Arthur Christmas
Starring: James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Ashley Jenson
Director: Sarah Smith, Barry Cook
Rating: 5/5
This time of year always brings the festive themed movies and while it may only be November Arthur Christmas brings us an early and must see festive treat.
Arthur Christmas at last reveals the incredible, never-before seen answer to every child's question: 'So how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night?'
The answer: Santa's exhilarating, ultra-high-tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole.
But at the heart of the film is a story with the ingredients of a Christmas classic - a family in a state of comic dysfunction and an unlikely hero, Arthur, with an urgent mission that must be completed before Christmas morning dawns.
Festive movie always send a tingle down my spine with classic such as a Father Christmas, A Miracle on 34t Street and Elf and Arthur Christmas looks set to join the ranks as one of the best movies in this genre.
And there is absolutely nothing not to love about this movie it is the best animation film that I have clapped my eyes on this year - I left the cinema filled with festive cheer.
Arthur Christmas is fun from start to finish to colourful characters, a witty and funny script as well as plenty of sentimentality - that never gets too mushy.
What is so great about this movie is that the Claus’ are depicted as a run of the mill family who argue around the Christmas dinner table just like everyone else - and I thought that was just a lovely and very unique touch.
There is a fab British voice cast on display in this movie as James McAvoy is the bumbling Arthur who has always been in the shadow of his older brother Steve and yet believes to his very core on the ideals of Christmas.
Arthur is likeably from the opening scene and this is a real underdog story as the youngest son of Santa Claus tries desperately to deliver a git to the one child that has been missed.
Hugh Laurie is great as the rather arrogant Steve, who assumes that he will be next in line to take over the mantle of Santa Claus - his Versace Santa suit really is laugh out loud funny.
And thy are beautifully supported by Jim Broadbent and Bill Nighy as Santa Claus and Grandsanta; Broadbent having lost a bit of that festive cheer while Nighy’s character doesn’t understand the new high tech way in which presents are delivered.
The story takes us from the North Pole to the Serengeti, from Toronto to England in a race against time with some top class animation, makes a change for Aardman Animation as they leave behind the clay models.
I got swept in the story, the emotional and the laughs of Arthur Christmas as this is a movie that is fun for both kids and adults.
Yes the story is about adventure and a race against time but at the heart of this story is the importance of family and being together at Christmas.
Miss this movie at your peril!!! It really was a joy to watch.
Arthur Christmas is out now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw