Review of Arthur Christmas (2011) by Seth S — 24 Dec 2013

There are a whole lot of classic Christmas movies I would love to review. But every time I think of having to write more than a handful of really positive reviews, I decide not to. But after just seeing it, I will review this little gem, Arthur Christmas. Don't be a bit surprised if all the synonyms for sincere and warm-hearted pop up in this review.

Christmas is an operation. Or at least now it is, thanks to Steven Claus. He has turned Christmas into a series of present drops, done by SWAT team-like elves. The real Santa is simply a figurehead, who keeps the job so that he can remain well-loved buy his constituents. Steve treats Christmas like a job. But there still is one Claus who seems to understand the true meaning of the day. And that is Arthur, a good-hearted, but bumbling young Claus. When one single present is not delivered in the wee hours of Christmas morning, Arthur goes on a quest with his "Grand-Santa" to deliver the last present.

The beauty part about the story is that it isn't cynical at all. The movie deals with themes of responsibility, family, aging, doing what's right, for the right reason, and so on. Animated movies tend to run away from these themes, and if they do address them, they have a very sardonic vibe. But Arthur Christmas deals with all of this, and does it in a 100% earnest way. It's a movie that has its heart firmly in the right place.

I haven't seen an Aardman movie in a while, and I forgot how razor-sharp their British sense of humor is. This movie is hilarious! It has a lot of different types of humor, and they all work surprisingly well. There are one-liners, slapstick, situational humor, and a legion of uproarious elves! Much of the humor originates from the main characters' personalities. Arthur is awkwardly clumsy, Steve is over confident, Malcolm (the current Santa) is complacent as being Santa without doing any work, and Grand-Santa is an old fogey. But while there is humor to be had from all of these personalities, the movie doesn't trap the characters in their faults. They learn the right thing by the end of the movie. They grow as characters. They "arc." And they do so without any winking sarcasm. But anyway, this movie doesn't always try to make you laugh, but when it does try, it generally succeeds.

The voice cast is truly excellent! There are many amazing British actors here. James McAvoy is believable in any role he puts his mind to. Whether he's in X-Men, Chronicles of Narnia, or an animated movie such as this, he always tends to nail it. And here, he helps bring Arthur to the screen perfectly! Arthur is honestly one of the most likable characters I've seen in a non-Pixar animated movie. He's such a warm-hearted guy who is committed to doing the right thing, no matter what.

The remaining members of the Claus family are voiced by Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, and Bill Nighy. They not only give convincing performances, but they often go above and beyond the call of duty. I'll always associate Bill Nighy with Davy Jones from Pirates of the Caribbean, but here he plays a totally different character. He, along with Laurie and Broadbent, don't miss a beat the entire way.

Then there are the "helpers." Arthur Christmas is filled with elves! And they are wildly entertaining. Think the minions from Despicable Me, except intelligent and not obsessed with fart jokes. Bryony, played by Ashley Jensen, has the most screen-time of any of the elves, and she provides quite an amusing supporting character! She's spunky, funny, and, like Arthur, she never quits. Also of special note is Michael Palin as Ernie Clicker, an elderly elf. For some reason, I literally found him side-splittingly funny!

The musical score, composed by the versatile Harry Gregson-Williams, is very good. It might not have an overbearingly "Christmas" feel, but I still really liked it. The main theme is heroic while still being just a bit poignant. It's not Gregson-Williams best work in the animation field, but it's still another quality entry into his catalog. Hopefully he comes out of his quasi-retirement sometime soon.

Arthur Christmas recalls nothing but fond memories. It's not only a movie that will make you laugh, but it's also genuinely touching. There are little issues with pacing, but other than that, this movie boasts very few flaws. Originality and humor with a warm heart can go a very long way, and they do in Arthur Christmas!

"If you live at the North Pole, how come I can't see your house when I look on Google Earth?" 8/10.