Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Rating: PG
Director: Sarah Smith
Quick Impressions:
The early teasers for this movie looked annoyingly mediocre, but I’ve loved Aardman stuff in the past, and my two-year-old loves to go to the movies. Imagine my surprise when Arthur Christmas turned out to be my favorite movie of the year! This movie so lifted my spirits that I wish I could own it now. I would probably watch it every day until Christmas (because moderation doesn’t come naturally to me).
The Good:
I laughed so hard during this movie that I started to choke, and the people sitting behind us probably thought I was about to go the way of Doc Holliday. Every few minutes, I would hear a comment so witty and off the wall that I’d think, “That was the funniest line,” but then a few minutes later, it would happen again.
And not only is the movie funny, but it has such a genuine sense of wonder and magic and Christmas spirit, leaving me gleeful and excited at every moment. Sometimes, I had the urge to laugh even when nothing was particularly funny just because the entire film has such positive momentum. And then the ending—even though fairly predictable—manages to be surprisingly touching. It doesn’t feel like contrived dreck. It genuinely feels warm and touching and magical. I laughed until I cried. And then I cried until I laughed. (I also coughed a lot, probably alarming any fellow germophobes in attendance.)
Funniest Scene:
Grandsanta and his sleigh just crack me up. He’s definitely the funniest character in the movie, and he’s also the one whose off-kilter zaniness creates genuine movie magic—because he’s unpredictable. While Grandsanta is driving the sleigh, the movie enters its most creative territory. All of the scenes with Eve are funny, but probably the funniest sequence happens when Grandsanta and his “elves” drift off course and believe they’re in the Paris Zoo—but most definitely aren’t. The scene contains so many different kinds of humor. Plus, it comes at a moment when the movie has built its comic momentum to a frenzied height.
Best Scene Visually:
Grandsanta’s old adage about always flying over Canada doesn’t work out so well in practice, but it’s a delight to watch.
Best Joke:
I don’t want to give away the jokes. This movie has some amazing one-liners—funny because they’re fresh and original. Much of the best humor comes from the ridiculous and unexpected situations that arise as Arthur struggles to deliver one last Christmas present. Even a silly joke like the names of the reindeer (given away in previews) has surprising staying power and becomes funnier by the end credits. What happens with the reindeer as the movie progresses also seems funnier and funnier the longer it continues.
Best Action Sequence:
When Arthur tries to recapture Eve by a rather unlikely method, the results are pretty compelling and begin an action sequence that doesn’t really let up until the end of the movie.
Best Surprise:
The movie itself is the surprise. The previews really only show the beginning of the movie as Santa’s oldest son Steve attempts to achieve a technically perfect Christmas through the efficient use of the most current technology. Efficiency isn’t very fun to watch. But chaos is. Arthur Christmas has such heart, human heart. It’s messy and extreme and nearly disastrous and wonderful.
The Performances:
The cast is great. They all have fantastic comic timing and enough talent to give the 3D characters real emotional depth.
James McAvoy is awkwardly lovable as the awkward but lovable Arthur, the only member of the Christmas family who seems to have his heart in the right place from the beginning. (And when you know that McAvoy is voicing the character, seeing Arthur lying discouraged in the sand on a Cuban beach also seems like a delightful inside joke.)
Hugh Laurie is also pretty great as Arthur’s older brother Steve, a character who is somewhat pitiable despite his glaring character flaws. Steve isn’t always easy to love, but he is pretty easy to laugh at, even at moments when he also evokes a vague pity.
Jim Broadbent makes the perfect Santa Claus, aging and somewhat befuddled, like a well- meaning king who has lost his way. And Imelda Staunton is perfect as the surprisingly capable, sturdy, sensible, supportive Mrs. Santa, whom she plays like Dolores Umbridge minus the malice.
Ashley Jensen is fantastic as Bryony, the maniacally devoted wrapping elf who believes that there’s always time for a bow. She’s the one character in the movie as stubbornly determined as Arthur to keep a child from missing her present, and she provides innumerable amusing moments just by being herself.
But Bill Nighy is the best as the conniving old codger, Grandsanta, a mischief maker who’s determined to prove that his way of having Christmas is the best. Grandsanta is consistently funny and also advances the plot in surprising and delightful ways through his zany schemes. Nighy provides the ideal voice for the zany old coot and also gives a moving performance singing “Make Someone Happy” during the closing credits.
The Negatives:
This is not a fair complaint, but the first few minutes of the movie are slow and predictable compared to the rest. Part of the point that the movie makes is that Arthur’s brother Steve runs a highly efficient but relatively joyless Christmas. So it’s not that the movie’s doing anything wrong. Still the beginning of Arthur Christmas is the weakest part.
Overall:
I’ve seen a lot of movies this year. Arthur Christmas was by far my favorite. Once Arthur and Grandsanta were on their way in the sleigh, the movie provided non-stop smiles, laughs, and even some satisfying tears. I had low expectations for this movie, but it surprised me. The same thing happened when I saw Aardman’s Wallace and Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit back in 2005. While Curse of the Were-Rabbit probably provides more jokes overall, Arthur Christmas has plenty of positive energy and more Christmas spirit than any movie in recent memory.
Normally, I watch movies with a critical eye. This one I just enjoyed. I got sucked into it like a little kid. It was great. I plan to buy the DVD as soon as possible and watch it a zillion times, at least every year on Christmas.