Film Reviews

Arthur Christmas

• Rating:
• Director: Barry Cook
• Starring: Bill Nighy
• Details: UK/USA 97mins G

Taking the traditional Santa Claus tale and updating it for Generation Y, Arthur Christmas knows what the Yuletide season is all about: bickering with your siblings, unwrapping the latest gadgets, a politically incorrect grandparent, and that one randomer who insists on ironing the wrapping paper.
Oh yeah, and that whole "love and the Christmas spirit can conquer all" thing. But mainly the gadgets.
With Santa almost ready for retirement, he has become merely a figurehead for the North Pole's ultra-high-tech operation, led with military precision by Santa's eldest son, Steve (Hugh Laurie) and his army of elves. But when the technology-driven system fails and one child is left without a present, it's down to Steve's naively innocent brother Arthur (the endearingly earnest James McAvoy) to save the day - the traditional way. With his outrageous grandfather Grandsanta (a scene-stealing Bill Nighy) and a hyperactive elf (Ashley Jensen) in tow, Arthur hijacks a sleigh and embarks on a rogue mission, determined to deliver the last present before Christmas morning dawns.
Consistently funny, sweet and always clever, Arthur Christmas is refreshingly free of cliché. There's no didactic speech to children about the value of tradition and the evil dehumanizing force of technology. Instead the film genuinely aims to unite generations , showing that both the romantic ideal of a reindeer-led sleigh and the fun, modern appeal of an electronic Naughty Or Nice analysis scanner aren't mutually exclusive - as long as they both come with a generous portion of goodwill.
Unfortunately the whole "technology doesn't necessarily trump tradition" message was lost on the studios, and the 3D gimmick remains underutilized. But while the CGI characters lack the quirkiness of Wallace and Gromit, or the outright 'Aww' factor of Pixar creations, it's the extravagant settings that really shine. From Santa's Starship-Enterprise headquarters to expectant children's houses, there's always a visual gag to be found. And for sheer beauty, Arthur's first take to the skies is a magical tour of snow-filled clouds and Northern Lights – that's actually somehow enhanced by Grandsanta's rambling instructions to his esteemed reindeer "Dasher, Dancer, John, Bambi and The One With the White Ear."
Though some viewers (cough-old fogies-cough) may be initially disconcerted by the North Pole 3000 angle, this hilarious and heart-warming tale will quickly win over the whole family, proving that the Christmas spirit is alive and well. Even if it does sometimes come with a HD cable.

Review by Roe McDermott