Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind

How could a short from the Robbie the Reindeer stable, featuring voice talent like Ardal O'Hanlon (not to mention the other galaxy of stars), especially one taking the mickey out of classic SciFi, fall so short of the mark?

Well start by getting writers who's other major claim to fame is the Amazing Adrelalini Bros, a slapstick micro-cartoon almost completely devoid of wit or humour. That would explain the appallingly unfunny script.

Then hire a first-time director who's major prior achievement was acting as a gangster in a video game. That would explain the pacing -why it felt like they were trying to tell a 2 hour story in 22 minutes.

It doesn't explain why they chose to do a CGI version of claymation. And not particularly good CGI at that. This is a poorly crafted, charmless mess. It will forever sully your memories of the brilliant original (Hooves of Fire), as well as being half an hour of your life that you'll never get back.