Arthur Christmas (2011)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Scott G

  
  Definitely one of the brightest, funniest festive films of the year, with easily recognizable voices (which, might I add, I see as a good thing) with a fun plot and all around one little girl, I'm sure there are quite a few people that can relate?

• Brad W

  
  Arthur Christmas is a beautiful and fun Christmas movie that is sure to be a holiday classic. The story follows Arthur who is the son of Santa Clause, his brother Steve is a smart but at times inconsiderate role model who is second in command to Santa, and when a little girl has a… More
  Arthur Christmas is a beautiful and fun Christmas movie that is sure to be a holiday classic. The story follows Arthur who is the son of Santa Clause, his brother Steve is a smart but at times inconsiderate role model who is second in command to Santa, and when a little girl has a gift that did not get sent Arthur does everything he can to make sure this girl has a Merry Christmas. The plot of the movie is funny and a great lesson to be told about Christmas and children, and what i learned from this movie if anything is that every child needs to believe in Santa, because there is nothing better than believeing that there is somebody who loves you that whill bring you a present on Christmas day, and the characters of the film were good but i found the characters to be a little selfish at times besides Arthur who was a incredibly kind and good charcater and he saved the film in a way from being just a bunch of selfish men wanting to be a star. The voice cast was great, James McAvoy was perfect for the character, Hugh Laurie was also was a well done choice as Steve, Jim Broadbent was good as the voice as Santa, and Bill Nighy was also a great choice for his role, what else can I say for voice actors other than I liked them. The animation was incredible, I could really tell they worked hard to make a beautiful Christmas film and it really payed off big time, I loved the beauty in this film. Arthur Christmas had some few problems that kept it from being a perfect Christmas film, but those were minor compared to the things that they got right that made it a great Christmas film and that will make it remembered for years to come.

• Mark H

  
  When a Christmas gift - a bike - accidentally goes undelivered to a little girl, Santa's son Arthur takes the initiative to solve the problem. Arthur Christmas is a joint venture between Sony Pictures Animation and Aardman Animations, the British studio known for Wallace and… More
  When a Christmas gift - a bike - accidentally goes undelivered to a little girl, Santa's son Arthur takes the initiative to solve the problem. Arthur Christmas is a joint venture between Sony Pictures Animation and Aardman Animations, the British studio known for Wallace and Gromit. Cold, charmless Christmas movie radiates scarcely any tradition or warmth. I didn't realize the classic tale of Santa Claus needed to be re-written for contemporary audiences but that's what we're presented with here. It's about as captivating as a lump of coal. Arthur Christmas is an overly simplified tale aimed exclusively at very young children. When you get right down to it, the entire plot concerns the delivery of one package. That's hardly a story to excite the senses. There's plenty of colorful, eye popping visuals, however. It's slick and frantically paced but very little of it engenders any sort of tenderness. All of the hyperactivity actually gave me a headache. Additionally the high caliber British cast (James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton) have been instructed to shout all of their lines as if that would makes their voice performances funnier. That doesn't work in bad sitcoms and it doesn't work here. It's not all wretched. There's a sexually ambiguous little elf named Bryony who is a peculiar gift-wrapping obsessive. She/He/It is kind of amusing. But as for the rest of it, I found this frantic exercise extremely lacking in Christmas spirit.

• Greg S

  
  When a single gift out of several billion is left behind on Christmas Eve, Santa's affable but bumbling youngest son Arthur takes it on himself to make sure it gets delivered before sunrise. Surprisingly dense and entertaining, juggling lots of well-drawn characters and subplots… More
  When a single gift out of several billion is left behind on Christmas Eve, Santa's affable but bumbling youngest son Arthur takes it on himself to make sure it gets delivered before sunrise. Surprisingly dense and entertaining, juggling lots of well-drawn characters and subplots together with an entirely new, technology-influenced mythology of Santa Claus. Curiously, I saw it with two adults and two kids, and the adults enjoyed it much more than the youngsters.

• Liam G

  
  It may not be saying too much, but ''Arthur Christmas'' is my Christmas film since ''Elf''. If there was one animation studio that could pull of a creative, funny and heartfelt Christmas film, it was Aardman and they proved why with this film.… More
  It may not be saying too much, but ''Arthur Christmas'' is my Christmas film since ''Elf''. If there was one animation studio that could pull of a creative, funny and heartfelt Christmas film, it was Aardman and they proved why with this film. The voice acting is great, with James McAvoy, Bill Nighy, Hugh Laurie and Jim Broadbent all perfectly fitting their roles. The animation is, as expected, wonderful. But what I love about ''Arthur Christmas'' is that it is a proper family film. It's not a KIDS film. There is enough wit, heart and a well-developed depiction of a dysfunctional family to keep adults entertained, as well as the funny jokes and the way the film captures Christmas for the children. It's not been the strongest year for animation, but ''Arthur Christmas'' definitely stands out and establishes itself as a soon to be a, though probably underrated, Christmas classic.

• Everett J

  
  "Arthur Christmas" definitely scores points on originality. Taking a generic story, freshening it up, and adding enough mix of wit and charm to feel new. Arthur(James McAvoy) is the son of Santa(Jim Broadbent), and always means well but he is the misfit of the family and… More
  "Arthur Christmas" definitely scores points on originality. Taking a generic story, freshening it up, and adding enough mix of wit and charm to feel new. Arthur(James McAvoy) is the son of Santa(Jim Broadbent), and always means well but he is the misfit of the family and the joke of the North Pole. When Christmas Eve comes to an end it is discovered that one child was skipped and didn't receive their toy. Arthur then sets out on a mission to get the toy to the child before they wake up so no child is left behind on Christmas. The voice cast is perfect, as the English accents really help the movie. Bill Nighy is the funniest as Grand Santa, and provides the bulk of laughs in the middle of the movie. The best thing about the movie are all the effects of the elves(especially in night vision) working in like a military operation to have Christmas be a success. Very fun movie, the kids will enjoy. Adults will find it to be funny and run a little long, but it's just good ole fashion Christmas fun.

• Tom M

  
  I really loved the direction this film took to a christmas movie. It steered away from the hackneyed "Christmas is about being together" moral and instead went to the slightly less hackneyed "be a good person, not just a person who does good" moral. It was… More
  I really loved the direction this film took to a christmas movie. It steered away from the hackneyed "Christmas is about being together" moral and instead went to the slightly less hackneyed "be a good person, not just a person who does good" moral. It was refreshing to see this in a christmas film, and it worked really well. I also REALLY enjoyed the lack of magic in this film. It steered away from the stupidity of Santa using inexplicable magic to fly around the world and instead gave him a (really freakin cool looking) UFO called the S-1, "fairy dust" was actually a mix of various chemicals and whatnot that reacted with the reindeer to make them fly, etc. That world is far more fun to explore instead of this world where we have to buy magic, its more fun to buy fake technology. The animation was really beautiful as well. Wonderful shots of the northern lights, great shots of the icy north pole and ariel shots around the world. This is definitely one for the kids, but i think parents will have just as much fun. It's really adorable, and even gets a bit emotional.

• KJ P

  
  This near perfect holiday film brings together a new take on how to deliver the gifts on Christmas Eve. Santa is played off as the fat man that he truly is, not doing anything, as technology has taken over and all the elves are now delivering the gifts in a timely fashion. The way it… More
  This near perfect holiday film brings together a new take on how to deliver the gifts on Christmas Eve. Santa is played off as the fat man that he truly is, not doing anything, as technology has taken over and all the elves are now delivering the gifts in a timely fashion. The way it is done make it seem very realistic, and if it weren't for the end, the whole history of Santa would have been abolished, but all around, this family christmas film is a soon-to-be classic! A child has been missed and it is up to Arthur to save the day, seeing as Santa and his older son do not seem to care about the fact that they missed one child out of the hundreds of millions. This journey is well worth the 3D ticket pricing and the voice acting is phenomenal. "Arthur Christmas" (in my opinion) is one of the best animated holiday films of the decade. This film has amazingly crafted family fun written all over it!

• Bradley W

  
  Arthur Christmas is a beautiful and fun Christmas movie that is sure to be a holiday classic. The story follows Arthur who is the son of Santa Clause, his brother Steve is a smart but at times inconsiderate role model who is second in command to Santa, and when a little girl has a… More
  Arthur Christmas is a beautiful and fun Christmas movie that is sure to be a holiday classic. The story follows Arthur who is the son of Santa Clause, his brother Steve is a smart but at times inconsiderate role model who is second in command to Santa, and when a little girl has a gift that did not get sent Arthur does everything he can to make sure this girl has a Merry Christmas. The plot of the movie is funny and a great lesson to be told about Christmas and children, and what i learned from this movie if anything is that every child needs to believe in Santa, because there is nothing better than believeing that there is somebody who loves you that whill bring you a present on Christmas day, and the characters of the film were good but i found the characters to be a little selfish at times besides Arthur who was a incredibly kind and good charcater and he saved the film in a way from being just a bunch of selfish men wanting to be a star. The voice cast was great, James McAvoy was perfect for the character, Hugh Laurie was also was a well done choice as Steve, Jim Broadbent was good as the voice as Santa, and Bill Nighy was also a great choice for his role, what else can I say for voice actors other than I liked them. The animation was incredible, I could really tell they worked hard to make a beautiful Christmas film and it really payed off big time, I loved the beauty in this film. Arthur Christmas had some few problems that kept it from being a perfect Christmas film, but those were minor compared to the things that they got right that made it a great Christmas film and that will make it remembered for years to come.

• Dann M

  
  Arthur Christmas is a surprisingly good film that's charming and fun. On its surface it seems as if we've been there and done that in other films; such as Fred Claus and Elf. But Arthur Christmas puts some new twists on familiar themes, and gives a new and interesting… More
  Arthur Christmas is a surprisingly good film that's charming and fun. On its surface it seems as if we've been there and done that in other films; such as Fred Claus and Elf. But Arthur Christmas puts some new twists on familiar themes, and gives a new and interesting perspective on the Santa Claus mythology. The CG animation is especially well done, and the 3D is amazing (giving true depth and feel to the scenes). Arthur Christmas is a fun, clever film that can be enjoyed by all ages and will undoubtedly become a Christmas classic.

• Cameron J

  
  Wow, this is absolutely amazing! Seriously, I can't believe how great of a job Hugh Laurie did at that British accent; I mean, it's as if he really is British. Man, he and Christian Bale are some anti-English sons of Brits - whether they like that or not - and meanwhile,… More
  Wow, this is absolutely amazing! Seriously, I can't believe how great of a job Hugh Laurie did at that British accent; I mean, it's as if he really is British. Man, he and Christian Bale are some anti-English sons of Brits - whether they like that or not - and meanwhile, Hugh Laurie's movie brother, the twenty-years younger (Jeez, Santa, don't you think it's too soon for another kid?), James McAvoy is heading from the other side of the UK, trying to get to England and away from Scotland. To cap it all off, their movie father, Jim Broadbent, can't seem to escape that British accent, and their movie gandfather, Bill Nighy "The British Gighy" (Ha, Bill Nye reference), never wants to leave England. Well, I don't know if he so much wants to stay English, as much as he wants to stay a slithering freak after he played Davey Jones, because the next thing you know, he's playing an evil, hellspawn snake in "Rango", and now, even nastier, he's playing old Santa. Yeah, I know that everyone loves good ol' jolly Saint Nick (Except Muslims), but if there's something that you can say that's great about this film, it's the great realism, because even if you're Santa Claus, once you retire and reach about 90, let alone 136, you're going to crust up awful fast. Of course, that disturbing authenticity certainly isn't the only thing that's really good about this film, but much like Christmas itself, this film has more than enough stuff that kills the fun on its feet, so let us now dive into this film's "Akward Christmas Family Dinners"... which I haven't faced - because I'm white and don't have much to worry about (Just wait, Obama's not out of the office yet) -, but I hear stink. For those who saw the trailer and feared some old "Planet 51" slapstick cornball bull, this film doesn't waste a second in showing you that it's more than that by opening up with a clever and mesmerizingly sweet moment that perfectly establishes our lead, as well as the tone of the film. Of course, after that, the film doesn't waste any time in contradicting the much smarter tone, when that sweet, hypnotic fusion of style and substance turns into a SWAT team joke that, I must admit was pretty darn awesome and fun, but gets to be overwhelming in its being so overstylized. A situation like that comes in every now and then following that scene, yet every time you do get something like that, you do still rather enjoy it, because it is so much fun, overstylized though, those moments may be; yet something that you might not have as much fun with as commonly is the slapstick humor. Now, the slapstick humor works more than it should and works more often than it should, but when it doesn't work, it's fairly annoying, even more so when you consider that this film should be above that. Of course, what seems to be the biggest problem in this film isn't the overstylizing, or the occasional contradiction of the clever uniqueness, but, believe it or not, editing that's all over the place, with some moments feeling a bit rushed or tacked on, or sequences that seem to go on forever. The film is not without its tropes in animated movies, but really, on the whole, this is one of the most unique animated numbers in quite a while, and certainly one of the best animated films of the year. ...Okay, now that's not saying too much, but it is definately worth saying, because through all of its missteps, contradictions and, well, my watching it well after Christmas, this is some good ol' fashion holiday magic, and very well-put together magic at that. I don't know if it's the messy editing or just generally decent storytelling by Sarah Smith, but eitherway, the pacing on this boy is tight, with everything moving at a not always balanced, but generally slick speed, yet everything is still pulled back enough for you to really absorb everything, and boy, is there plenty of take in, particularly - nay - "especially" the animation, because this is some top-notch stuff. Very early on in the film, we get a pan-out shot that unveils Steve Claus' operation headquarters, and that massive, sweeping, startlingly well-detailed shot - topped off with Harry Gregson-Williams' excellent score - is absolutely awe-inspiring, and that's just the beginning of all of the magnificently-animated shots in this film, for every moment in this film is pumped with such life and energy in the animation, and with Ardmond Animation's claymation sensibilities having a clear influence on that, you're left with some very unique animation, all complimented by some mostly unique writing. Now, as I said, the film doesn't get too far without falling into the occasional trope, but more often than not, the film delivers on snap and wit in both dialogue and set pieces, with most of the jokes having such a cleverness that's not over anyone's heads, but sharp enough to hit for you wittier croud, which isn't to say that the humor is the only thing to enjoy about the way things are staged and directed, as you even get some well-handled emotion, especially towards the end, where you would find yourself hard pressed to not be genuinely touched by how sharply they manage to summon the familiar sensations reenacted at the resolution, but that doesn't mean that the attention to detail is all in the ending, because there's so much focus on all sorts of aspects throughout the film, particularly when it comes to characters. There's so much attention put into the family and mythology aspects, and it really gives you a very intimate look into the imagination that goes into creating this world so tightly, and while this interpretation of Santa is highly distinctive, few interpretations have been this detailed and, well, fascinating. All of that is certainly supported by the electric chemistry and colorful voice work between our leads, with everyone showing up for work, whether it be Hugh Laurie - who really gets that kind of "I Want What's Mine" sensibility - or Jim Broadbent - who really nails that classic Santa Claus charm -; but really, it's out leads that bring the most to the table, as far as voice acting goes. I've said it one... too many times and I'll say it again: James McAvoy is among today's great actors, and while he's certainly nothing to really inspire the creation of a "Best Voice Actor" category at the Oscars, he brings that classic charm that we've all come to know and love about him, and while a lot of the slapstick jokes are with the goofy Arthur Claus lead, the character would have been absolutely humiliating (Like that Arthur Chrismas knockoff in the Denny's Cookie Pancakes commercials), but with McAvoy coming in and effortlessly winning you over with his classic charm, you're attached to everything; and the same can be said about Bill Nighy, who's certainly not as unrecognizable as he was when he went Rattlesnake Jake in "Rango" (Okay, you can at least have a "Best Supporting Voice Actor" category for that one), but still embodies this cranky old has-been in such a funny and charismatic fashion, that you're every bit as drawn to him as McAvoy. Wow, I'm making this sound like it kicks the heck out of "Rango", when really, the most mind-blowing things about this film have to be James McAvoy hanging out with another character named Bryony (Only the one from "Atonement" had an "i" in the place of that first "y") and this Santa Claus being named...*snicker*... Malcom, but in the end, it's hard not to still be won over by this fun, charming Christmas experience... in about 11 months. At the end of that special day - even though it happened last month -, the magic of the film is sometimes halted by the occasional family trope, as well as a deal of messily-edited moments, but you're quickly thrown back into the spirit by the colorful voice performances and spectacular animation that really compliments the generally witty, unique and sometimes touching writing and direction that leaves "Arthur Christmas" to stand as a delightful charmer, whatever the season. 3/5 - Good

• Bradley J

  
  A delightful festive treat with something for everyone. Aardman does it again; Arthur Christmas is fun, bright, and humorous with great voice-acting from the cast. It also has one very emotional moment at the end that might make you choke up in the throat. Overall Rating: 88

• Matthew Y

  
  A zany Christmas romp from Aardman pictures is an oddball holiday delight. The film, like most Aardman pictures, is rich with social commentary and eccentric characters. For Arthur Christmas we have a three way generation gap between three different Santa's and the challenges… More
  A zany Christmas romp from Aardman pictures is an oddball holiday delight. The film, like most Aardman pictures, is rich with social commentary and eccentric characters. For Arthur Christmas we have a three way generation gap between three different Santa's and the challenges of technology and new age thinking against tried and true old school methods. Should please fans of Aardman's past exploits and general fans of holiday pictures too.

• Nathan C

  
  Arthur Christmas is a film that conveys the holiday spirit to the children who watch it. It's a film with a strong message and some humor thrown in here and there to keep the kids up and laughing. However, liking the film is solely based on liking the characters. Yes, they are… More
  Arthur Christmas is a film that conveys the holiday spirit to the children who watch it. It's a film with a strong message and some humor thrown in here and there to keep the kids up and laughing. However, liking the film is solely based on liking the characters. Yes, they are round characters and yes they have their fair share of development, but there's something to dislike about almost all of them. Some you may find very, very annoying, especially the unlikely hero Arthur Christmas. Plus, this might be a bit nitpicky, but if you have a distaste for British accents, please steer clear of this film. I've never heard so many British accents since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2...but overall, it's still a pretty solid film. It's one to watch with the kids to get them into the spirit of Christmas. But somehow, it feels like a slightly botched opportunity to create a quality animated feature, as films like Kung Fu Panda 2 and Rango steamroll all over this one.

• Jeff B

  
  Wrapped in a biting Brit wit and topped with a pristinely animated bow, Arthur Christmas, though sometimes in too much of a holiday rush, ultimately rings in the season on a warm and merry note. British humor (more innuendo and taboo-busting, less disposable one-liners), of course,… More
  Wrapped in a biting Brit wit and topped with a pristinely animated bow, Arthur Christmas, though sometimes in too much of a holiday rush, ultimately rings in the season on a warm and merry note. British humor (more innuendo and taboo-busting, less disposable one-liners), of course, has served Aardman Animation quite well in the past. Though this UK-based studio became famous for stop motion claymated features like Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run, Flushed Away proved that they could do computer animation nearly as well-tongue planted firmly in, ahem, cheeky. This, their 2nd computer animated family flick, is even better, serving up a witty, spot-on, and detailed account of how modern technology and an unseemly corporate structure make the Santa legend and lineage seem very plausible. Though the action seems hurried at times, this Arthur is far from on the rocks. Rather, it ranks high on the Nice list. In this PG-rated stocking stuffer, Santa's bumbling son Arthur (McAvoy) becomes an unlikely hero when one gift accidentally goes undelivered and his Santa heir brother (Laurie) won't lift a finger. Like Dreamworks, Aardman has an eye for detail and a dose of frenetic energy. Like Pixar, Aardman crafts a careful balance between laughing and crying (unlike most American animation, Arthur never comes close to saccharine sweetness) and a marquee talent pool that's more than just stunt casting. Here, the vocal talents are put to amazing use in a movie that, though not on the Oscar gold standard like Curse of the Were-Rabbit, is a true holiday treat. Bottom line: Sanity clause? This is your sanity clause.

• Patrick H

  
  Brits and Yanks bring the joy of Christmas to audiences Christmas is in the air as Hollywood hurries to chuck out as many banal holiday movies as it can. But in midst of all of that chucking there's a movie that sincerely brings out the true joy of Christmas without being… More
  Brits and Yanks bring the joy of Christmas to audiences Christmas is in the air as Hollywood hurries to chuck out as many banal holiday movies as it can. But in midst of all of that chucking there's a movie that sincerely brings out the true joy of Christmas without being overly sappy. This year, British animation studio Aardman Animations and American studio Sony Pictures Animations come together and create Arthur Christmas. A picture that's charming and vibrant and so far is the best example of wholesome family entertainment of 2011. The movie revolves around Arthur Clause voiced by James McAvoy (X-Men: First Class) the youngest son of the world renowned Santa Clause voiced by Jim Broadbent (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince). Arthur is a sweet hearted guy who looks up to his father, his older brother Steve voiced by Hugh Laurie (House) and Christmas overall with such admiration. On Christmas Eve, everything goes haywire after the delivery of billions of presents when the worst thing happens... Santa missed a child!! Now Arthur, GrandSanta voiced by Bill Nighy (Rango) and a wrapping elf named Bryony voiced by Ashley Jensen (Gnomeo and Juliet) take matters in their own hands and have until sunrise to bring the gift to that skipped child. Rookie director Sarah Smith does a splendid job with her timing with the emotional family themes throughout the movie. Many family films don't have well-secured characters, so they force in the heart-warming family theme too awkwardly, and it becomes weird for the viewers. With Arthur Christmas, Smith directs a stimulating family conflict within the film that it's not sappy, but really involving. Arthur learns that Christmas and the spirit of Christmas aren't what they use to be. He also feels like a heavy burden and an annoyance to everyone including all of the elves. This strong conflict becomes a great vessel for Arthur's development as he finds the real point of Christmas. Therefore, other characters like Steve and Santa discover this as well and Arthur's inspiring purpose in the family business. This movie will suffer for most American audience for being too British with its humor. The humor would've worked if Smith went all out nutty Monty Python humor like the Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which most movie going Americans have come to know and love. This humor is personal British humor that you'd have to be British to really understand it. There are lines like "there was time when it seemed impossible to teach women how to read" that came off as political British humor more than likely and was a total dud. This is a cute and emotionally satisfying film that takes a different tactic with the structure of its holiday morals from beginning to end. Other aspects were sublime: the cinematography was great especially during the sled flying scenes and the design of the inner workings of the North Pole was fresh and beautiful. It wasn't mind blowing, but it was very good and is the best holiday film this year and children and adults will have a good time with it at a matinee. Arthur Christmas receives a three out of four popcorn bags.

• Theta S

  
  The Claus family have been a business operation running for centuries delivering presents for children to enjoy each December 25. The latest version is headed by Santa - also known as Malcolm, Mother, Steve - elder son, heir apparent to the title of Santa and brains behind a… More
  The Claus family have been a business operation running for centuries delivering presents for children to enjoy each December 25. The latest version is headed by Santa - also known as Malcolm, Mother, Steve - elder son, heir apparent to the title of Santa and brains behind a modern, technological business, "Grand-Santa" who likes to live in the glory days of when he used to deliver presents down the chimney using nothing more than a sleigh and eight reindeer... and the well meaning, but clumsy, younger son, Arthur. When a child gets left without a present, which Steve and Santa dismiss as a simple error, it falls to Arthur, "Grand-Santa" and an over-zealous elf in the wrapping department called Bryony to try to save the true spirit of Christmas. I am going to be totally without shame here and admit that I love Christmas films. On this, I decided to go to see Arthur Christmas - and I'm pleased to say that I enjoyed this film too. Director and writer Sarah Smith alongside fellow writer Peter Baynham and the team of Aardman Animation have crafted a magical Christmas tale for the young, and young at heart, viewer whilst providing some humourous commentary on the way that Christmas has become in the modern age. The lead cast is brilliant - Jim Broadbent plays Santa as a general of an army who's ready for retirement supported by his loving wife portrayed by Imelda Staunton. Hugh Laurie delivers a pitch perfect performance as the pompous Steve who believes that he's ready for the role of Santa... but who only thinks of the role as a job not the role of a "father" to the world's children. But the main plaudits have to go to James McAvoy and Bill Nighy. McAvoy portrays Arthur as somebody who is in love with and embodies the childlike wonder of Christmas. He adds depth to the animation with a voice that perfectly fits Arthur's nature - clumsy yet well meaning and, in essence, the big kid that we all want to be on Christmas Day. To compliment McAvoy as his main co-star for the majority of the film, you have Nighy in the role of "Grand-Santa". Nighy portrays the role as the old soldier who has seen better days, but who still feels that he could do the job better than his younger, more technologically backed offspring. He also gets a nice line in acid wit which perfectly befits the role as the grandparent to the Claus household. With supporting cast such as Ashley Jensen, Michael Palin, Eva Longoria and Ramona Marquez, you do get the sense that Aardman want to make a modern Christmas fable. It's a lovely Christmas film and one for all of the family.

• Jackson W

  
  Arthur Christmas was visually inventive and sparkling enough for me to get sucked in to the story, but the originality and crisp humor made it all the more enjoyable. The whole concept of how the Santa gig would change over the years to using current modern day creations with a… More
  Arthur Christmas was visually inventive and sparkling enough for me to get sucked in to the story, but the originality and crisp humor made it all the more enjoyable. The whole concept of how the Santa gig would change over the years to using current modern day creations with a breathtaking realistic space craft replacing the sleigh may just stand the test of time. It'll be years before we can determine if this will be a yuletide jewel, but as it stands now, it's just a fantastic treat for the holidays, made for critics, families, and children.

• Philip P

  
  It is a tricky thing, making a seasonal film that will resonate not only in theaters for the few weeks it runs before Christmas but also for years to come. So, that when the holidays come around again and people begin to have that craving for holiday cheer in their home and want to… More
  It is a tricky thing, making a seasonal film that will resonate not only in theaters for the few weeks it runs before Christmas but also for years to come. So, that when the holidays come around again and people begin to have that craving for holiday cheer in their home and want to watch a Christmas movie they will turn to yours as a possible option. Creating a Christmas classic, one that becomes overly familiar but never old, is tough. I have only a select few I like to turn to and I don't think I've added a new one since "Elf". That being said I will be more than happy to add "Arthur Christmas" to my collection when it appears on blu-ray. The tale of the youngest son of Santa is a breath of fresh air in terms of creativity. It re-imagines all the classical myths we have for the season and gives them a present twist that fits perfectly as a subtle lesson about how things are so rushed these days, that the true reason for the season has been lost. It is a classic Christmas tale in that sense with a heart of gold it is just smart enough to wrap those ideas in a shiny gloss that exudes wit and great storytelling. Everything we see here is in service of the story and it is sublimely funny, I don't think I heard one fart joke. The animation isn't Pixar-level but you only notice when the camera stays on a characters face for too long. It has its moments though and Aardman studios, the same guys who brought us "Chicken Run" and "Flushed Away", continues a great tradition of animated films that are expertly told stories with moments of hilarious wit. Adding a Christmas film to their canon expands their territory while giving audiences looking for quality entertainment with genuine Christmas cheer a real present this year. In the opening moments of "Arthur Christmas" we experience the super high tech operation that delivering all those gifts in one night has now turned into. No longer is it a simple sleigh with a bag full of endless toys but this is a full fledged military operation. Elves are dressed in camouflage with red and green berets. they are sorted into divisions and while some are deployed for the Christmas night operation others stay and work at mission control aka the North Pole. This new way of getting things done more efficiently has been designed and put into effect by the next in line for the Santa position, Steve. Steve is the current Santa's oldest son and is more prone to process than customer service. Arthur on the other hand is kept in the letter writing department as he happily responds to all the children of the world and reassuring them his dad is the greatest man in the world. Arthur is a bit prone to messing things up, leaving a trail of destruction wherever he's been, but his heart is the right place and he absolutely adores Christmas. When Steve's full proof system makes a mistake in leaving a young girl without a gift Arthur immediately finds in necessary to find a way to get it to her. Steve on the other hand doesn't see it as a possibility and their father, Santa is simply too tired to object to his eldest sons conclusion. Naturally, Arthur can't let this be and so he and Grand Santa (a riotous Bill Nighy) set out in the old sleigh to guarantee every child has a merry Christmas. As voiced by the charismatic James McAvoy (Wanted, X-Men: First Class) Arthur is a loveable goof. He is every bit the enthusiast others make fun of him for being but he is not an idiot. He is self-aware and understands the dynamics of his family better than anyone else seems to. That is what "Arthur Christmas" indeed boils down to (as so many great Christmas films do): the comedy and relatability of a dysfunctional family. GrandSanta doesn't understand the new generations way of doing things when he got them done just fine his way. Steve doesn't understand why his father has not passed on the torch yet; he is already running the show, he might as well have the title. Mrs. Santa has stood by her entire life watching her husband be Santa instead of the man she probably first fell in love with and is no doubt eager to spend some time with a retired Santa as well. Arthur, the clear underdog just wants to be a part of the great tradition his family carries on. He wants to continue to spread the joy and forget all of the politics of who's rightly Santa and what methods are used to deliver the gifts. He just wants to make sure every child has a present from Santa on Christmas morning. This is where the film shines too, getting exactly right not just the dynamics between family members but the relationships that actually have to be carried out. The interaction between Santa's clan here is completely believable and lends the film its cleverness in delivering an age old lesson in a time of well oiled machines. I can remember watching Tim Allen in "The Santa Clause" when I was younger and being completely enthralled with the experience of getting to see the behind the scenes action of how Christmas came together. I can only imagine "Arthur Christmas" will do the same for an audience that has never seen it spelled out on screen but always had the imagination to wonder. Even myself, as a 24-year old, sat in amazement in those first ten minutes or so as the city-size airship came over Germany and dispersed thousands of elves as if they were in a Mission Impossible film to deck the halls and deliver the gifts. It was thrilling and completely original. Creativity is what makes any film thrive, but especially animated ones and that particular trait is on full display throughout "Arthur Christmas". Whether it be the way elves fill stockings or even how Santa and his helpers escape a "waker". All of it is brilliantly executed with a charming title character and side kick in the form of an expert gift-wrapping elf Bryony (Ashley Jensen). Her and Arthur form a team the kiddies will love and the parents in the audience will enjoy the tone and lessons of the film while being transported back to their childhood state of mind as well.

• Isaac H

  
  Aside from a few exceptions, such as 2003's Elf, the prestige of being deemed a Christmas classic has been mostly reserved for Rankin/Bass's 1960s stop-motion efforts as well as a select few 20th century feature films, like A Christmas Story and It's a Wonderful Life.… More
  Aside from a few exceptions, such as 2003's Elf, the prestige of being deemed a Christmas classic has been mostly reserved for Rankin/Bass's 1960s stop-motion efforts as well as a select few 20th century feature films, like A Christmas Story and It's a Wonderful Life. Aardman Animation, the folks behind Chicken Run and the Wallace & Gromit cartoons aim to change that with their latest release, Arthur Christmas, a holiday film so gleefully original that it leaves a silly smile pasted onto the viewer's face all the way through. Like any regular family, it turns out the Clauses are rather dysfunctional. The current Santa has allowed his son Steve to modernize Christmas, antiquating the sleigh and reindeer used by Santa's father Grand Santa, who preceded the current big man. When one child's gift fails to get delivered, Arthur, the odd brother of the family, sets out with Grand Santa and his old sleigh and reindeer to see to it that the girl's gift is delivered. The film's strength isn't in this main goal, as the golbe-trotting adventure to give the girl her gift does begin to drag a bit in the middle. Instead, I found myself whisked away in the thought-to-be-generic Christmas operations that have been realized here in ways I never could have dreamed up. The ways in which the film manages to explain the mystery behind Santa's delivery of two billion presents in one night are amusing, exciting and manage to retain an absurd sort of believability amidst the colorful characters and creative changes to the usual Christmas formula. While the central conflict isn't all too interesting, the family interactions surrounding it are. Arthur may sound like a fairly generic underdog hero on paper, but the way he idolizes his seemingly inept father and self-centered brother make for some surprisingly complex relationships that are often absent from holiday films. There are some lightning-fast conversations, played often for comedy, and these quick exchanges add to the comedy factor, but the speed coupled with British accents all around could leave some American audience members scratching their heads after a few exchanges. All in all, though, the voice work is superb. James McAvoy plays the lead for immense likability, and he's backed up by a great supporting cast, especially from the elf ensemble. Their voices may be squeaky, but they're also charmingly fit for their species and are never annoying like those of some other high-pitched characters in today's family film market (chipmunks, I'm looking at you). Through all this praise, I must point out the film's one major stumbling point: I was under the impression that the conflict around which the film revolves was actually just a subplot to get the main story going, which I presumed would be a battle against the out-with-the-old, in-with-the-new ideals of Steve. Instead, the quest to return the little girl's toy turned out to be the main plot thread, which surprised and worried me, as I was right in questioning whether the tale would be capable of supporting the film's runtime. Unfortunately, I was right. The movie feels artificially extended during some sequences. I wasn't bored to tears, but there were definitely segments in which not enough happened to fully retain my interest. It seems that the filmmakers attempted to fill these voids with meaningful family-oriented revelations, and they don't fall completely flat but also aren't suited to the length of the portion of the film in which they reside. The experience isn't ruined, but it is detracted from. In the end, originality is supreme in Arthur Christmas. It's not quite up to par with past Aardman efforts, but that's not a big criticism given the enormous quality of those films. While this may not be added to the list of the yearly holiday must-sees, it's enjoyable, hilarious and wholly original fare and it's almost always great fun. Don't go in hoping for the next Christmas classic, but prepare to be entertained and surprisingly touched in the vain of the holidays.

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