"Oscar Takes A Holiday" continues with our review of Arthur Christmas, which features Jim Broadbent as the voice of Santa Claus. Broadbent won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 2001 film Iris.
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| Jim Broadbent shows off his Oscar at the 74th Academy Awards ceremony. |
Here's today's review:
Arthur Christmas (James McAvoy), son of Santa Claus (Jim Broadbent), is responsible for answering letters sent to Santa.
He receives a letter from a girl named Gwen (Ramona Marquez) who lives in Trelew, UK. Gwen's letter asks Santa to bring her a pink bicycle for Christmas.
Santa Claus is actually named Malcolm, he’s the
15th man to take on the role of Santa. His father, known as Grandsanta (Bill Nighy),
previously filled the role.
On Christmas Eve, Santa is traverses the globe on a giant high tech sleigh called the
S-1.
On Christmas Eve, Santa is traverses the globe on a giant high tech sleigh called the
S-1.
Grandsanta
believes that Christmas was better in the old days when he delivered toys in
the traditional sleigh pulled by flying reindeer.
Santa and his elves deliver presents in a manner
that resembles a covert paramilitary action.
Steve believes that this will be his father’s last year as Santa and he
expects to take over the role.
As Christmas Eve turns into Christmas morning, Santa and company arrive home and begin celebrating another successful night of gift delivery.
Suddenly, the elves realize that one gift has gone undelivered. Arthur figures out that it’s the bike intended for Gwen. Santa and Steve say it’s no bother, millions of kids got their presents, they’ll get it to Gwen in a few days.
Arthur protests, saying every child deserves a gift from Santa on Christmas morning.
As Christmas Eve turns into Christmas morning, Santa and company arrive home and begin celebrating another successful night of gift delivery.
Suddenly, the elves realize that one gift has gone undelivered. Arthur figures out that it’s the bike intended for Gwen. Santa and Steve say it’s no bother, millions of kids got their presents, they’ll get it to Gwen in a few days.
Arthur protests, saying every child deserves a gift from Santa on Christmas morning.
Arthur’s concern falls on deaf ears, until Grandsanta decides
to help him deliver the gift. He tells
Arthur they will deliver the bicycle to Gwen, using his original sleigh (which he calls "Evie") pulled by six flying reindeer.
They’re joined by an elf named Bryony Shelfley (Ashley Jensen), who specializes in gift wrap, but has always wanted to deliver presents. They head off to Trelew on a journey that takes them around the world, with several detours.
Can Athur, Grandsanta and Bryony deliver the bike before Gwen wakes up Christmas Morning?
They’re joined by an elf named Bryony Shelfley (Ashley Jensen), who specializes in gift wrap, but has always wanted to deliver presents. They head off to Trelew on a journey that takes them around the world, with several detours.
Can Athur, Grandsanta and Bryony deliver the bike before Gwen wakes up Christmas Morning?
J.A. Morris says:
I liked Arthur Christmas quite a bit when it was first released and it holds up after multiple viewings. I thought the voice actors were all
excellent, but James McAvoy carries the film. He creates a character that embodies kindness who loves Santa and Christmas more than anything. Arthur is willing to risk life and limb in order to deliver Gwen's bike. His love of the holiday rubs off on his older family members who feel lost in the shuffle of the "military-style" delivery of presents.
It's such a great performance that you forget this is the actor who played Professor Xavier in multiple X-Men films.
It's such a great performance that you forget this is the actor who played Professor Xavier in multiple X-Men films.
The animation, just like other Aardman movies looks amazing. The reindeer are absolutely gorgeous and
look very realistic.
If I have any problem with Arthur Christmas, it's that Santa doesn't immediately drop everything and get the present to Gwen's house ASAP. In the story, Santa feels like he's lost control of the delivery of presents, so much so that he feels like an after-thought in the operation that's mostly directed by Steve.
So I get it, but...he's still Santa Claus! I don't think I'm spoiling too much of the film when I tell you that Santa comes around before it's over, but it still bugged me a bit.
Arthur Christmas features great animation, excellent voice-acting and an entertaining adventure. Recommended, but my above feelings about Santa keep me from giving it my highest rating.
J.A. Morris' rating:
.5
3 and a half candy canes.
RigbyMel says:
I've been a fan of Aardman animation since discovering Wallace & Gromit in the 1980s. The level of detail in their films always manages to impress and Arthur Christmas is a lovely holiday offering produced by the UK studio in collaboration with Sony Pictures Animation.
This movie manages to find a nice balance between old and new as well as capturing the holiday spirit without being soppy in doing so. The characters are all very well defined and delightfully quirky. Goofy, clumsy Arthur's love of Christmas and his determination shine through (as do the eyes on his fuzzy reindeer slippers).
We have a somewhat befuddled Santa/Malcom, his hyper competent and unflappable wife (voiced by Imelda Staunton), crochety, irascible Grandsanta (voiced by Bill Nighy), and tech-obsessed elder brother Steve (voiced by Hugh Laurie), who each have their own ideas as to how things should be run.
And, of course, we have the intrepid elf Bryony (as voiced by Ashley Jensen) who works in the wrapping department and is just as determined as Arthur to see to it that little Gwen gets her (fully-wrapped) bike!
Even the more minor characters like Grandsanta's elderly, be-coned reindeer are well-drawn characters.
There are amusing gags that will appeal to both adults and kids. My particular favorite is the accidental "alien encounter" scene when Arthur and Grandsanta land in the middle of the U.S.
The ultimate message of the film is two-fold: 1) every child deserves a present on Christmas and 2) dysfunctional families (even Santa's!) still love each other and the holidays can help bring them closer together.
Arthur Christmas endeavors to show us how exactly Santa manages to deliver all those presents in just one night, and it is also an enjoyable family comedy adventure story. Like J.A., I can personally vouch that it stands up to repeated viewings and it can be enjoyed by kids from 1 to 92. Recommended.
RigbyMel's rating:
4 candy canes!
If I have any problem with Arthur Christmas, it's that Santa doesn't immediately drop everything and get the present to Gwen's house ASAP. In the story, Santa feels like he's lost control of the delivery of presents, so much so that he feels like an after-thought in the operation that's mostly directed by Steve.
So I get it, but...he's still Santa Claus! I don't think I'm spoiling too much of the film when I tell you that Santa comes around before it's over, but it still bugged me a bit.
Arthur Christmas features great animation, excellent voice-acting and an entertaining adventure. Recommended, but my above feelings about Santa keep me from giving it my highest rating.
J.A. Morris' rating:
.5
3 and a half candy canes.
RigbyMel says:
I've been a fan of Aardman animation since discovering Wallace & Gromit in the 1980s. The level of detail in their films always manages to impress and Arthur Christmas is a lovely holiday offering produced by the UK studio in collaboration with Sony Pictures Animation.
This movie manages to find a nice balance between old and new as well as capturing the holiday spirit without being soppy in doing so. The characters are all very well defined and delightfully quirky. Goofy, clumsy Arthur's love of Christmas and his determination shine through (as do the eyes on his fuzzy reindeer slippers).
We have a somewhat befuddled Santa/Malcom, his hyper competent and unflappable wife (voiced by Imelda Staunton), crochety, irascible Grandsanta (voiced by Bill Nighy), and tech-obsessed elder brother Steve (voiced by Hugh Laurie), who each have their own ideas as to how things should be run.
And, of course, we have the intrepid elf Bryony (as voiced by Ashley Jensen) who works in the wrapping department and is just as determined as Arthur to see to it that little Gwen gets her (fully-wrapped) bike!
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| Bryony! |
There are amusing gags that will appeal to both adults and kids. My particular favorite is the accidental "alien encounter" scene when Arthur and Grandsanta land in the middle of the U.S.
The ultimate message of the film is two-fold: 1) every child deserves a present on Christmas and 2) dysfunctional families (even Santa's!) still love each other and the holidays can help bring them closer together.
Arthur Christmas endeavors to show us how exactly Santa manages to deliver all those presents in just one night, and it is also an enjoyable family comedy adventure story. Like J.A., I can personally vouch that it stands up to repeated viewings and it can be enjoyed by kids from 1 to 92. Recommended.
RigbyMel's rating:
4 candy canes!
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