Film Reviews & Movie Analysis

Christmas Bells Jingled: 🔔🔔

Use to a life of silk sheets and privilege, Jesper (Jason Schwartzman) is given an ultimatum by his father that sees him forced into the family postal business. Sent to Smeerensburg, Jesper sees an opportunity to get out of his situation when he meets elusive woodsman Klaus (J.K. Simmons) who has a gift of making toys.

I was pretty disappointed in this one, as it didn’t give me all the warm and fuzzy Christmassy vibes I expected it too.

Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed the premise of the movie, how the whole shindig started with a lazy postman sent to the middle of nowhere, the unexplained dash of magic thrown in, and the animation itself. In that, there seemed to be a mixture of styles within the movie that was really interesting, and added to the overall stand out quality of the movie.

Klaus is about the creation of the man we typically know as Santa Claus, and all the bells and whistles that come with the title; Flying reindeer, slipping down chimneys, milk and cookies, the lot. Though I loved the idea of this I found the execution a little too on the  nose. This could just be me and my adult brain, and perhaps the use of less subtle nuances is directed at the younger audience this movie is likely aimed at.

For me the ending was where it really started to stir all the right feels – and when I say ending I literally mean the last three to five minutes. Just that part of the movie alone I would give a solid four out five jingle bells.