Klaus
Year: 2019
Rating: PG
Length: 96 minutes / 1.60 hours
It’s weird to me how many Christmas movies there are out there, and how few of them are any good. Fortunately, we now have a little gem with Klaus (2019). Animated in a beautiful 2D-esque style that uses 3D CGI as its base, Klaus works backward from what we understand as the current lore surrounding Santa Claus and develops a heartwarming story to explain all the little impossibilities that tie to the Yule tradition. And while it hits mostly predictable story beats, certain moments had me tearing up.
What makes Klaus different from the rest of the Christmas-themed animated fare is that there seems to have been plenty of care devoted to the artistry of the visuals. It seems like most modern animated Christmas movies skimp on quality just to get something out to cash in on the holiday. The characters and character designs are unique and fitting to the story this movie is trying to tell. I don’t want to throw around the term “instant classic” too much, but Klaus feels like the kind of movie I’d want to re-watch with my children as part of some annual Christmas tradition.
In the end, the plot does an excellent job of displaying character growth across all characters. Granted, this is how all Christmas movies usually play out. However, the fact that the most significant changes in the worst town were all started by children goes to show how children aren’t just our future; they’re the fresh vision that looks at the status quo and can change it. I will admit there is a slight taint to the motives of most of the characters, as none of them are that altruistic. That being said, in cases like the one presented in Klaus, the ends can justify the means.
A quality Christmas classic, I give Klaus 4.5 stars out of 5.
1/2
