Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (film)
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer is a 2000 Canadian–American animated Christmas TV special, directed by Phil Roman. The special was first released on home video in October, and then aired on The WB network on December 21, 2000. The title and story are based on the 1979 novelty song of the same name. The film subsequently airs on The CW (the successor to The WB) and AMC, and also aired on Cartoon Network, Boomerang, and Freeform. It got mostly poor reviews. Plot. Jake Spankenheimer's grandmother owns a small  general store in the town of Cityville. The store happens to be the only piece of property not owned by Austin Bucks, the wealthiest man in town, whose CEO corporation specializes in making Christmas easier and less involved for the town's busy residents. Grandma tells Austin that his method of trying to make Christmas easier is not really for the best and refuses to sell the store. This runs afoul of the gold-digging Cousin Mel, who plans to sell the store anyway, and plans to sabotage Grandma's fruitcake by adding an ingredient with hopes that they wo n't sell, forcing Grandma to sell the store to Austin. Jake and Grandma love the holiday season, though the rest of the family aren't as excited. Out of the whole family, Jake and his grandfather are the only two to believe in Santa Claus, further supported by them witnessing the title event of the movie occurring. The next morning, Grandma is indeed missing and the police find an imprint of her in the snow, along with her belongings. Cousin Mel finds a letter that she quickly hides from the others. Nine months pass without Grandma and the store's  business drops. During this time, Cousin Mel comes up with a new plan to sell the store to Austin by tricking Grandpa into giving her his power of attorney. When Jake objects, Austin agrees to give him another week in order to find Grandma before going through with the deal. Adamant in his belief that Santa ran over her, Jake emails Santa, and soon Quincy, Santa's head elf, comes to take Jake to the North Pole, explaining Santa took Grandma back to the North Pole for medical treatment, but developed amnesia from the accident, and until receiving Jake's  e-mail Santa had no idea of who she was. After Jake explains the situation, Santa, Quincy, and Grandma agree to go with him to stop the deal. When they arrive in Cityville, however, Cousin Mel and her attorney, I.M. Slime, quickly trick Grandma into going with them. After Santa explains to Austin what has happened, Jake and Quincy discover that Grandma has gone missing once again. Cousin Mel uses the opportunity to accuse Santa of being behind her disappearance and put him on trial for kidnapping, leaving the scene of an accident, and "sleighicular negligence". The two then plot  to sue him, believing that someone who can pay for billions of presents must be incredibly wealthy. Three months later, Daphne suspects that Cousin Mel may have been involved in Grandma's second disappearance, and Jake and Quincy follow her to a cabin in the woods where she and I.M. Slime are keeping Grandma out of sight. They rescue Grandma and find Santa's letter explaining what happened, that Cousin Mel had found at the site of Grandma's accident, and also what Cousin Mel added to Grandma's fruitcake that Christmas Eve night, which had the effect of "reindeer -nip" irresistible to reindeer. They restore Grandma's memory by feeding her some of her own fruitcakes and rush to the courthouse. Confronted with the evidence, Cousin Mel is arrested for obstructing justice and "almost ruining Christmas," and the judge lets Santa go after finally discovering the truth. Realizing how much the family cares about their business, Austin offers to franchise Grandma's store throughout the country. As the Spankenheimers prepare to head home, Grandma accidentally picks up the tainted fruitcake, causing Santa and Mrs. Claus to run her over again as they depart to head home to the North  Pole. Luckily, Grandma is fine as Jake and Grandpa help her back to her feet, while Santa calls out "Feliz Navidad!", the Spanish version of "Merry Christmas!" Songs. The song "Grandpa's Gonna Sue The Pants Offa' Santa" became an internet meme on YouTube. Home media releases. Warner Home Video released "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" to VHS on October 31, 2000 and to DVD on October 16, 2001.