Today’s quick review: Klaus. Banished to the remote town of Smeerensburg by his father, postman Jesper Johanssen (Jason Schwartzman) has one year to set up a thriving post office or be cut off from the family fortune. As Jesper wrestles with cold weather and mean-spirited locals, he’s inspired by Klaus (J.K. Simmons), a reclusive woodsman with a house full of toys, to start a gift-giving tradition that has unexpected effects on Jesper and the town.
Klaus is an animated family comedy that tells the story of how some of the most widespread Christmas traditions came to be. The story begins with Jesper, a spoiled and self-centered young man whose father forces him into the Postal Service to help him build character. Jesper comes up with a scam to get the postal traffic he needs to end his exile: having the local children write letters to Klaus asking for toys.
This premise forms the basis of a heartwarming tale about a selfish man learning to care about others. The broad strokes of the plot are predictable, a story about growth and redemption that fits the pattern of coutnless other family films. But Klaus seems to take joy in the telling of its story. The details are creative, with a rich world and clever explanations for Christmas lore, and the beats of the story are handled with warmth and care.
The animation shows the same level of craftsmanship. Klaus has a gorgeous visual style that’s cartoonish enough to support the film’s comedy but has a soft, storybook texture that makes the film seem like a living classic. The designs would fit right in with the animated movies from Disney in the 90s and early 2000s, but Klaus takes the style one step farther, with detailed backgrounds, subtler use of light and shadow, and an expanded color palette.
Klaus is a charming Christmas movie with a simple story, an enjoyable sense of humor, and a keen eye for detail. There are places where Klaus could have been more original with its story or used a lighter touch to convey its emotions. But these minor issues barely register when put next to the film’s major strengths. Klaus is well worth a watch for anyone who could use an uplifting, heartfelt story with beautiful animation.
For an animated family comedy with a similar character arc, try The Emperor’s New Groove or The Road to El Dorado. For a Disney movie with some of the same heart, try Lilo & Stitch. For a musical about a scam that takes on a life of its own, try The Music Man.
8.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 to 8.0 for gorgeous animation and a thoroughly charming story.