"Don't think: believe."
Hello everyone!
Welcome, welcome, one and all, to the December Christmas extravaganza that I've been running on this blog for ... oh, a very many years now.
It's that time of year when I forego all other releases, literary or film, and focus specifically and solely on anything and everything Christmast-themed.
Is it a bit cliché? Yup. Does it sometimes clash with everything else that's happening at around the same time? Also yes.
But it's tradition at this point, and who am I to flaunt that?
Which is why, as a lovely introduction to this month, we're spending the evening with a cute little reindeer buck. And no, his name's not Rudolph, interestingly.
His name's Niko, and he takes off in The Flight Before Christmas!
Since this is the first movie of the season there aren't REALLY all that many links to pin at the bottom, however, I'll be putting the general 'Christmas' link down so you can look back on years past and everything I've already covered on the blog.
As we progress, there'll be more and more!
So here we go.
Niko lives with his mother Oona and guardian Julius (a flying squirrel, natch), in Home Valley, with the rest of the reindeer. Where's Home Valley, you ask?
No clue. Somewhere in Finland, probably, given this is a Finnish production.
Anyway, his biggest wish is to get to meet his dad, who just so happens to be a member of Santa's Flying Forces (aka: he's one of the eight reindeer that pull Santa's sleigh, if that's what you're wondering). Apparently, he and Oona had a brief fling when Santa's sleigh broke down in the middle of nowhere one time, and then he left, not really knowing that she was going to have her baby boy in spring.
Ever since hearing the story, Niko is convinced he can fly, to the eternal hilarity of everyone else around him; equally, however, he breaks several ground rules the herd lives by just to practice, like going to Antler Hill, which is OUTSIDE the valley, and accidentally leading a few hungry wolves straight to the herd.
Now, the wolves? They're led by Black Wolf, who's a general mean guy, and who says they only eat reindeer, and they can't find any (since Home Valley is hidden and all). With Niko kinda ruining the hidden part, the herd, after escaping the wolves, needs to relocate.
And of course, everyone's got opinions, which for a young buck? Devastating.
So he runs off, and the leader prevents Oona from going back to find him once they clock in to the fact, but Julius promises to bring him back.
In the end, once he does find the kid, they both decide to head on up to Santa's Fell, where Santa and his Flying Forces live.
At the same time, a poodle named Essie manages to land in the middle of the wolf pack, who name her Marshmallow, and coin her their lucky charm (because she sweet-talks her way out of being eaten). Black Wolf also makes a plan of going to eat Santa and his reindeer because ... well, THOSE reindeer, at least, are always in the same spot?
Julius and Niko run into Wilma, a weasel, who's heading south, but after they save her life she's honour-bound to save them, to, which is how she ends up tagging right along with the two after getting them out of a scrape with Black Wolf.
Niko's now more determined to reach his dad than ever, though: he overheard the wolves talking about their plans, so he knows Santa's in danger, and Wilma reluctantly agrees to lead them both north.
Turns out, she ran away from home because she's always wanted to be a singer; Julius, meanwhile, used to have a family, but he went looking for food one time, and upon returning, found nothing more than wolf tracks, indicating he's got more beef with the wolves than anyone else would.
Still, after a few bumps and bruises, our heroes reach the labyrinth that keeps unwanted visitors out of Santa's village, but Wilma leads them through, and they finally meet the Flying Forces (who have the most RIDICULOUS and annoying singing line that's ever been coined, a real ear worm, mind). None of the idiots, who are probably patterned after what the general public saw of pilots in Top Gun, want to claim Niko for their own, but Dasher's like, you know what? Let's do the flight test.
If Niko can fly, then he's definitely one of theirs.
Naturally, Niko doesn't fly, because he's much too terrified, and because Julius keeps shrieking at him from the top of his lungs. This leads Niko to later have an argument with the squirrel that he's not his father and he never wanted Niko to succeed.
Which might have ended badly if not for the fact Black Wolf and his cohorts finally arrive, and even though Niko had warned the Fliers, they didn't believe him.
Faced with wolves, it turns out the Fliers are pretty much cowards, and we follow a montage of them scrambling to run away since their fear eliminates their flying powers (you can't fly when afraid, remember?).
Niko takes on Black Wolf, and Julius, seeing him in trouble, rallies the Fliers so they shake off their fear and fly to his rescue. Things get hairy when Black Wolf tags along for the ride, but Julius manages to save the day - and plunge to almost certain death with the wolf!
That's when Niko truly flies, zooming to rescue the only father figure he's ever known, and with the wolves routed (Essie and one of them have a little side-quest romance going, by the by), Prancer finally reveals himself to be Niko's father.
Santa also arrives on scene - FINALLY - after all the commotion's done and dusted, and Niko gets hitched up to the sleigh along with his dad. Julius, seeing him apparently happy, decides it's time to head home and tell Oona about all of this, not that anyone believes the story he's telling ... until Niko pops up, flying into view, followed by Santa in his sleigh!
Niko decides to stay home with the herd, with occasional visits to Prancer and the rest, and Julius becomes an honorary member of Santa's Flying Forces (with his own annoying earworm singing deal ... let's not go there LOL), and the two find a new valley for the herd to settle, together.
Which is where we leave them!
Wholesome, adventurous, and a whole lot of fun with the gags that went into making this movie, The Flight Before Christmas is a lovely story about finding who your family is and realizing they might have been right next to you all along. It also teaches us that kindness costs nothing, and that the holidays are truly a special time, whether you celebrate one or the other.
Overall, a very solid entry into this Christmas list - and don't miss next week when we take a look at part two: Little Brother, Big Trouble!
xx
*images and video not mine
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