Sara and I re-watched this 1989 Christmas movie and enjoyed it all over again. It never got much acclaim.. sort of fell by the wayside so far as Christmas movies go. But it is in my Top 10 of Christmas movies. A modern but old-fashion Christmas story.

     PRANCER   3.5***

   “Prancer” is inspired by the famous newspaper article “Yes, Virginia: There Is a Santa Claus” A 9 year old girl named Jessica Riggs is being told by others around her there is no Santa Claus yet steadfastly holds to her faith that he exists. This modern day “Virginia” loves Christmas and everything about it, and is horrified to see a street decoration Prancer (the reindeer) be damaged in an accident. Later when she comes upon an injured real reindeer in the forest, she assumes it to be Prancer, and hides him in a shed on her farm and takes care of him. Jessica is feisty at times, but always shows a good heart in her effort.

For Jessica, who listens to Christmas records year-round, a belief in Santa Claus is absolutely essential. Jessica has gotten her belief in Santa Claus tangled up with her faith in God. She reasons that if Santa doesn't exist, then maybe God and  heaven don’t exist either. And if there's no heaven, she wonders about where her dead mother is?

The girl’s faith is only part of the story. How Jessica (Rebecca Harrel) touches others who have lost their hope and faith in various ways is even more profound, and touching. A village recluse (Cloris Leachman), a veterinarian (Abe Vigoda), her jaded widowed father (Sam Elliot), her skeptic friend (Ariana Richards), a newspaper writer (Michael Constantine) are all wonderful in these roles.

The cast is amazing, . Sam Elliot and Cloris Leachman are the main huge stars, but the hit of the show is Rebecca Harrell, who plays Jessica. She is enthusiastic without becoming too sugary,  she’s touching rather than cloying, and displays a real determination as she clings to her feelings longer than the adults in the story expect her to do,.  

The movie's plot plays out very well; each scene evokes different emotions and captures them all well. Sweet but not too sweet, heartfelt, genuine, touching. Everything a FAMILY Christmas movie should be. Kids and adults will get a yuletide glow from this one. One caution. The movie has a serious side and there are sad/tense moments along with the sugar and spice.