Thanksgiving 2011 was just an ordinary Thanksgiving for many, but for the filmmakers behind 4 specific films, it was nothing short of a bloodbath. In the span of five days, Happy Feet Two, Hugo, The Muppets, and Arthur Christmas were released to varying degrees of critical and financial success. Two years later, with all box office hype firmly placed in the past, it’s interesting to notice how Arthur Christmas is a genuinely good film, one filled with imagination and heart.

Delivering presents to every single person in one night is a daunting task, but one that Santa Claus (Jim Broadbent) does on a yearly basis, although modern times have seen him trade in his sleigh for a more high-tech ride. To boot, he also has two sons taking care of everything at the North Pole, with Steve (Hugh Laurie) handling the technology portion of Christmas, while the clumsy and optimistic Arthur (James McAvoy) handles all the letters kids write to Santa. But when a single present isn’t delivered, it’s up to Arthur to deliver it and save the holiday.

The character of Arthur makes for an interesting protagonist, in that his eagerness makes him instantly likable and his enthusiasm for his environment (that of the North Pole of course) being surprisingly contagious. Playing off him throughout most of the film is GrandSanta (played by the incredible Bill Nighy), a Santa who misses the good ol’ days of reindeer and wooden sleighs. He’s responsible for much of the film’s laughs, with his older age giving him leeway to say whatever he wants, with a particular highlight being an offhand remark noting his potential responsibility for the Cuban Missile Crisis along with a line about women’s ability to read.

The always superb crew at Aardman keep the film moving at a consistent pace, even if things do get somewhat slow in some parts in the middle. That’s easily forgivable though due to this part of the film delivering some witty dialogue and interesting character moments. In the end, it all comes together beautifully, with each of the character’s personal developments intertwining into a touching testament to the joys of Christmas. The films thoughtful moral (that the idea of Santa is bigger than just one man) is wonderfully thoughtful and is one of the many aspects of Arthur Christmas that blows you away. While it isn’t a beloved classic yet, such instances of astounding poignancy have me thinking Arthur Christmas will one day soar into the halls of treasured Christmas cinema with ease.