Arthur Christmas: Critic Reviews

In her directing debut, Aardman veteran Sarah Smith and her co-writer Peter Baynham offer a fresh look at the Santa legend: a flawed Claus.

Both Nighy and Broadbent do wonderful, richly funny voice work.

A new Christmas classic.

The Aardman animators know a thing or three about sight gags and throw-away lines, and they pile up quickly, here.

Arthur Christmas will snuggle you up into a big, hearty festive cuddle and refuse to put you down until you've hugged it back.

There are moments of charm and it is a sweet story which kids might find entertaining enough, but chances are they will become just as restless as my crowd as the film stretches on.

Arthur Christmas is a smart, funny, heartwarming story that will have you smile from ear-to-ear for the film's duration.

The settings, especially on the North Pole, are deliciously intricate and the characters understatedly quirky.

The movie's idea that Santa and his elves have turned the distribution of presents every Dec. 24 into a major military operation makes me more than a tad uneasy.

A plucky, clever animated Xmas tale that has much of Aardman's attention to quirky detail (bulbous noses), wordplay, and unconventional heroes (Arthur's fuelled by worry).

In a season unexpectedly full of quality family films, Arthur Christmas may have to fight for the attention it deserves, but if there was ever an example of a film that's a crowd-pleaser without talking down to its audience, this is it.

oi pragmatika aksiologes xristoygenniatikes tainies spanizoyn ston 21o aiwna kai einai etsi sobares oi prooptikes na leei mia sobarh prospatheia tameiaka kalanta gia polla xronia sth synexeia

A thoroughly entertaining movie that deserves to sleigh audiences both young and old this Yuletide.

There are things you just wouldn't see in a Pixar or Disney movie. For example, one of the main elves has an eyebrow piercing, uncommented on. Even more than that: two of the boy elves kiss... each other. It's progressive.

Thank goodness that even the Santas have a mom to help them sort out their turmoils.

Aardman films' yuletide offering is both a heartwarmer and a sly dig at the gospel of family togetherness.

Arthur Christmas has charm and a breezy confidence that makes it the epitome of a simple pleasure.

A witty and beautifully designed animated film.

Arthur may not be perfect, but he cares. The same can be said for the film. 'Arthur Christmas' is full of just enough holiday cheer.

It's as bright and twinkling as a Christmas tree, decked with warmth and humor.

Quite brilliant.

Arthur Christmas manages to deliver some holiday cheer.

The action is swift and witty, and the 3-D effects are imaginative and not simply tacked on as with so many animated movies these days.

There's some great stuff here... What's missing is the delightful Britishness of Nick Park's films.

A charming and inventive exploration of the mysterious workings of Santa, his sons and his elves. This animated tale is sure to be popular for Christmases to come.