Arthur Christmas (2011)

Christmas List 2023

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Released around Christmas of 2011, this title has become one of my highest personal recommendations for a more modern Christmas movie. Not only is it as funny and cute as it looks on the surface, but there's a certain charm to it that I hadn't felt in a Christmas movie before it since maybe 'Elf,' released eight years prior. It stands as proof that every once in a while, despite how many similar things are released each year, one comes along every now and again, which allows you to feel that whimsical spirit you felt as a kid.

One thing, in particular, I try to look for in a movie involving how Santa Claus manages to do his thing is some sort of plausibility in his tactics. Show me how he gets around the world in one night and delivers all those presents in some creative way, but try not to take away from tradition as well, i.e. going down chimneys, consuming milk & cookies, presents under the tree, etc. This movie's entire opening scene does so in a humorous but, in all honesty, pretty awesome way, in that it's more of a tactical mission for the elves who travel around in an almost city-sized ship they call his "sleigh."

Keeping in mind that there is no perfect explanation for Santa's tactics, this hit me very positively, and I have to credit the filmmakers for the creativity behind the idea. But beyond all that, they bring in a generational concept of Santas going down a family line. This year is Santa's aka Malcolm's (Jim Broadbent) 70th year, and it goes incredibly well with the help of his elves and his sergeant-like son, Steve (Hugh Laurie), back at the command center. But after all that, an elf named Bryony (Ashley Jenson) finds that one single gift for one little girl was not delivered.

Upon learning of this error, Santa's other son, Arthur (James McAvoy), worries about the girl's disappointment upon waking up to find nothing under her tree. The rest of the family suggests delivering it in a few days, and we also find that 100% Christmas runs are difficult to pull off. While most of the world would probably lean towards the majority's opinion, Arthur's need to deliver the gift in time doesn't mean just delivering a material possession. It means delivering Christmas magic to this girl's life when she sees her gift on Christmas morning and knows in her heart that Santa has come and gone.

Luckily, Arthur's "Grandsanta" (Bill Nighy) sympathizes with him and decides to help him, using old-school methods. Bryony also joins them and can often be seen using her incredible gift-wrapping skills to get them out of a bind, often getting pretty creative with it. While these three are racing against time, Malcolm remains indifferent about the present, and Steve doesn't wanna help due to his selfishness in wanting to be Malcolm's eventual replacement in the long line of Santas. But what both are missing that Arthur holds close to his heart is the spirit of giving - so much so that he's willing to go completely out of his way for one child.

There's a lot to appreciate about this film as a more modern Christmas movie. The aforementioned near plausibility of how Santa works on Christmas Eve is a lot of fun to watch, and I have to give the writers credit for those ideas. I further enjoy the idea of Santa's existence being not just one person but a long line of them and whether the passing of the torch will be based on either how much Arthur cares with all his heart or how incredibly good Steve is at his home base job. To top it all off, Grandsanta is a crack-up and a solid contrast to Arthur on their big adventure. But they also take the time to deliver some real heart and spirit to the writing.

Over a decade ago, when I originally reviewed this, I considered it an "instant Christmas classic." I still stand by that statement, not changing my mind about it one bit over the years. It's 100% family-friendly, with jokes for adults and kids; it has a lot of heart and delivers the Christmas magic I remember feeling when I was a kid. When I first saw this in theatres, I was 29 and felt the same way. Here, we have something timeless, which I'd highly recommend to anyone who hasn't seen it and is also seeking a touch of that Christmas spirit. This one allows you to find that wondrous magic all over again.

5/5

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