Two days out from Christmas and Hot Bloods Writing Club is back with another review! You thought we’d forgotten you? Not in a million years, our dear friends. We return in your time of need. We’re here to help you – yes, you! – navigate the icy world of terrible, not so terrible, and sometimes, blindingly beautiful Christmas films. And this time, we’ll be talking about Klaus (2019), dir. Sergio Pablos and Carlos Martínez López.
Lauren’s verdict:
Klaus could be just another animated Christmas film you scroll past on your way to watch Will Ferrell’s Elf for the umpteenth time, but for what it’s worth, I recommend you see it.
The movie Klaus follows the spoiled and selfish Jesper. Son of the Postmaster General, Jesper is forced to attend the Postmaster academy, where he is set to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a proud mailman. When Jesper flunks out, his irate father forces him to take up a post on the unforgiving frozen isle of Smeerensburg, an isolated and eerie town filled with combative townspeople, embroiled in a centuries-old feud between two local families – the Ellingboe and the Krum. Jesper comes to realise the only way off the hellish island is to meet the demand set by his father – deliver 6000 letters. Jesper struggles to convince the townsfolk to participate, until he stumbles across the secluded woodsman Klaus. Klaus, taken by the letter of a lonely little boy, is suddenly moved to brighten his day, by mailing him a homemade toy. The local children, captivated by the mysterious man in the woods, start to weave tales of his magical abilities. And out of this grows the legend of Santa Claus.
While the story follows selfish Jesper and his journey to compassion, I found myself less and less interested in his transformation. And instead captivated by the film’s view of joy, and the power one child’s joy has on the world around it. How an act of selfless compassion dismantles the lessons of hate taught to generations and generations of Smeerensburg children. Slowly revealing that the only true salve to resentment and ingrained intolerance is pure, unfiltered joy.
If nothing else, the animation in Klaus is something to be seen. Captivating in its childlike renderings of a snowy, distant land. Beautiful in its small details and enchanting use of light, Klaus makes you feel the icy snow, and hear the breeze as it rustles through the trees. The slapstick gags kept me laughing, and the heartfelt sentiment was artful and delicate.
However, this film makes it near impossible to keep the promise that we make to ourselves every morning – I will not cry today. But I did. Twice. And – boy – it wasn’t pretty.
4.5 out of 5 empty mailboxes 📭
Jeremy’s verdict:
Some close friends highly recommended Klaus to us. So I watched the trailer. And it seemed every single YouTube comment was filled with overwhelming praise for the film. Some even said the trailer was underwhelming compared to the film itself. So it seems fair to say that I had high expectations for Klaus. Thankfully, they were all exceeded. Klaus is magical, it’s that simple.
Here’s a list of things Klaus does incredibly well:
- It is beautifully animated. The world and characters are the kind you want to instinctively explore. Stunning colour palettes are paired with charming and vivid animation. Every scene looks like the artists put the utmost care and attention into crafting it. It’s a joy to watch.
- The soundtrack is fantastic. Emotional moments land, tears will be shed.
- Klaus himself. J.K. Simmons’ voice acting fills the character with life! Klaus displays both gravitas and intensity, and warmth, vulnerability, and tenderness in equal measure. And his physical design as a huge, powerful, but gentle giant-type gives him a caring, Hagrid-esque quality.
- The story itself touches on regular animated film messages about doing kind things for their own sake, without expecting anything in return, but the fact that this topic is well-worn across animated films doesn’t make it any less important to revisit time and time again. It’s both sweet and powerful, and it works well. Sometimes reinventing the wheel just isn’t necessary.
Klaus is sure to become part of my regular Christmas viewing for years to come. And sometimes when movies are that good, it can feel very difficult to review them. My only gripes are so minor that in reality, they don’t even feel worth mentioning. Just watch this one. As far as animated Christmas films go, it’s hard to do better.
4.5 out of 5 empty mailboxes 📭
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