Directors: Sarah Smith, Barry Cook
Voices: James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Ashley Jensen, Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton
Running Time: 97 minutes
Certificate: U
Extras: “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” by Justin Bieber Music Video, Behind the Scenes of “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town”, Un-wrapping Arthur Christmas featurette, Five Progression Reels: Arthur Christmas Unwrapped, Arthur’s Office, Grand Santa, Invasion and Trelaw, Cornwall, Elf Recruitment Video, Santa’s Soldiers featurette, The Christmas Family Tree featurette
The wholly successful Bristol-based stop-motion Aardman Animations have aligned to the digital process this time and teamed up with Sony Pictures Animation for a mighty and bountiful Christmas-fuelled success of a movie. ARTHUR CHRISTMAS manages to bridge that gap between traditional and futuristic as it focuses on hope and possibility to tell a wonderful new story based around good old fashioned beliefs. Don’t shy away from that statement though, it’s not preachy or expectant but instead tells an inventive tale of expecting the unexpected.
On Christmas Eve in the North Pole, old Santa Claus (with the voice talents of Jim Broadbent) has grown weary and so it’s down to older son Steve (Hugh Laurie) to run a high-tech operation. His endless echelons of Elves are trained like a SWAT team to deliver presents across the world from giant-stealth jet S-1 to every kid, one by one and at hyper-speed. However, when an Elf is distracted, a present is missed and the only person who cares enough about the true spirit of this festive time is Santa’s youngest Son, Arthur (James McAvoy), who takes on the special mission to deliver a young girl’s Bike before the sun comes up on Christmas morning and, we promise you, the adventure doesn’t slow up.
Although the plot may be too expansive for the little ones, there’s enough old-school filmic comedy to keep everyone’s attention as Grandsanta (Bill Nighy) and Elf Bryony (Ashley Jensen), a self-confessed present-wrapping addict, go on an all-mighty adventure with Arthur. That perfect dysfunctional factor is found within many moments, together with Aardman’s distinct visual look and portions of charming word play being wonderfully served.
ARTHUR CHRISTMAS holds all the heart of what you’d hope for from Aardman and expands into a gigantic world that’s bursting with laughs, tenderness and intelligence. It’s an absolute family affair that deserves to become part of your Christmas line-up, so go pick up your copy now on Blu-ray or DVD!
ARTHUR CHRISTMAS is available to buy now!
