Arthur Christmas (2011) User Reviews

Not only for Christmas

[kosmasp · 8/10 · 23 March 2012]

It's funny that some of the Oscar nominated movies were not as good as this. The animated movie section could have done with a movie like this. It has more than a little heart and it is a really good movie. I liked the 3-D too, but it's not really important. Because the movie works with it and without it.

When the movie started (I knew the general idea through the trailer), I did wonder how'd they make a feature length movie out of it. I wouldn't say I was afraid, they'd just fill the running time with smaller benign things, but I didn't really believe in it. I was so wrong. The movie always has something up its sleeve and it works perfectly. Great characters, great comedy and a heart that is so sweet it might be made out of sugar!

Fantastic Christmas film. In fact, fantastic film. Full Stop

[bowmanblue · 8/10 · 28 December 2014]

Arthur Christmas is one of those rare computer generated films which is lucky enough to have things in common with such greats as Toy Story and Shrek, i.e. it can be watched on many levels and therefore enjoyed by both adults and children.

It tells the (very British) story of Father Christmas' operation and how he, and his family, plus an army of highly-trained elves, delivers presents to all the boys and girls on one night. However, his family-run business hits a rocky patch when one little girl is accidentally missed out, threatening to ruin Father Christmas' good name in the process. Step up Arthur (youngest son of Father) Christmas, who with the help of an elf with an obsession of wrapping things in pretty paper and bows, plus his aging (and slightly senile) Grandfather (aka 'Grand Santa') set about making the one last drop on Christmas Eve in which to get the present to the girl before she wakes up and thinks Father Christmas has forgotten about her.

It's not a particularly complicated story and, on hearing about it, I first wondered how much mileage could be made out of it. The trailer looks impressive, but sometimes they squeeze all the best gags into the ninety second trailer and there's nothing left for the film itself. Luckily, this is not the case. The story is truly charming. It highlights the best of British (vocal) acting talent and weaves it into a heartfelt story about family at Christmas with jokes that will make children chuckle, while others will go straight over their heads for 'parents only' to enjoy.

I'm no fan of Christmas. I think it's over-hyped, expensive and too commercial. Many a Christmas ever I've locked out the three well-meaning ghosts, but Arthur Christmas even managed to make me feel almost festive - an emotion that Dudley Moore couldn't even manage in his Father Christmas movie. That's how good Arthur Christmas really is (unless I'm experiencing a mid life crisis a few years early).

A real gem

[Isaaclk_ · 7/10 · 22 November 2020]

This film should be a certain addition to any classic christmas film collection. As always, Ardman took their time on this animated picture and it cannot be faulted. The fantastic cast of experienced British actors really help make the comedy and light-heartedness of the film which is dotted with jokes to make adults laugh too. The story is very straightforward but the way it gets from start to end includes enough unexpecetd turns to keep a watcher engaded. Ends in a greatly happy note.

Was fun, enjoyable and just at the right level.

[akatsunara · 7/10 · 11 December 2011]

Okay for me, it was simple but perfection! Simple storyline, great animation, great characters! This movie is what Children Animation should be like! The movie was not bad and it also had a nice theme to it. The bad guys weren't to violent or vicious like other children animation. But if you think about it there were not really any bad guys at all. There were only a few violent moments (explosion of 'Eve') and I thought at one moment the older brother was going to do something bad but it kept to the innocence. Great movie for young kids and older viewers looking for a calm, fun night to enjoy! Great work to everyone who were involved.

Solid family fare

[drew_atreides · 7/10 · 20 February 2012]

Took this one in at the 2nd run theatre this afternoon with my 5 year old son and 3 year old daughter.

I think that for the most part, they enjoyed it though I think the humour and writing may have actually fit for a bit older crowd.

To be honest my wife and i were both surprised how entertaining WE found the film. The prattling one-liners from Grandsanta were hilarious!

And the whole high-tech concept applied to Santa does probably the best job yet at coming across with a conceivable plan for how Santa pulls it all off in one night.

I think in a couple of years my kids may appreciate it even more, as they get old enough to understand some of the more sophisticated humour.

At any rate, a surprisingly cute Christmas flick.

Gets the whole family into the Christmas Spirit.

[Troy_Campbell · 7/10 · 1 December 2011]

The festive season kicks off with a bang thanks to Aardman Studios' (famous for Wallace and Gromit) second noteworthy foray into computer animation (the ho-hum Flushed Away being their debut). Only the most stone-hearted Grinch won't be moved by Arthur's jolly ol' premise that not even one child should go without experiencing the joys of Santa Claus visiting on Christmas night. The moral message may be gooier than the centre of a toasted marshmallow, but the gag rate is high, the animation is perfect and the voice cast of James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, Hugh Laurie and Imelda Staunton are splendid. Mix in a plethora of hidden jokes for the adults and you couldn't ask for a nicer movie to get the whole family into the Christmas spirit.

Delightfully charming

[Scrooge-3 · 9/10 · 19 November 2011]

Arthur Claus (James McAvoy) is the bumbling son of the reigning Santa, Malcolm Claus (Jim Broadbent). Arthur is relegated to the Letter Department where he can presumably do no damage. Arthur's brother Steve (Hugh Laurie) is the heir apparent to the title of Santa. Steve is handsome, confident, and in charge of the North Pole command center that monitors Santa's gift-giving flight around the world. The film opens with a bravura set piece showing how Santa is able to stop in millions of homes in one night. Hint: he has the help of thousands of elves.

When Arthur discovers that one gift was accidentally undelivered, he becomes determined to get it to the unfortunate girl before Christmas sunrise. Even with the help of his retired grandsanta (Bill Nighy) and a perky elf (Ashley Jensen) from the Wrapping Department, can Arthur travel around the world in time?

There have been many movies over the years where Christmas must be saved from disaster, but Arthur Christmas has a very creative take on it. From the opening scene where it's established that Santa is really a dynasty through the centuries, a title handed down from father to son, to the paramilitary operation to get millions of presents delivered in one night, to the misadventures of Arthur and his grandsanta as they try to make sure one little girl is not disappointed, Arthur Christmas is fun, creative, and original. Produced by Aardman Animations in association with Sony Pictures Animation, this CGI animated film delivers Aardman's distinct brand of quirky humor and style.

The art direction maintains the slightly skewed look of an Aardman claymation film. The character designs are asymmetric and the surface textures are realistic yet bold. The North Pole command center and Santa's high-tech sleigh are clean and modern.

Sometimes celebrity voice talent backfires, but here it works beautifully, the English accents lending a sense of gravity that heightens the silliness. Bill Nighy is particularly good, conveying wisdom that is tinged with resentment of the modern gift-delivery methods his son and grandson use.

Arthur Christmas is a funny, heartwarming, and poignant look at the Santa Claus mythos, adding a family dynamic that will resonate with children and adults. I expect Arthur Christmas will become a joyful holiday favorite for years to come.

Great graphics, but too long

[Tblas · 7/10 · 16 December 2019]

Really great graphics and general idea of story line is fine. Just too much random silliness along the way.... but that may be appreciated by young children. Would have enjoyed more if it were a one hour TV Christmas special : P

A different kind of Christmas...

[garethok · 8/10 · 19 December 2011]

I want to give this a 7, but its originality boosts it to an 8.

The story is predictable, but fun, but the tri-planar nature (Father-Father-Son) of the piece with off shoots of wife, mother, brother and friend, mean this is truly a film about a family Christmas.

Nothing unexpected happens, but I found myself laughing and egging Arthur on all the way! A film that succeeds in entertaining children and, in making the older viewers feel the onset of rosy and sometimes, emotional family nostalgia.

A more original plot may have blunted the message, but would also have engaged my brain.

Regardless, well done! A good Christmas film to add to the ranks.

Charming Christmas Film

[John2DS · 7/10 · 21 December 2020]

Arthur Christmas is delightful, cute and charming along with a solid comedy.

A new take on an old Santa story

[JohnDeSando · 30 November 2011]

"A lovely thing about Christmas is that it's compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together." Garrison Keillor

Where I live, too many Christmas Carol adaptations take the place of imaginative theater productions that could celebrate the holidays without the requisite Scrooge redemption. Arthur Christmas is a refreshing new take on the countless Santa stories, notwithstanding my favorite: Bad Santa, which satisfies my need for the new and irreverent.

Arthur (James McAvoy) is one of Santa's two sons, a bungler with a big heart. He takes it on his own to bring a present to the one girl in all the land whose present was not delivered. His technocrat brother, Steve (Hugh Laurie), has been responsible for the mis-delivery, although his array of laptops for elves and computerized delivery system is impressive. The head versus the heart forms the central conflict, providing laughs and groans but never in a mean way as in Bad Santa.

Aardman CG works its animation magic to create big-nosed, elongated-faced characters like GrandSanta (Bill Nighy), Santa (Jim Broadbent), and Mrs. Santa (Imelda Staunton), all of whom are fleshed out as loving characters with quirks just right for their roles.

In regard to developing character, Aardman goes nose to nose with Pixar. The use of 3-D is unobtrusive as it is in Martin Scorsese's Hugo with the process useful to give flights of the sleighs a grand feel, swooping in and out of perspective. Yet, in the end, regardless of the jazzy visuals, it's a lovely and exciting story for the holidays. As soon as the younger audience adjusts to the Brit accents, and that doesn't take long, they will enjoy the high spirits, good will, dry humor, and imagination they deserve and should expect from the masters of unique animation.

It's wonderful filmmaking that touches the heart with affectionate Brit humor.

Santa and his attack Elves

[rwncopeland · 7/10 · 21 December 2020]

It's a surprisingly fun, beautiful and cheerful Christmas movie. It has a very unique take on Santa that increases the Christmas spirit. Santa and Ninja Elves was not something I was expecting, but it was actually really cool. I was also surprised at how well a lot of the shots are angled, it really adds to the character of the film, being its own unique aspect.

Arthur Christmas is a great animated film, definitely in my top 10 Christmas films.

A Sweet Cozy Christmas Film - What More Do You Want?

[dommercaldi · 7/10 · 18 December 2020]

Pros: 1. The animation is brilliant for the most part, particularly the vivid facial expressions of the human characters. 2. James McAvoy (Arthur), Hugh Laurie (Steve), Bill Nighy (Grandsanta), and Jim Broadbent (Santa) give fantastic voice-acting performances. 3. The costume and set design is great, especially the costumes that personify the characters, and the set design of the Eve and Christmas spaceship. 4. The score is never overbearing and helps to solidify the intended downcast and magical moments. 5. The film delivers an original take on the mythos of Santa Claus by treating it as a family business that runs, and has set objectives, like any other business. 6. The comedy never misses a beat as well as adding to the feel-good Christmas feel.

Cons: 1. The animated lions look outright awful and are therefore too distracting. 2. For some strange reason, the elves are multi-racial, even though the myth of Santa Claus and his elves belongs to European folklore. 3. There are occasions in the movie where Arthur, Grandsanta, and Bryony (Ashley Jensen) fall from miraculous heights, and yet somehow walk away unscathed.

Colourful Christmas fare

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 9 March 2012]

As a fan of Aardman ever since Wallace and Gromit, I was interested from the get go into seeing Arthur Christmas. Apart from it dragging slightly in the middle, Arthur Christmas was a wonderful film. The animation is absolutely breathtaking, it is all very colourful and beautifully modelled, and the soundtrack is so rousing it makes you want to get out your favourite Christmas Carols/Songs CD and sing along afterwards. The script is mostly witty, if more amusing than laugh-out-loud funny, and the story has a lot of charm and heart to it. The three best assets were the terrific characters, Arthur in particular, makes such a big impression with his likability and his wonderful jumper and I hope to see more of him in the future, the voice cast with a spirited James McAvoy, a jovial Jim Broadbent and a truly inspired Bill Nighy and the real sense of occasion, watching this movie you actually feel that it's Christmas. All in all, colourful and entertaining, I thoroughly enjoyed it. 9/10 Bethany Cox

A pleasant festive animated film

[r96sk · 7/10 · 18 December 2020]

A good watch.

I had a fine time watching 'Arthur Christmas'. The plot is a little light, with a fairly simple event taking a relative while to resolve itself, but it's still a pleasant festive animated film - with neat animation.

There are a number of familiar names on the voice cast, too many to name in actual fact. My personal standout is Hugh Laurie as Steven, though James McAvoy, Bill Nighy and Jim Broadbent are all enjoyable too.

One of the most underrated Christmas films ever

[aidanratesmovies · 10/10 · 6 December 2021]

It may not have particularly groundbreaking animation, or be as famous as such other Christmas classics, but Arthur Christmas is by far the most meaningful and creative holiday film in years- and is easily one of my favorite films to watch every year during the holiday season. From the time I was a little kid and saw this in theaters, this film has never failed to let me down. It's an incredibly well written tale, charming, and humorous, with a fantastic cast- including legends like James McAvoy, Bill Nighy, Hugh Laurie, and Jim Broadbent. Its perhaps one of the sweetest animated films i've seen in recent memory. It has its predictable moments for sure, and its animation isn't anything special- but its setting, characters, and story are executed in a way that most animated films never have the chance to in this sequel filled world and i'm just so proud and happy a film like this exists for children of all ages to enjoy. In the end, Arthur Christmas may not be as popular as The Polar Express or 2009's A Christmas Carol, but it's easily the best animated Christmas film in recent memory and I hope more people will be able to enjoy its heartfelt message and sense of wonder.

My Rating: 9.6/10.

Loved the concept and overall a solid movie

[mickeythechamp · 7/10 · 14 December 2022]

Christmas 2022 day 13. A movie I expected absolutely nothing from and therefore became delighted by it. It tried to make a new and interesting idea and I think it succeeded.

Arthur Christmas is a wonderful movie. It´s always so nice to see a Christmas movie trying to be something different from the rest, without diverging too far from common ideas. This movie succeeded in this and became a Christmas movie I think works on may levels. I think it´s a fun kids movie and didn't try to be much more than that.

Arthur is the son of Santa and helps in the mailroom. On the north pole, Christmas is a business and the Christmas family has taken care of it for many years. This Christmas, the Santa operation forgets one kids presents. While the rest of the Christmas family don't really care about the one missing present, Arthur dose.

The animation wasn't for me in this movie. I found it rather ugly and off-putting. Everyone looks a bit too weird, and the motions don't always look the best.

The concept of this movie however is amazing. I love when Christmas movies try to do something I haven't seen before, and this movie delivers. The idea of Christmas being a huge operation, that Santa is a lot of people and a family and how Christmas had to be modernized in order to keep up with technology is such a fun and creative idea.

The humor in the movie is actually good. It landed some unexpected jokes and gags. The humor is both for adults and kids alike and there were things in here I did not expect a kids movie to reference like the Cuban missile crisis. While it still it´s first and foremost a kids movie and the humor can be kidish, I didn't fin the movie obnoxious too many times.

The voice acting is solid. The cast is doing a great job with what they are given. Some characters are invested more time into than others, and to really elevate this movie, it needed more character development. While the characters are caricaturist and simple, they work for the story. Santa is the old boss who is loosing touch, Arthur is a treasure and happy about everything, grandsanta is the old ways and Arthurs brother Steve is the new ways. It works for the story and moral but the characters just needed that little more time in order to really shine.

In general, I love the beginning of this movie. Lost interest throughout the middle and then it picks itself up. To see a modern Christmas being executed by a million elves and Santa is so fun and creative. All the gadgets, mission impossible style acrobatics, all so fun and well done. I really loved the worldbuilding and got so invested by the characters and lore. I found the family dynamic good and interesting for clear set ups for problems. The movie began to lose me towards the middle where Arthur and his grandpa is just flying around. The movie pics up again towards the climax, although the movie adds too many aspects going on at the same time. Meltdown and alien thing was too much.

I loved the concept as said and what it tried to say about Christmas. In the movie we have an older Santa who thinks Christmas should be done the old ways. A current Santa who has lost control of his company and his son Steve who has optimized Christmas to a modern standard. While none of them are wrong, their worldviews aren't really about Christmas, but themselves. They all think they can do Christmas the best, but Arthur is the one who knows Christmas is not about proving yourself but making other people happy. The drama between them and the conclusion is great about joining the old and new ways while focusing what its actually about. Christmas isn't about perfections or results, it´s about making everyone happy.

Arthur Christmas took me by surprise and delivered a solid good movie. It´s fun, entertaining and it´s story is executed so well. Seeing Christmas movies doing something different is always nice, and the world seemed so well written. Peter Baynham and Sarah Smith both did a great job creating this lore and story. While it´s not perfect, dragging at times, not looking the best and needing more character, it´s still a highly entertaining movie I´ll gladly watch again.

IT DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS

[Sunsphxsuns · 10/10 · 27 November 2021]

Any Christmas themed film with a tongue in cheek opening scene that resembles the SyFy classic, Independence Day (1996), gets an automatic 9 stars from me, and not just because ID is one of my favorite contemporary alien invasion films. I give Arthur Christmas an extra high rating because it's also a perfectly stunning movie.

Arthur Christmas is a mountainous collaboration of immense talent and unlimited funds, and as such, the perfect amalgamation helps to create one of the best feature animation films outside the seemingly indestructible, impenetrable Disney universe.

Aardman Animations, Ltd., is not a newcomer. The British animation studio based in Bristol, England, is best known for its retro stop-motion, clay animation techniques featuring weird and oblique characters like Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep. The money that funded Arthur Christmas came from the coffers of Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California. It is one of the largest American studios for motion pictures and television. How large, you ask? Their revenues in 2020 were a mere $7.16 billion.

Mountains of cash and unbridled talent can sometimes take a nose dive. But not this time. Arthur Christmas runs full out on all cylinders, and is so continuously amusing and entertaining you'll wonder where the time went when the deservedly lengthy end credits begin to roll across the screen.

This is a movie with a colossal heart, enormous scope, and endless imagination. To say it's a film about how Santa Claus operates would be like trying to explain the Universe to a rock. It's impossible. It's loaded with pop culture references, and voiced by some very clever actors like Hugh Laurie, James McAvoy and Bill Nighy.

Stream, rent or buy the DVD. You'll want to watch it with your kids every Christmas. And when the children inevitably grow up and move away, open that great bottle of cold Pino Grigio you've been saving for that special occasion and watch it yourself. It's simply an amazing experience, and one to be savored.

No spoilers here as usual, but I will reveal the filmmakers were originally going to have a mean and nasty elf named "General Antlers," whose ambition was to turn the reindeer into hamburgers!

Interesting take on the Santa mythos

[Vartiainen · 7/10 · 23 December 2015]

Movies about Santa Claus tend to be rather... traditional. What I mean, they usually keep with the old and tried values. Lots of woodworking, hand-crafting, old methods, putting your back into it. Thus, it is very nice and different to see a film where Santa uses extremely modern methods to achieve his goals. The sleigh has been replaced with an ultra high-tech spaceship, the elves work more like highly-trained special ops units, everything is run with the precision of a military operation and the children are merely a statistic to be achieved.

And yet, in the end, not really. That's the first five minutes, the starting point, but the film still holds with the spirit of the old. It simply takes into account the fact that Santa probably would keep up with the achievements of technology, while also exploring the downsides of this. Okay, what's the story? Arthur Christmas, the eponymous main character, is the younger son of Santa, who in turn is the scion of a long life of Santas. And now, during his 70th Christmas Eve, he's all set to turn the reins over to Steve, Arthur's older brother, but it just so happens that they miss a child. And through various reasons it's up to Arthur to save the Christmas of this one lone child, really an insignificant error in an otherwise flawless performance.

Pretty basic Christmas story, but it's the premise and the characters that make it worth watching. The animation is very high-quality, the character designs look very nice, the soundtrack works and all in all it looks suitably Christmasy. And the characters are great. From bumbling and senile Grandsanta to the current Santa, who's far past his prime, to Steve, who's ultra-efficient, but self-admittedly not that good with kids, to Arthur himself, who lacks self-confidence and precision, but is pretty much the only one with his heart still in the right place.

It's a fun film, and definitely a future Christmas classic. It will dazzle you with its vision and characters, while still delivering the same good old Christmas message that we all expect from our Yuletide films.

Could have been entertaining

[awenindoe · 2/10 · 26 October 2012]

This film had the potential of being entertaining despite the done to death storyline, but fails because of tedious and agonizing length. The characters get on your nerves after a while and nothing much happens as everybody seems to beat about the bush blabbering endlessly. Though it starts off quite well and has some nice moments, by the time you're halfway through the film, the magic is really lost.

I am quite certain that any kid in his right mind would not sit through this. And adults would be forced to cussing and tearing their hair, as the film rolls on and on, utterly lost in a maze of totally unnecessary subplots. If you're planning to entertain your family for Christmas, I'd recommend something else.

Quite disappointed.

A fun and happy Christmas film

[Gordon-11 · 24 December 2011]

This film is about Santa Claus and his family, working throughout the night to distribute presents to children around the world, Chaos starts when one kid was lift without a present.

"Arthur Christmas" starts off very impressive, as it shows Santa using the highest technology spaceship to hand out presents in a cool ninja-style operation. The 15 minute operation is so efficient, amazing and jaw-dropping. After that, "Arthur Christmas" becomes an ordinary children's Christmas film. It is vibrant, colourful, happy and fun. How Arthur becomes an unlikely hero is pretty much a standard story line, but it works as a Christmas film. What is not as ordinary is the portrayal of a clash between old and new. It provokes thoughts about the incompatibility between tradition and technology. How many times can we "out with the old, in with the new"?

Arthur Christmas

[mbhgkmsgg · 7/10 · 5 December 2020]

A wonderful animation oozing with Christmas spirit. Arthur Christmas tackles change and the true meaning of the holiday. Where it really shines is in its creativity. And while the story and its themes can feel a little overdone, the final product is filled with holiday spirit and a good message.

What stood out to me the most was the way that the mystery of Santa was handled. Every movie that deals with this type of story has its own way of solving the mystery of how Santa can deliver all of the millions, if not billions, of toys. The way that Arthur Christmas tackles it is great. It's modern, it's fresh, and it suited the overall story extremely well. It's also very entertaining. The film starts with a bang, as we are immediately thrown into the mission that is Christmas eve. It's a tremendously entertaining sequence, and I found myself smiling the whole time.

Getting into the story, we find ourselves in the midst of change. Old traditions and ways being replaced by technology and modern solutions. A story that is starting to feel a little old at this point. I do recognise that this particular film is already nine years old, and perhaps this theme wasn't as overly used then. However, watching it now with all the other Christmas movies with the same idea is starting to feel a little tiresome. But, giving credit where credit is due, I think that Arthur Christmas makes it a little less tedious than some of the newer films. Furthermore, I also think that this film reaches a better conclusion. Both sides of this battle, the new and the old, seem to realize that perhaps the best solution ends up being one that learns from both sides. And, while that is one of the biggest takeaways from the story, the biggest comes in the form of a heartwarming reminder of what Christmas is really about. Making others happy.

As great as this film is, it could've been better. It is quite heavy-handed with pushing its message, and at times, it felt a little overdone. These movies should learn to rely more on just the fact that they are Christmas movies. That's what most people are looking for. Sure, it's good to have a good message, especially since it's aimed at kids. But to make it more enjoyable for the whole family, it wouldn't hurt to tone it down just a little.

The final result ends up being a very heartwarming, funny and pleasant holiday film for the whole family. Kids will, without a doubt, love the way the elves are presented, and I think that adults will be quite pleased with the nice message and references that kids probably won't get. Such as a Versace Santa costume. As far as Christmas animations go, this is one the best ones I have seen. The Christmas songs and the countless references to Christmas traditions will put anyone right in the holiday mood, and left feeling happy.

Fun addition to the Christmas movie genre

[Wizard-8 · 7/10 · 16 November 2019]

To get to the point quickly, "Arthur Christmas" is a holiday family movie that all members of the family will enjoy, whether they may be children or adults. However, I suspect that adults may appreciate it more to a certain degree, seeing that much of the humor and dialogue seems aimed more at a mature and worldly wise audience. It should also be pointed out that some situations and dialogue exchanges are so frenzied that adults may have a better ability than children to follow what is happening. On the other hand, children may appreciate the movie more to their own degree seeing that they will probably not notice that the story is significantly padded out in some sections, and they also may not spot some distracting product plugs for movies and products from the Sony company. (The movie was released by Columbia Pictures, which is owned by Sony.) Despite these flaws, the movie is colorful, well animated, has plenty of humor and action, and the title character is very sympathetic and likeable. While I wouldn't label this movie as one of the great Christmas movies of all time, it is pleasurable enough all the same.

Heartwarming

[Kingslaay · 7/10 · 18 December 2021]

Arthur Christmas captures the positivity of Christmas in this happy little story. Quite unique at the same time and brings Christmas to life. It doesn't go overboard with the childish themes and manages to cater to most audiences. A nice film overall.

A fun, feel good family film

[freemantle_uk · 10/10 · 22 November 2011]

Christmas is a great time of the year. The whole family comes together, children are excited, and joy fills the air. What better way to spend the festive season than seeing a family Christmas movie with your loved ones? Now, Aardman Animations has given us a very joyous movie that should be a Christmas classic for years to come.

Over the years, because of the world's expanding population, Santa Claus' Christmas Night deliveries has become a high-tech military operation, involving thousands of elves and a giant aircraft. Santa Claus' son, Steve (Hugh Laurie), runs logistics and intelligence in the North Pole and is set to become the next Santa Claus. His younger brother, Arthur (James McAvoy), is a very passionate young man who loves the spirit of Christmas, but is a bit of a klutz. Arthur is kept in the mail room to handle all of Santa's letters.

The Christmas delivery seems to be a big success, so much so that Santa Claus (Jim Broadbent) postpones his retirement, much to Steve's annoyance. But the worst thing imaginable has happened, a child has been missed. Steve refuses to delivers one bike because the margin of error was too small, so Arthur and his grandfather (Bill Nighy), who wants to show the old techniques still work, and the dedicated elf Bryony (Ashley Jensen) set out to ensure that one little girl is not the child Santa forgot. But their ambitions result in an adventure around the world as this band of misfits save Christmas for one child.

Like Pixar, Aardman believes that story and character have to come first and they make movies for children and adults alike. The movie is funny throughout, with plenty of the verbal jokes that children and adults will enjoy as well as some really well done physical humour and some slapstick. But this is a movie that understands children and what they want. The premise is simple, but the writing is strong and clever throughout the whole film and there are little touches that give Arthur Christmas that Aardman feel, from the pictures of the previous Santas to Steve's Christmas Tree goatee. Christmas is an exciting time for children and Arthur Christmas is just such a good-natured, fun movie that delivers on that spirit.

Some elements of Arthur Christmas are similar to Elf, mainly that Arthur is a big kid like Buddy who believes in the magic of Christmas. He is also a guy who does not quite fit in the North Pole and given a job that keeps him out of trouble. The score by Harry Gregson-Williams is very much like the score in Elf, particularly the choir, which sounds identical.

This is a cliché, but Arthur Christmas follows the old Hollywood maxim of "you make them laugh, you make them cry." It was filled with colourful, likable characters throughout that you will end up caring for despite their faults and expertly played by a top notch voice cast. I left the cinema with a massive smile on my face.