kids encyclopedia robot

The Nuttiest Nutcracker facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
The Nuttiest Nutcracker
The nuttiest nutcracker.jpg
DVD cover
Directed by Harold Harris
Produced by Dan Krech
Diane Eskenazi
Starring Debi Derryberry
Kevin Schon
Cheech Marin
Desirée Goyette
Jim Cummings
Tress MacNeille
Cam Clarke
Phyllis Diller
Jim Belushi
Jeff Bennett
Music by David Krystal
Studio Dan Krech Productions
Pacific Title/Mirage
Distributed by Columbia TriStar Home Video
Release date(s) October 19, 1999 (1999-10-19)
Running time 48 minutes
Country United States
Canada
Language English
Budget $84,000

The Nuttiest Nutcracker is a fun Christmas movie from 1999. It was released straight to video. The film is based on the classic story The Nutcracker. Harold Harris directed it. Famous voices like Jim Belushi, Cheech Marin, and Phyllis Diller are in it.

The story is about a group of talking fruits and vegetables. They try to help the Nutcracker's army. Their goal is to put a star on a Christmas tree before midnight. They also need to stop a mouse army from ruining Christmas. Columbia TriStar Home Video released the movie in 1999. It also aired on CBS on December 4, 1999.

What Happens in the Movie?

A Magical Christmas Eve

It's a snowy Christmas Eve. Marie (Debi Derryberry) and her brother Fritz are home alone. Their Uncle Drosselmeyer (Jim Cummings) is with them. Marie is sad because her parents are not home. She wishes Christmas Eve would just disappear.

A group of talking nuts hears her wish. They are Colonel (Jeff Bennett), Mac (Cheech Marin), Sparkle (Desirée Goyette), Stash (Kevin Schon), and Gramps (Cummings). They feel better when Uncle Drosselmeyer gives gifts. Fritz gets a toy cannon. Marie gets a special nutcracker doll.

The Nutcracker Prince

The nuts think the doll might be their lost prince (Cam Clarke). They tell Little Pea (Tress MacNeille) a story. The prince was cursed by a mouse queen. He turned into a wooden figure. Only true love can break the spell.

Fritz grabs the nutcracker. A chase up the Christmas tree happens. The doll falls hard to the floor. Marie is upset that her nutcracker is "hurt." She sends Fritz away. Later, she forgives him. She tells her nutcracker that she loves him most. Marie kisses the doll and falls asleep.

The Mouse King's Plan

The nuts also fall asleep. They don't know that Reginald (Jim Belushi) is watching. Reginald is the mouse queen's son. He plans to steal the Christmas star. The star is at the top of the tree. He wants to take over Christmas Kingdom.

Reginald and his mouse army try to capture the nuts. The nuts fight toy soldiers. But the toy soldiers are no match for the mice. Mac then brings in his own army. This army is made of fruits and vegetables!

The Battle for Christmas

The food army gets tired from fighting. Gramps is captured by three mice. Marie wakes up because of the battle. She sees her doll alive and fighting Reginald. Marie steps in to help. Reginald is interested in Marie. She brushes him off her foot using the Christmas star.

The foods celebrate their win. But then, Marie magically shrinks. Uncle Drosselmeyer makes her the same height as the nutcracker prince.

Finding the Sugar Plum Fairy

The foods tell Marie that without the Christmas star, Christmas will be gone. Luckily, Marie still has the star. They decide to go to the Sugar Plum Fairy's kingdom. They need her help to put the star back on the tree.

As they reach the fairy's castle, Reginald appears. He captures Marie. Marie is locked in the cheese factory of Reginald's palace. She feels sad about failing to save Christmas. She imagines dancing with the prince. Then, Reginald calls for her. He offers to marry her.

Marie's Kindness

Marie refuses to marry Reginald. But she starts to feel bad for him. She learns that no one has ever given him a Christmas gift.

The prince and the foods arrive at Reginald's palace. They want to rescue Marie and the others. The foods are unsure at first. But they see the prince's bravery. They agree to sneak into the palace. The prince and Marie are reunited. This happens after Reginald and his sergeant do a dance.

The Final Chase

Chaos starts when Reginald hears a black-eyed pea laughing. The pea is laughing because Reginald didn't win Marie's heart. A chase begins on flying motorcycles. These motorcycles are made of crackers and olives!

In the middle of the chase, Reginald's palace starts to fall apart. The prince rescues the foods. Reginald's vehicle runs out of fuel. He falls into the cheese river. Marie has grown to like the king a bit. She saves him. But she loses the star while doing so. Reginald admits that saving him was the first nice thing anyone had done for him. He then gives the star back to Marie.

A Wish Come True

The group arrives at the Sugar Plum Fairy's castle. She tells them the Christmas star can grant any wish. It can even bring Marie's parents home. Marie makes her wish. She gently tosses the star to the ceiling. Everything turns white.

Marie wakes up. Her parents are greeting her. Uncle Drosselmeyer is there too. A guest who looks like the prince is also present. The movie ends with Marie and the prince sharing a kiss. Mac and the nuts hold mistletoe above them.

After the movie ends, the Sugar Plum Fairy stops the credits. She asks for thanks for saving Christmas Kingdom. This happens three times before the movie truly ends.

Who Are the Voices?

kids search engine
The Nuttiest Nutcracker Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.