Watch Arthur Christmas
- PG
- 2011
- 1 hr 38 min
-
7.1 (67,786)
Arthur Christmas is an animated Christmas movie that was released in 2011. The movie tells the story of one family's efforts to deliver presents to all the children around the world on Christmas Eve. The story is set in the North Pole where the family of Santa Claus resides. The movie is based on the premise that Santa Claus has a son called Arthur (voiced by James McAvoy) who is clumsy, nerdy, and overexcited about Christmas. Arthur is always trying to help his father, Santa Claus (Jim Broadbent), with the deliveries, but he is never given an important role. Santa's other son, Steve (Hugh Laurie), runs the North Pole and takes care of the delivery process. He is the heir to the Santa Claus throne and he thinks Christmas is just a job that has to be done effectively.
One Christmas, a mistake happens in the delivery process, and a child in Cornwall is missed out. Arthur discovers the error and insists that they go back and deliver the present. But, by this point, it is already sunrise in the UK and the sun is up. Steve and Santa Claus refuse to go back to deliver the present as they believe it is too late, but Arthur disagrees. He decides to take matters into his own hands and embarks on a mission to deliver the present to the child himself.
To deliver the present, Arthur is helped by his grandfather, Grandsanta (Bill Nighy), who was the original Santa Claus. Grandsanta gives Arthur his old sleigh, which they use to travel to Cornwall. Along the way, they face multiple obstacles such as encountering a group of wild reindeer, being chased by an angry family of British military officers, and even getting caught up in a WWE wrestling ring. However, they never lose their determination to deliver the present to the child in Cornwall.
Arthur Christmas is a heartwarming story about the true meaning of Christmas. The movie emphasizes that Christmas is not just about presents or decorations, but it is about spreading joy and happiness to others. The role of technology in Christmas is also highlighted in the movie. Santa's North Pole factory is shown to be high-tech with state-of-the-art equipment and a team of elves who work round the clock to make sure all the presents are delivered on time. Arthur Christmas shows a perfect balance between using technology and keeping the traditional Christmas spirit alive.
The movie is directed by Sarah Smith and co-written by Peter Baynham. It is produced by Aardman Animations and Sony Pictures Animation. The animation is impressive with a lot of attention paid to detail. The characters are meticulously designed, and the North Pole and other locations shown in the movie are visually stunning. There are some references to other Christmas stories in the movie as well. For example, Grandsanta's old sleigh is called Eve and has a red light on the front.
The voice acting done by James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent, and Bill Nighy is amazing. The three actors capture the essence of their characters perfectly. James McAvoy delivers an impressive performance as Arthur, a clumsy but determined young man who just wants to make children happy. Jim Broadbent plays Santa Claus, a warm-hearted man who loves his job and his family. Bill Nighy is perfect as Grandsanta, a grumpy old man who is always up for an adventure.
In conclusion, Arthur Christmas is a delightful movie that captures the true spirit of Christmas. It is funny, heartwarming, and a perfect reminder of why Christmas is celebrated around the world. The movie is suitable for all ages and is bound to be enjoyed by anyone who loves Christmas. Arthur Christmas is a must-watch during the festive season.
Arthur Christmas is a 2011 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 38 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1 and a MetaScore of 69.