From the day he was born, Rudolph was shunned by his own father and the local industry boss for, as the talking snowman put it, “his nonconformity.” In spite of his mother’s protests, his father forces his son to “pass” among his peers.Lesson 1: Looking different = bad.
Meanwhile up in Santa’s Castle, poor Hermie is forced to make toys when he’d rather be a dentist.
Lesson 2: Individuality = bad.
Lesson 3: Misfits find solace in song.
In spite of his innate talent, Rudolph is ridiculed by his peers, his coach and his father. He is ousted from the reindeer games.
Hermie attempts to find a way to use his skill set within the confines of his workplace, by giving dolls teeth. He is punished by his boss and laughed at by his fellow elves.
Lesson 4: Peer pressure’s a bitch, and authority figures are narrow minded - no matter what your species.
Lesson 5: The talking snowman is a pussy.
They see no choice but to leave. Eventually they cross paths with a prospector who offers them passage on his dog sled.
Lesson 6: Road trips are much more interesting when traveling in the company of a crazy man carrying a gun and pick axe.
After getting lost in a fog as thick as peanut butter, our heroes stumble into a world as strange as they are and meet a jack in the box in drag.
Lesson 7: Island of Misfit Toys = Provincetown.
Not wanting to endanger his friends, Rudolph leaves the Island, goes through puberty and decides to come home, only to find his parents gone. Santa, instead of offering help, ostensibly tells Rudolph that his folks, and girlfriend, are probably dead, there may not be Christmas, and it’s all his fault.
Lesson 8: Santa is a Narcissist.
Rudolph finds his mother and Clarisse trapped in the cave of the Abominable. He valiantly tries to free them but gets bashed. Hermie and Yukon arrive right on time and devise a plan to trick the beast. It works, and all are saved.
Lesson 9: See Lesson 6.
Everybody witnesses Yukon’s horrible death. Traumatized, they return to Christmastown. Santa, Donner, Head Elf guy act contrite. Yukon, it turns out, miraculously survived falling off a cliff, and shows up at Santa’s Castle during a terrible storm.
Lesson 10: It takes an Epic journey to teach a town about tolerance.
Lesson 11: Bumbles bounce.
Finally, Rudolph saves Christmas with his Red Nose serving as Santa’s headlight.
Lesson 12: Nobody likes you until you have something they need. Then you’re a freakin’ hero.
