Father Christmas

Watching Father Christmas is a tradition for my brother and I, we also watch it before Christmas Day, ever since we were young kids. It is a sweet natured cartoon based on a illustrated book by Raymond Briggs.

This version of Father Christmas lives in an English suburb, in a ordinary terrace house with his pet dog and cat, and of course his reindeers. He is kind hearted, but grumpy, who moans about the image his has. He has to focus on daily chorus that are related to Christmas. He decides to spend his time for once on holiday, going to France, Scotland and Las Vegas, before having to get everything ready for Christmas.

The animation is simple, and old fashioned and wonderful to watch. There is good designs and art direction throughout and the style is very close to the book. The plot is different to the traditional Father Christmas story where he is a not a jolly man living at the North Pole with a lot of elves, but a old man living a normal live, except on Christmas Eve. The story itself is simple and sweet natured, perfect for children, young and old. There is good comedy, some physical, but mostly based on Father Christmas' attitude and view of live. Mel Smith voice was perfect for this version of the legend.

One of the best Christmas based films.

This version of Raymond Brigg's Father Christmas is a Butchered Americanized version. Narrated by an American actor, this version looses all the charm of the English version voiced by Mel Smith, the Original Father Christmas! This is NOT that version! This is a censored chopped version that just doesn't translate well over to American audiences.

In Father Christmas, Santa is not the Politically Correct Santa that prudish Americans would like you to see. He is a cantankerous Santa whom complains, and grumbles all the while that he is doing things. So much so, that he takes a vacation to Scotland, where he drinks at a Pub/bar. Vegas, were he gambles and smokes around bikini clad women. This Santa is shown as a normal person. At a couple times, they even show his butt, to which my God daughters think is the most hilarious thing. It gives a very strong impression that he is a real person. The American version is trying for that rankin/bass whimsical Christmas thing, but it just doesn't work with English Humor. Even the Finally song sung by the American actor shows a more benevolent, Richard Attenburough figure. The Elf-boss (Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer) is more cantankerous than the actor in this one. The original is more like an annoyed Bob Hoskins.

If you can, look for the F.H.E version of this movie online on Ebay. It's well worth it and extremely entertaining for both children and adults. It's no worse than the Grinch (Jim Carey version). Children won't notice some of the slightly more adult scenes that show only long enough for adults to register it. English humor abounds in this version.

To aid you in the search for the original are two ASIN numbers below:

English version number: ASIN: B000006672 Great Version!!!

Americanized Version Number: ASIN: 0767800400 Butchered!!!

A very different kind of mood from its companion piece, THE SNOWMAN, FATHER Christmas is a comic story about the real life of Santa Claus and what he gets up to on the 364 days of the year when he's not at work. Mel Smith has a ball voicing somebody who turns out to be completely irascible and bad tempered, yet endearing at the same time.

The same qualities that apply to the other Raymond Briggs classics are present here; namely, fine animation and a dual appeal to both children and adult viewers alike. Yet the subject matter isn't as sentimental as THE BEAR or THE SNOWMAN and that stops it from being a heartwarming classic like those productions; nevertheless it still makes for an entirely watchable little half hour.

This is another animated film from Raymond Briggs, showing the life of 'Father Christmas'. It is almost as full of magic as 'The Snowman' (another classic), but not quite.

There are some people (my sister included) who do not like this film, as it shows Santa to be a fairly normal man, a grumpy man. But to me, it is this that makes the film even more fun. It's nice to think of Santa in this way, and I for one, love it.

The film also ties in well with 'The Snowman' and features the snowman party, where the young boy meets Father Christmas. Overall I would recommend this film to anyone, although it may not be quite to everyone's taste, I give it 9/10.

Endearing little spin off to the snowman. Father Christmas is a comedic modern spin on Santa Claus. Instead of showing some powerful magical being who lives away from everyone, it instead shows an ordinary guy with lots of chores a somewhat negative attitude and desperate for a break from work. It's a really fun spin on Santa and I love how despite his negative attitude he's shown to still be deeply caring, heartwarming and friendly. I can definitely recommend it but it can be a bit adult with Santa going to a casino and also drinking with Scottish man, he also blooming in almost every sentence. It's a cute movie Father Christmas is one of the most charismatic characters I've ever seen in this and the ties to the snowman are cute.