If your kid is begging to see Arthur Christmas, you're in luck. It's a cute holiday film (as opposed to that Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked monstrosity that is coming up in a couple of weeks, not that I am biased or judging a book by its cover or anything). In this animated tale, James McAvoy provides the voice for Arthur - Santa's son, who is quite a bit clumsy, so he has been assigned to the mailroom, where he responds to various letters from children all over the world (and, it turns out Santa's family is British because they keep saying, "Happy Christmas" instead of "Merry Christmas." The Brits are weird that way). While Arthur has the heart of gold, his brother, Steve (Hugh Laurie), has a brilliant brain for organization, so it looks like he is next in line to be Santa Claus as Dad (Jim Broadbent) prepares for what could be his last Christmas.
Unfortunately, as everyone is celebrating a successful Christmas mission, Bryony the Elf (Ashley Jensen), discovers one child's present accidentally was left at the North Pole. Unwilling to admit a flaw in his system, Steve doesn't think it is a big deal, and Santa, who is tired from the whole night of chimneys and stockings, just wants to get to sleep. Feeling all of Christmas will be ruined if this one child is left behind, Arthur teams up with his grandfather, Grandsanta (Bill Nighy),and Bryony on a mission to deliver the present before the little girl wakes up.
Will Grandsanta, Bryony and Arthur succeed at their mission, even though they are doing it old school style with reindeer and a sled?
Why does Grandsanta want to help?
Why is the Santa Claus family so dysfunctional?
Arthur Christmas starts off like the ultimate, perfect, kind of cute and funny holiday movie with enough modern sensibility to keep everyone entertained. The story just trips all over itself towards the end as co-writer Peter Baynham and director/co-writer Sarah Smith appear to be trying very hard to convey a message, while continuing the movie with unnecessary twists and turns to meet some sort of length quota. There is beauty in brevity, and I wish they understood that.
Smith and Baynham bring us equal parts old fashioned heart and new fashioned sass and visual stimulus to cure any attempts at delivering too much saccharine. We get some exciting, lively action as the team streaks through the sky in the way we always dreamed Santa would, which also brings some funny, silly moments the kids will enjoy (adults are allowed to laugh, too, so don't hold back).
Plus, Arthur Christmas gives us some hilarious looks at Santa traditions and lore. Do you imagine the North Pole is run like a super efficient, modern factory? Get ready to see it come to life.
While the idea of a dysfunctional Santa family has some comedy moments, it is too glum for those who want a heartwarming tale. You still get goose bumps as Arthur heroically does what he can to bring a present to the cutest little girl in the world, but the Claus family behaves too much like I would imagine the British royal family to act if everyone was jockeying to become King.
Santa comes off like a buffoon (and I don't want kids to see Santa that way, which also hurts the tone of the movie). Steve is to wrapped up in his ego and Grandsanta is too bitter. Aren't we going to see Arthur Christmas to get away from squabbling family members?
Arthur Christmas will get you ready to deck the halls. Fa. La. La. La. La.
3 Waffles (Out of 4)
Arthur Christmas is rated PG for some mild rude humor
Smith and Baynham bring us equal parts old fashioned heart and new fashioned sass and visual stimulus to cure any attempts at delivering too much saccharine. We get some exciting, lively action as the team streaks through the sky in the way we always dreamed Santa would, which also brings some funny, silly moments the kids will enjoy (adults are allowed to laugh, too, so don't hold back).
Plus, Arthur Christmas gives us some hilarious looks at Santa traditions and lore. Do you imagine the North Pole is run like a super efficient, modern factory? Get ready to see it come to life.
While the idea of a dysfunctional Santa family has some comedy moments, it is too glum for those who want a heartwarming tale. You still get goose bumps as Arthur heroically does what he can to bring a present to the cutest little girl in the world, but the Claus family behaves too much like I would imagine the British royal family to act if everyone was jockeying to become King.
Santa comes off like a buffoon (and I don't want kids to see Santa that way, which also hurts the tone of the movie). Steve is to wrapped up in his ego and Grandsanta is too bitter. Aren't we going to see Arthur Christmas to get away from squabbling family members?
Arthur Christmas will get you ready to deck the halls. Fa. La. La. La. La.
3 Waffles (Out of 4)
Arthur Christmas is rated PG for some mild rude humor
