“Arthur Christmas” and the Real Reason Behind My Favorite Christmas Movie
By: Sam Erickson
Photo courtesy: Sony Pictures
Before I tell you about the most incredible animated Christmas movie of the twenty-first century, let’s get something straight. There is a difference between someone’s favorite Christmas movie and the best Christmas movie. I am aware that some Christmas movies will score better than my beloved “Arthur Christmas” on review sites, and I am fine with that. I am not arguing what the greatest Christmas movie of all time is, I hate the “greatest of all time arguments.” I am simply saying that a movie from 2011 deserves more praise and attention during the holiday season. With that out of the way, let's talk about the most slept-on holiday film in history.
“Arthur Christmas” is a story about embracing something bigger than yourself and embracing who you are as you do it. Themes of questioning faith, geopolitical struggle, and shared family trauma ring throughout. Also, they have fun accents.
Starring the voice talents of James McCovey (my fellow church kids will recognize him as Mr. Tumnus in Narnia), “Arthur Christmas” follows the story of the current Santa Claus’s second son, Arthur. The premise of the movie is that Santa, while having access to magic, is not magical himself, just a normal man, with a normal family. Santa’s oldest son, Steve has taken the north pole into the future, streamlining the gift-giving process with the use of technology straight out of an “Iron Man” movie. Arthur, who is a lot less technologically savvy, is the one who cares. He cares about every child's letter, about every elf, and everything that makes Christmas special. The struggle between the two of them gains traction when a child is missed by Steve’s tech-driven Christmas, and their different views lead to chaos at the North Pole.
The movie isn’t saying anything bold or new. It shines when it jokes about things you don’t expect in a movie about Santa to joke about. (The best line of the movie, by far, is when Grandsanta explains “I didn’t know it was the Cuban Missile Crisis! I nearly started World War Three!”). It is truly magical.
However, if I am being honest, I know why I love this movie so much. It is not the adult humor they sneak in or the heartwarming premise; it is something much more subjective.
When this movie was released, my family went and saw it in theaters. The Erickson family has a deep love for British humor. (You should have seen us when we discovered “Ted Lasso”). This movie became a classic in our house, it wouldn’t be a surprise if in between viewings of “Elf” and “Miracle on 34th Street” we popped in “Arthur Christmas” just because we could. I think the reason anyone truly loves any Christmas movie is because, like all Christmas traditions, they are best when around the people you love. “Arthur Christmas” is my favorite because it is funny, kind-hearted, and because it means I am watching something with my family.
I hope that you watch “Arthur Christmas.” But, more importantly, I hope you understand that the most important part of our favorite Christmas movies is who we watch them with.