ranks of those Christmas movies we return to again and again.

November 27, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

TV Guide

View All Critic Reviews (24)

Audience Reviews for Prancer

Dec 23, 2008

Funny and charming, even if it is a typical Christmas film. Rebecca Harrell and Sam Elliott are wonderful.

Chris W Super Reviewer
Oct 20, 2007

Little girls will probably like this. I'm too old and cynical.

Ida K Super Reviewer
Jul 28, 2007

A touching family film. A good movie to watch on Christmas Eve! Not amazing, but worth seeing!

Isaac H Super Reviewer
May 03, 2007

Old-fashioned christmas movie.

Tim S Super Reviewer

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Prancer Quotes

John Riggs:

You tear apart the babies rattle, and you see what makes the noise inside. But there is a veil covering the unseen world, which not the strongest man could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love and romance, can push aside that curtain and view the beauty and the glory beyond. Is it all real? Virginia, in all this world, there is nothing else real in the body...Santa Claus, thank god he lives. And lives forever, a thousand years from now, ten times ten thousand years from now, and he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

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