TheLittleSongbird
Watched 'Prep & Landing' as part of my "watching as many Christmas films and shorts not yet seen before as possible" quest. Of this quest, 'Prep & Landing' was among the best and one of the revelations. Then again, expectations were quite high in the first as a big Disney and Christmas fan. Cannot add much to the previous positive reviews that have summed up what is so wonderful about 'Prep & Landing' so well. Can say very little better. Anybody who hasn't seen it yet is seriously missing out, am kicking myself at how it could have taken so long to see it and the only reason that comes to my head was that it was recommended to me after having never heard of it until now. The animation is bright and colourful, some of it also very imaginative. The characters don't look blocky and move smoothly while the attention to detail in the backgrounds is something to behold. The music captures the nostalgia, warmth, excitement and emotion of Christmas to perfection. 'Prep & Landing' has hilarious humour, touching and never mawkish sentiment and emotional moments and thrilling excitement. Not only are these individual elements carried over so brilliantly in the writing and the storytelling they are beautifully balanced also. The references are a sheer delight, adults are more likely to get them and be more familiar with them than younger viewers but the latter are very likely to want to know more about what is being referenced after watching.Having likeable characters that one cares and roots for is always a plus and, unless deliberately otherwise which is the case with a fair share of films and television shows, this is important. 'Prep & Landing' has likeable characters, while the spirit of Christmas is displayed with a lot of fun, heart and warmth without being over-sentimental or preachy. The voice acting is very good, Dave Foley being spot-on.Overall, a must watch. 10/10 Bethany Cox
SnoopyStyle
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.
rich-brink
My family and I found this short film in error whilst trying to find a Christmas film to watch and what a find. This is now a family Christmas tradition, we now have to watch this to get into the Christmas spirit. The storyline is original and fun with content for kids and adults alike. The animation is brilliantly done as you would expect from a Disney Production and as it is only on for about 20 minutes, you can always squeeze it in. This is the story of one of Santa's helpers that thinks he has been passed by for promotion and ends up with a new partner he isn't happy with and as it is a Christmas film, of cause, it all goes well in the end. There are loads of Christmas references squeezed in which always raises a smile from my wife and I. A must see.
tavm
After recording this on DVR last year, I finally got to watch Prep & Landing today this Christmas Day. After a little more than 200 years of helping Santa make smooth landings on houses' roofs, one of the elves gets a little sour, attitude-wise, when he doesn't get a promotion and almost alienates his new partner. Then, a creature gets discovered stirring and there's a blizzard and...oh, just watch the animated special if you want to know what happens and just enjoy the hip holiday references that get sprinkled throughout that help make "Prep & Landing" such an enjoyable treat to watch thanks to all responsible for this Disney production.