Arthur Christmas (11/6/2012)

Rated PG for some mild rude humor.

Starring James McAvoy (voice), Jim Broadbent (voice), Imelda Staunton (voice), Hugh Laurie (voice) and Bill Nighy (voice)

Directed by Barry Cook and Sarah Smith

Now I can’t wait for Christmas!

The CG-animated family comedy Arthur Christmas, an Aardman production for Sony Pictures Animation, at last reveals the incredible, never-before seen answer to every child’s question: ‘So how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night?’ The answer: Santa’s exhilarating, ultra-high-tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole. But at the heart of the film is a story with the ingredients of a Christmas classic – a family in a state of comic dysfunction and an unlikely hero, Arthur, with an urgent mission that must be completed before Christmas morning dawns.

I have to admit, I didn’t know that Santa had two sons. But he does – Steve and Arthur. Steve (voiced by Hugh Laurie) is the first born, over-achieving, barrel-chested alpha male who oversees the annual Christmas operation with military-like precision. Then there’s Arthur (James McAvoy). He’s a nerdy klutz who manages to screw things up. But he’s the only one in the entire high-tech North Pole operation who seems to get the spirit of Christmas.

When it comes to Christmas movies, there are two basic groups: most are quickly forgotten and the others become one of those movies you watch with your family every year. My guess is Arthur Christmas will join the latter category.

The clever script successfully updates many Christmas myths and the dialogue is fun, sophisticated and witty. And the cast is superb. I was surprised by the animation. I know the studio is responsible for the Wallace and Gromit films, of which I’m not a huge fan. But Arthur Christmas is a computer-drawn production that looks so good. The human characters retain their quirky, “Aardman look” while the animals would fit nicely into the Ice Age films. Now I’m not saying this is Pixar quality, but the story is charming enough that it really doesn’t matter.

Arthur Christmas is a safe bet for the whole family, and gets a “theater worthy” from me.

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There are a few “name calling” scenes, but other than that it’s a great movie for the whole family.

CONVERSATION STARTER

1. How did Arthur and Steve react differently to the girl who didn’t get a gift?


2. How would you have reacted?


3. Read Matthew 18:12-14
   
   What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
   
   How are Jesus’ words similar to Arthur’s reaction?


4. What does that verse tell us about God’s love for us?


5. How does knowing this change how you and I should live?


6. What is one thing we can do this week to live as a valuable, rescued child of God?