Welcome to the Galactic Theater, where we'll explore the works of master manipulators of light waves, examine the themes brought to play, and critique the final products of months of hard work.
This review does not represent the opinions of the general public. It reflects my personal thoughts and opinions on the movie.
That said, on to the review!
Christmas is a magical time of year, where people give gifts to those they care about and even those they've never met before. It's a time filled with wonder as differences are set aside and great sacrifices made so that the entire holiday season is enjoyable for all. And no one knows these things better than Mickey and his friends.
In Donald Duck: Stuck on Christmas, Donald's three nephews--Huey, Dewey, and Louie--wake up to the sounds of Chip and Dale enjoying their Christmas presents, which reminds them of what awaits them downstairs. For them, Christmas is all about receiving gifts and enjoying them, eating good food, and just plain having fun. They enjoy their Christmas so much that they make a perilous wish that night: that it was Christmas every day. And to their astonishment, the wish comes true. At first they enjoy themselves thoroughly, preempting Donald's giving them their gifts. They even endure sloppy wet kisses from huge Aunt Gertie. But soon the novelty of it all pales on them, and they set out to liven things up. But they go too far, ruining Christmas for the entire family...or do they? Because despite it all, it seems there's more to Christmas than just giving and receiving presents or getting together to eat good food. Could it be they've missed the true meaning of Christmas entirely?
A Very Goofy Christmas is a touching story about trust and faith. For Goofy's son, Max, Christmas is a time usually filled with good cheer and happiness. After going through a terrific ordeal to send a letter off to the North Pole with their wishes, Goofy and Max return home to shovel the snow from their driveway, leaving a clear landing for Santa's sleigh. But their neighbor, Pete, comes along and laughs at Max for believing in Santa Claus. With Pete's terrible (and terribly accurate) use of logic and scientific knowledge, Max becomes confused and depressed. Goofy's innocent and firm belief in Santa draws his son out of his depression, but not for long. Meanwhile, Goofy and Max take their Christmas dinner next door to share with their neighbors, who aren't as fortunate as they themselves are. But while Goofy and the neighbors make merry, Max can't help worrying that maybe Pete is right and there is no Santa Claus. The final straw comes when he inadvertantly discovers that the Santa who visits them is actually Goofy in disguise, come to please the neighbors' children. Will Max ever be able to believe in his father--and in Santa--again?
In the last story, Mickey & Minnie's Gift of the Magi, it's Christmas Eve, the last shopping day before Christmas. With little money to his name, Mickey has found the perfect gift for Minnie, one that will compliment the heirloom watch that she wears on a string around her throat. He has until 5:00 in the afternoon to earn enough money to buy it. For her part, Minnie's drawer is overflowing with bills, and she worries that she won't be able to buy Mickey a gift for Christmas. She works hard at the department store in the gift-wrapping department, desperate to earn a much-needed Christmas bonus. For a time both are successful. A generous type from an elderly woman helps Mickey out tremendously, but in the name of Christmas he helps a poor family and has his irate and greedy boss take away the tip. And when he goes out to earn more money, he finds himself instead assisting at a charity toy drive, enjoying himself as he entertains the people but running out of time...and knowing it. Minnie works hard and catches the eye of the department store manager, but her bonus isn't what she expected. With no money to buy presents for their beloved ones, Mickey and Minnie do the only thing they can do. But will it be enough?
These are stories filled with both joy and sadness as its protagonists deal with issues that affect them profoundly. There are times when you don't feel like laughing at all--and considering this is Disney animation we're talking about, that's a major point--like when Max's disillusionment grows into anger and hurt, or when Huey, Dewey, and Louie's plans to liven up Christmas succeed beyond their expectations with distratous results. But there are humorous points, too, such as when Donald--in bringing breakfast out from the kitchen--ends up with breakfast crashing down on his head, or when Mickey in setting up Minnie's Christmas tree sends a shower of pine needles crashing down on Figaro's head. And you know there are going to be happy resolutions to everyone's problems...though you might not expect the actual solutions!
I can't say much more about Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas except that it's a wonderful collection and filled with important messages for the young and the old alike. It's a Disney animated feature, so a G-rating might be appropriate, but there are some issues that will definitely require a parent's assistance in understanding...especially with A Very Goofy Christmas.
You can purchase Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas on videotape at just about any video store and any Disney Store you go to. It will probably be more readily available during the holiday season, but I'm sure you'll also be able to buy it during the rest of the year, too.
Interested in buying this video? You can! Just follow the links to order the VHS version or the DVD version. You can also visit the Stellar Video Store for other titles.
Back Home Sign Guestbook View Guestbook
Get your own Free Home Page