Every few years magic happens and a new Christmas Classic is born. 2011 was one of those years and Arthur Christmas is one of those instant classics.

Arthur Christmas tells the story of the younger son of Santa Claus and his connection to the family business. Arthur is a little quirky, slightly accident prone and far from efficient. But he has Christmas spirit by the sleigh load!

Santa is facing retirement and Arthur’s older brother, Steve, is set to take the reins after one last Christmas Eve around the world for the old guy. All looks like its going off without a hitch until Arthur discovers a toy that was left behind. A left behind toy means a child without a gift. With Santa too tired to venture out so close to sunrise and Steve unwilling to fire up the sleigh again, it’s all down to Arthur and his gang of unlikely helpers, including his grandfather, the former Claus, and a resourceful elf named Bryony.

Arthur and his crew face all sorts of challenges from navigational errors, lost reindeer and floating lions but Arthur is not deterred. His determination to make sure no child is left behind keeps him on track as he races against the sunrise to deliver the last toy. But Arthur isn’t the only one racing to delver the last toy. Once Santa and Steve realise what Arthur is up to, they set off to save day the day themselves. In the end, all Clauses end up at the same place, just in time to help each other out.

This story is wonderful with its humour and a very real portrayal of inter-generational family dynamics. The relationships among the Clauses is so relatable and heart warming that you’ll be sure to see your own family reflected in the antics of the First Family of Christmas. Each character is as hilarious as they are loveable thanks to the talented group of actors giving voice to them.

James MacAvoy as Arthur is brilliant. He gives the lead an earnest charm that keeps you routing for him throughout the film. Imelda Staunton as Mrs. Claus is just as sweet as you’d imagine. While Hugh Laurie gives Steve a proper, no-nonsense air which is in delightful contrast to Jim Broadbent’s slightly bumbling elder Claus but the one who steals the show is Bill Nighy as Grand-Santa. Everything about his performance is entertaining and memorable.

All in, Arthur Christmas is the Christmas movie you’ve been waiting for. It is funny, relatable, touching and classic while being fresh and entertaining. Check it out on Netflix this month!