On Christmas night at the North Pole, Santa's youngest son looks to use his father's high-tech operation for an urgent mission.
There are plenty of ho-ho-hos here, most of them coming from Ashley Jensen’s helium-voiced elf Bryony. But there’s definitely something missing, and we don’t just mean the plasticine...
There’s enough slapstick to keep younger cinemagoers happy while older ones can enjoy the sly jokes and play spot-the-famous-voice.
Far from a ho-ho-horrible mess, but room to improve.
t’s fast-paced and enjoyable enough but the story is thin and the stakes never seem terribly high. Children will undoubtedly enjoy it but I suspect this animated gift is merely for Christmas and not for life.
It remains engaging throughout thanks to cheery voices, the show stolen by Ashley Jensen as Bryony, an elf with very impressive present-wrapping skills, and it’s certainly heartwarming enough to get by.
A joyful, simple Christmas movie with a heartfelt message.
The voice cast do their best with limited material, but none of the characters is very memorable and in the end, with nothing particularly engaging, heartfelt or meaningful to hold on to, all the bright colours, funny accents and endless set-pieces are little more than cinematic Christmas wrapping: pretty to look at, functional and entirely disposable.
Aardman films' yuletide offering is both a heartwarmer and a sly dig at the gospel of family togetherness.
Seasonal fun.
A great, big joy. Even if you’re a bit bah humbug, just delight in the supremely clever Aardman comedy.
Arthur Christmas might be made of pixels rather than Plasticine, but it still has Aardman’s fingerprints all over it.
Arthur Christmas doesn't have a cynical bone in its body, recalling the old-fashioned, heart-warming festive yarns they used to make. Christmas has come early.
An odd Anglo-American collaboration that will bring a little brief happiness to undemanding children.
The otherwise ultra-efficient Arthur Christmas forgets one thing, too: its plot.
Arthur Christmas feels like a TV short padded out, jolly enough for small kids, but lacking in the wit and charm that made the studio’s name.
Perfectly positioned for generating pre-Christmas excitement, Arthur Christmas has charm and a breezy confidence that makes it the epitome of a simple pleasure.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
RSS feed of Cinema reviews