Prep & Landing

Wayne has the difficult job of preparing Santa's landing spot and all house requirements for Santa's arrival. But because he doesn't get his long expected promotion, he begins to behave badly, unaware of the consequences his act will bring. Together with his new partner, he must try to not destroy and innocent child's Christmas (which, of course, he provoked). It's a Christmas tale seen from a different perspective, where gift delivery is a complex system accomplished using spies and high-tech equipment. Nevertheless, it sends a message which everybody must acknowledge: what is the true meaning of Christmas!

I was pleasantly surprised by this gem of a Christmas film that I stumbled across on Disney+. I've struggled to find Christmas films with this much charm since the turn of the millennium. I'm 40 so was brought up on Christmas classics ranging from the 1950's up through the 90's and have noticed a massive decline in good quality Christmas movies/tv. I'm not saying there aren't absolute gems out there but for me they are harder to find. This short was charming, funny, well written with likeable warm characters and a simple yet effective story. The voice acting is also incredibly on point. 10/10.

I went into this thinking I would end up watching another boring animated Christmas special but I was surprised. I actually enjoyed it and while I can see why one reviewer thought it was militarized, it's still better than a lot of the animated specials I've seen in the past few years. Yes, we should leave the military out of it and stop prepping the kids for war! There were no angry wolves trying to eat the characters and the humour was not aimed at the adults as is so often the case in animated features these days. I guess having John Lasseter as executive producer helps. I grew up on Frosty, Rudolph, The Grinch and now that I think of it, they also had some darker elements to them but they are and continue to be classics. I don't know if this one will be a classic but the animation is top notch and kids are not fooled by cheap imitations these days.

"Prep & Landing" introduces us to Lanny and Wayne. They are part of an elite team of high-tech elves who make houses ready for Santa Claus to arrive. When things go horribly wrong, the hilarious duo must rise above their challenges in order to save Christmas. This mini-movie is hilarious and entertaining. People of all ages will find something redeeming in "Prep & Landing." The animation might be different than what we get with Pixar, but the spirit is there. That shouldn't come as a surprise since Pixar's John Lasseter is an executive producer of the film. "Prep & Landing" is perfect for the whole family to enjoy as they come together to celebrate the holiday season.

Prep & Landing is an elite group of elves that prepare the house for Santa's arrival. Wayne (Dave Foley) is an arrogant member of the group who expects a new promotion. However his partner Peterson is the one who gets the promotion. He gets a new clueless talkative rookie partner Lanny. He's lost the Christmas spirit and lets Lanny go solo. It doesn't go well when little Timmy wakes up to find the elves. Hyper Magee at operations decides to skip Timmy. Wayne rallies to get Santa to Timmy's house. It's always nice to have new blood rather than the same old same old. It takes the familiar regimented elves and given them a fast talking edge. It's fun. Wayne is a bit of a downer for most of the show but he ends in a happy place. That's what a Christmas special needs. It needs to bring the holiday joy and this does that with a good message.

Extremely well thought out, scripted, and CGI'd (acted)? There are reindeer that look they are on steroids, an extremely well organized elf force that oversees Santa's prelaunch then the actual launch and then directing Santa through weather fair and foul to the kid's house's (Air Force eat your heart out):). The main character is Wayne a long time Prep and landing elf. His job is to go to kid's houses and prepare for Santa's landing. When he doesn't get the promotion he thought he was, he get's a bad attitude. This leads to a kid waking up and seeing them at work but here some of the great thinking shows up, they have a forget it ornament that causes the people who get hit to forget. Learning his lesson Wayne guides Santa and his sleigh to the house through some weather that almost caused a "figgy pudding", a bypass of the house. So every thing turns out well, Wayne gets offered a promotion but turns it down to stay with P&L. There is humor here for kid's and grown ups and I thoroughly enjoy this one every Christmas time.