Prancer

Eight-year-old Jessica still believes in Santa Claus, reasoning that if there’s no Santa, then maybe there’s no God, and if that’s the case, how could her late mother be in Heaven? Living on a struggling apple farm with her widowed father (Sam Elliott) and older brother, Jessica is devastated when she overhears her father discussing plans to send her to live with her aunt because he can barely make ends meet.

When Jessica discovers a wounded reindeer in the woods with an injured leg, she’s convinced it’s Santa’s reindeer Prancer who has fallen from Santa’s sleigh. Fearing her father will shoot the wounded animal, she decides to hide the reindeer in a shed and nurse him back to health, writing to Santa to collect him in time for Christmas Eve. But when her secret begins to spread through the community, she fears her chances of reuniting the animal with Santa may be ruined.

Prancer is a heartwarming yet unsentimental Christmas film, portraying Jessica’s faith in Santa with genuine respect while grounding the story in realistic struggles of grief, financial worries, and family. While younger viewers may enjoy Jessica’s mission to care for the wounded reindeer, older viewers may appreciate the characters’ contrasting perspectives. Jessica holds earnest faith in Christmas magic, while her father struggles under the weight of stress and grief. Though he tries to protect his children from his worries, his stress shows through, casting a shadow on their relationship. The film is rated G, and is appropriate for the whole family.

Runtime: 1 hour, 43 minutes
Rated G
USCCB rating: A-I
IMDb Parents Guide
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