Review

Review Date: 27-November-11
Spoiler Rating: Medium
Juju Judgment: Just OK

Arthur Christmas (2011)

It's a good thing that Santa Claus has a century and a half of solid PR under his belt and the enduring popularity of Clement Moore to remind us of his merry nature. Like all men at the top of the pole (totem or North), Santa is an easy target for the sarcastic and disgruntled elements of the populace. His position of power has caused him to be portrayed as a tyrant more than once, the most egregious example being his supposed treatment of Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer. (That Santa would probably "forget" to leave toys for orphans with harelips.) Some people, resenting his unparalleled skill at manufacturing and distribution, have painted Santa as a slave-driving factory overseer. (Refer to my review of The Polar Express for a complaint about this.) Of course, those of us with common sense dismiss these representations as indulgent and absurd. Even if he is a mishmash of traditional folklore and modern marketing, I'm certain that Santa is one hell of a compassionate dude. Which is why I can't muster a lot of goodwill for Arthur Christmas.

A computer-animated show from Aardman Studios, which made its name with the stop-motion Wallace and Gromit films, Arthur Christmas imagines that Santa Claus is an occupational title passed down from father to son since the days of Saint Nicholas. Although the current Santa (with the unmistakable voice of Jim Broadbent) is celebrating his 70th Christmas Eve delivery, he doesn't want to join his ancient, crotchety dad (Bill Nighy) in the state of retirement. At the same time, he has become a worthless old fart who leaves the logistics of the business to his elder son and apparent heir, Steve (Hugh Laurie). Steve wears camouflage to command an enormous data center staffed by elves and a spaceship that can circumvent the globe in one night without the use of magic. He is all about gadgetry and his own stature, so when a glitch causes one little girl's bike to go undelivered, he chooses to focus on the couple billion toys that did make their target and could be called a successful mission. It's his clumsy younger brother Arthur (James McAvoy) who is mortified at the thought of even one child waking to an empty stocking on Christmas morn.

Despite the disgusting depiction of three generations of squabbling, selfish Santas, the movie achieves an uplifting quality when Arthur and grandpa take the forgotten sleigh-and-reindeer rig out for a spin (even in 2D; this part might make the 3D version worth seeing). They travel a roundabout route to Britain with a wrap-happy elf (Ashley Jensen) to deliver the final gift, which allows Arthur to prove himself to his family and teach them not to be such turds. (It should be noted that there is a Mrs. Claus, voiced by Imelda Staunton, but her sweet homemaker schtick doesn't ring true considering the jerks whom she nurtures.) Although he does save Christmas, Arthur is not such a remarkable underdog that he counteracts the influence of the other men in his gene pool. The impression I took from Arthur Christmas is that Santa's name has been taken in vain again, and I continue to believe that such a big man can take it.

Copyright © 2011 The Jujube (M. I. Kim). All rights reserved.