ARTHUR CHRISTMAS REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

​Creating a Christmas film that is entertaining for the whole family can be a difficult thing to achieve. Most films, especially animated motion pictures, tend to aim at younger audiences which means older viewers fail to enjoy it as much. Fortunately, Arthur Christmas, the 2011 animated film released by Aardman Animations (the studio that also released the Wallace & Gromit claymation films and Chicken Run), will most likely entertain the whole family. It's full of adventure and has a lot of funny scenes that will make everyone laugh this Holiday season. Unlike Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run, which both used stop-motion animation, Arthur Christmas is created using computer generated imagery and the result is visually stunning.
The film opens with the current Father Christmas (voice of Jim Broadbent) preparing for his annual gift-giving journey around the world. This is his 70th mission but it is also his final one as he is planning to retire soon and his oldest son, Steve (Hugh Laurie), is expected to take over. However, things don't go to plan when his younger son, Arthur (James McAvoy), discovers that a child in Cornwall was overlooked during Santa's Christmas Eve odyssey. This leads to him, with the help of an elf, Bryony (Ashley Jensen) and his 137 year old 'Grandsanta' (Bill Nighy), stealing the sleigh in order to deliver the present by Christmas morning but will they make it in time?
The film doesn't take long to set up the premise and, with a running time of 97 minutes, it moves at a fast pace.
Children are always asking their parents how Father Christmas gets around the whole world in one night. Parents no longer need to worry about making excuses as Arthur Christmas cleverly describe Father Christmas' journey like a mission. Hundreds of elves work behind computers and there are even ninja elves to help him deliver the presents. There is a scene near the beginning where Father Christmas is almost discovered by a sleeping child and must hide in front of the bed. This scene is both tense and funny at the same time.
With animation films, especially those that feature the voices of recognisable names, most people tend to forget who is voicing the characters. This is the case here. James McAvoy is unrecognisable as the title character, Father Christmas' youngest son and is the clumsiest member of the family. It doesn't take us long to warm to him and, throughout the film, we are rooting for him to succeed. This is what makes him a perfect protagonist. Jim Broadbent, Hugh Laurie and Bill Nighy are all great as their characters.
The majority of the film is focused on Arthur and his determination to deliver the present before Christmas morning begins. There's never a dull moment in his adventure and there are lots of funny moments, most of which comes from his Grandsanta who recalls his own adventures when he was Father Christmas.
Most animated films feature a villain in order to create conflict with the protagonist. However, Arthur's only conflict is with time itself. He is also trying to keep his mission a secret from his brother and father who thought it was pointless delivering one present.
Two of the best Christmas animated feature films are The Polar Express and A Christmas Carol both of which were directed by Robert Zemekis. Arthur Christmas joins that list as it's not only one of the best animated films, it also makes for a entertaining Christmas film that the whole family can enjoy.
7/10