LIAM EASLEY, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
The new animated Netflix original “Klaus,” released on Nov. 8, puts a fresh spin on the Santa Claus origin story. Coming from a rich and prosperous family, the privileged Jesper (Jason Schwartzman) never suspected to be placed in Smeerensburg, an island town of family feuds and vendettas, as a new postman.
Eager to leave, Jesper finds a way to make money as a mail carrier by delivering toys to the young children of Smeerensburg. The toys were made by a carpenter who lived on the far east side of the island, secluded in a cabin. This carpenter was named Klaus (J.K. Simmons).
The plotline is thoughtful, while the comedic moments range from light to dark and are well-suited for all ages. This is a great family film for the holidays.
— LIAM EASLEY, A+E EDITOR
While sometimes predictable, the storyline has a nice flow and a natural execution, but what made the film special was the witty execution and intriguing animation. “Klaus” comes off as innovative, as the animation played along with films like “Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse” with stopaction integrated into a 3-D animation style. It is an old school technique, but it has aged well.
The soundtrack was interesting at times, ranging from rap to slow pop. There were a few choices that did not work, specifically the slow pop songs, as they usually did not fit thematically with the movie. They made it feel too boxy, like it was confined to how every other animated family film was structured.
With an experimental style of animation and a story centered around an old, decrepit town, the contemporary music felt out of place. Despite very few flaws in soundtrack selection, “Klaus” is a surprisingly amusing, emotionally driven, funny and creative piece of cinema.
The plotline is thoughtful, while the comedic moments range from light to dark and are well-suited for all ages. This is a great family film for the holidays.
Knight Wire 
Leave a Reply