Movie Review: 'Arthur's Christmas' a true holiday treat
Submitted by admin on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 12:02pm
Glory be, what's going on in Hollywood? First there was Scorsese's "Hugo," an excellent non-Christmas homage to a French motion picture innovator. Now there's "Arthur's Christmas," in 3D that actually uses that medium to enhance a fine animation updating of the Yule story. It's playing at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City and well worth your visit.
The Arthur of the title is spoken by James McAvoy. He is the younger son of the current Santa Claus. He's eager but not expert in his handling of the incoming mail to Santa. He is eclipsed by elder son Steve (words by Hugh Laurie), a macho boss of all the elves helping the current Santa (spoken by Jim Broadbent). And there's the retired Santa, Grandsanta (voiced by Bill Nighy). Also, a cherubic Mrs. Santa (Imelda Staunon) and a super elf Bryony (Ashley Jensen).
Put these folk together long with excellent animation from Sony Studios and you have modernized version of Santa and his eight reindeer, replaced temporarily by a modern super sleight jet.
All goes well until Santa returns from his rounds and Arthur discovers a bicycle that was not delivered to the little girl who asked for it. Much waffling and Steve and Santa dismiss the one failure out of millions of successful gift deliveries.
But Arthur isn't about to give up and linking up with Grandsanta and his old sleigh and eight reindeer he sets off to deliver the bike to the girl in England. The adventure goes astray as the two wind up in Africa before finally making it to the little girl's home.
A happy ending for all, Arthur is promoted, Steve becomes CEO of North Pole operations, Santa hangs in for another Christmas and all's well in Santa land.
This animation at its best and solid direction taking the story through its complexities. The voices are find, the action quick but not too fast.
If you're just up for one Christmas movie, this would do well. Not that we know what's coming, but anything new would have to be pretty fine to rival "Arthur."
--- Sam Bauman
Cast
- James McAvoy as Arthur, good-natured but clumsy younger son of Santa and Mrs. Santa.
- Hugh Laurie as Steve, Santa and Mrs. Santa's eldest son and Arthur's cool and incredibly capable, but commonly arrogant older brother.
- Jim Broadbent as Santa, the guy in charge at the North Pole, Mrs. Santa's husband and Steve and Arthur's father.
- Bill Nighy as Grandsanta, Santa's 136 years old cranky father, who hates the modern world and grandfather of Steve and Arthur.
- Imelda Staunton as Mrs. Santa, Santa's dedicated wife and Steve and Arthur's mother.
- Ashley Jensen as Bryony, elf from the Giftwrap Battalion.
- Will Sasso as American James
- Ramona Marquez as Gwen, the girl whose present Arthur must deliver.
- Iain McKee as Thomas Jack
- Joan Cusack as Mission Control Elf
- Robbie Coltrane as Old Doom-Laden Scottish Elf
- Michael Palin as Ernie Clicker
- Dominic West as Field Sargent Elf
- Andy Serkis as General Elf
- Miggie Donahue as Pedro
Directed by Sarah Smith
Produced by Steve Pegram
Executive: Carla Shelley, Peter Lord, David Sproxton
Written by Peter Baynham, Sarah Smith
Music by Harry Gregson-Williams[1]
Studio Sony Pictures Animation
Aardman Animations
Running time 97 minutes, rated G
