"Klaus" is a delightful Christmas movie that I really needed right now
I don’t know why Craig and I chose not to watch Klaus when it landed on Netflix last year, but we didn’t. This holiday season, however, when we’ve pretty much watched everything (or, well, I’ve watched everything and Craig just lives here), plus our pal Luke Gordon Field told us it was good (thanks, Luke!), we figured, hey, why not?
Y’all. This movie is lovely. The animation is gorgeous (kind of a combination of hand-drawn animation and CGI), there are great jokes (both verbal and visual), and the overall message that doing kind things for other people is its own reward is just… exactly what we needed at this moment in the world.
Klaus is an interpretation of how the Santa story came about — a spoiled young man named Jesper (Jason Schwartzman), who comes from a long line of postmen, is sent to a cold and remote village by his father, tasked with personally stamping 6,000 letters in a year, or else risk being cut off. The problem is that nobody in this town sends letters at all. He has a chance meeting with a mysterious old, bearded man in the woods (JK Simmons), who ends up delivering a toy to a child who sends him a letter. Jesper then realizes that if he can get all the kids in town to send the man a letter asking for toys, he’ll reach his quota in no time.
Along the way, we see how the “flying reindeer” come about, what the “elves” really are — and, of course, Jesper learns about the importance of friendship and giving, and that good deeds often spawn more good deeds. And it’s all just so nice, and kind, and man, do we all just need some of that in 2020, don’t we?
I think Klaus might turn into a yearly holiday viewing for me and Craig, and I hope it makes you feel as good as it made us.
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That’s all for me today, gorgeous. Talk to you soon.
Love,
Kat
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I’m so glad you liked it! My aunt recommended it a couple of weeks ago, saying, “about 20 minutes in, you’ll want to turn this off. Stick with it.” Cut to me crying my eyes out as the credits rolled. She was absolutely right. It’s one of those movies you think about and appreciate more long after it’s over.