Arthur Christmas (2011)
Certified: U
Duration: 97 minutes
Directed by: Sarah Smith
Voices of: James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Ashley Jensen, Will Sasso, Ramona Marquez, Iain McKee, Joan Cusack, Robbie Coltrane, Michael Palin, Dominic West, Andy Serkis
KRS release

Arthur Christmas is capital family entertainment that is perfect for the upcoming festive season.

The premise is simple: every child needs to get a present from Santa at Christmas.

The film aims for simplicity, fun, beautiful visuals, vivacious colours and feel-good entertainment and it hits the nail on its head on all counts.

Arthur Christmas tackles the perennial question: How does Santa deliver all those presents around the world in one night?

Deep in the North Pole there is a top secret operation underway, which utilises super fast elves to make sure that this delivery process goes by without a hiccup.

Santa Clause (voice of Jim Broadbent) is as we imagine him to be: plump, rosy cheeks, red suit and portly but he is not the one doing all the work.

The operation is being run by his first born – Steve (Hugh Laurie) who is a sort of military operator who has no Christmas spirit.

He leads the elves and is to be the next to don the family’s traditional red suit.

The Claus family has been running this shindig for hundreds of years. Grandsanta (Bill Nighy), who is now supposed to be retired, is always reminding the others of how better it was in the good old days.

Arthur (James McAvoy) is Santa’s second son: He is clumsy, well meaning, really loves Christmas and wants to prove himself. He was never a success and is now mired in the Letters to Santa Department.

When a girl’s present is forgotten Arthur takes it upon himself to have it delivered.

This leads him to team up with Grandsanta. They take out the old sleigh, accompanied by one elf, Bryony Wrapping Operative Grade III (Ashley Jensen), and take off on their mission.

The film madly benefits from its stellar voicing cast and an overall “British” feel that makes it look quite cosy. Imelda Staunton as Mrs Santa has a small part, but she has a very strong presence.

The film, like its central character, has a charming and contagious enthusiasm that is admirable.

The 3D format works well and complements the storyline. The animation is crisp, clear, colourful and perfect for the story being told.

The film will surely be a hit among families and will keep the kids entertained not for just this Christmas but many more to come.

The kids will inevitably get caught in the mad cap mayhem and humour.

On the other hand, the adults will smile easily enough and warm up to the characters and the storyline. One is never too old to enjoy Christmas!

The family drama that is in play will also bring quite a few smiles as the Santa family has its fair share of troubles too.

All in all, the film promises a wonderfully insane fun time at the cinema.