Episode 708 - Klaus (2019)

Hi everyone!

Christina’s back today with a look at one of the more unlikely nominees for Best Animated Feature, 2019’s KLAUS. It’s always nice when a film gets recognition that’s not from one of the ginormous animation houses. But I ask you, is a tagline like “Welcome to the Jingle” really what you think of when you think of an Oscar film? While that might have deterred me, it did not deter Christina, who will be up in a moment with her review. Don’t miss her debut review at One Movie Punch for WEATHERING WITH YOU (Episode #687), distributed to the United States by GKIDS. She’ll be back with their most recent import, RIDE YOUR WAVE, later in the month.

Before the review, we’ll have a quick promo from our good friend Kolby Told Me, one of our biggest supporters of the podcast last year, as demonstrated by his near domination of the Follow Friday boards. You can find him on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @kolbytoldme. And if you take up one of his recommendations, let everyone know that Kolby Told Me!

Subscribe to stay current with the latest releases.

Contribute at Patreon for exclusive content.

Connect with us over social media to continue the conversation.

Here we go!

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<< KOLBY TOLD ME PROMO >>

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Hello, everyone!

This is Christina Eldridge with Durara Reviews (a part of One Movie Punch), and I’m back with another review. Since my first review of WEATHERING WITH YOU (2019), I’ve been trying to promote myself and One Movie Punch by social media presence, so if you’re not following my Twitter, @durarareview, or @OneMoviePunch, please go give us a follow!

Today’s movie is KLAUS (2019), which was written by Sergio Pablos and co-written by Zach Lewis and Jim Mohoney.

KLAUS (2019) is an alternative origin story of Santa Claus, set in a fantasy world that resembles a gloomy 19thcentury. A chance meeting by a spoiled son of a postmaster and a hermit woodsman gives life to a town plagued by a feud and begins the Christmas tradition.

This review is spoiler free.

This light-hearted comedy is the Spanish animated directorial debut of Sergio Pablos, who is best known for his work in Disney’s animation department. He has worked on such hits as  HERCULES (1997), TARZAN (1999), SMALLFOOT (2018) and is probably known best for creating the entire DESPICABLE ME universe.

KLAUS (2019) was produced by Sergio Pablos Animation Studios and is currently distributed in the United States by Netflix. The film was animated electronically, but Pablos used his experience at Disney to make 2D look more 3D. His work paid off with an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Featured film.

Jesper Johansson (Jason Schwartzman) is the son of a highly successful and wealthy postmaster. He has no aspirations other than to leach off the family wealth. Jesper is forced to enroll in the Royal Postal Academy and purposely tries to fail so he can go back home to his pampered life.  Instead, it is decided that he will become postmaster of Smeerensburg, a Northern island town, and will be tasked with posting 6,000 letters in one year’s time or he will be cut out of the family estate. Jesper meets a ferryman in town named Mogens (Norm MacDonald), who quickly introduces Jesper to Smeerensburg’s forever feud perpetuated by two families: the Krums and the Ellingboes. Because of the feud, no one writes letters or even goes to school, as explained by the teacher turned fishmonger, Alva (Rashida Jones). After countless attempts to get anyone to mail anything, Jesper decides to try the only person left in town he hasn’t talked to: the lonely woodsman to the East, Klaus (J.K. Simmons). After a misunderstanding related to perception of character, he and Jesper set out to improve the town, which secretly will help Jesper fulfill his mission.

Even though KLAUS (2019) is based on the tired trope of family feuds in the Hatfield/McCoy tradition, the story is charming enough to keep it from feeling stale. The friendship that evolves between Jesper and Klaus and their determination to make the children in town happy is touching, entertaining and powerful.

I did have two issues with this movie, starting with its predictability.  From the start, you can guess exactly how it will end. Since this is a family movie, and children probably can’t follow complicated plot lines, I didn’t let it spoil my experience. My second issue is Jason Schwartman’s voice acting attempt. It felt a little over done and like he can maybe use another voice acting class or two, but it sort of works for a family film.

KLAUS is the tale of a long con perpetrated by a sheltered brat that turned into a character-building life lesson. His motto goes from, “Everyone’s out to get something” to “A true selfless act always sparks another”. Everyone should watch it with their family at least once, and possibly add it to the holiday movie list if the kids are into it.

Rotten Tomatoes: 93% (CERTIFIED FRESH)

Metacritic: 64 

One Movie Punch: 8/10 (Posted Letters)

KLAUS (2019) is rated PG and is currently streaming on Netflix.

Thank you, everyone!  Keep an eye out for my upcoming review, RIDE YOUR WAVE (2019), coming next month.

Until next time!

Hi everyone!

Christina’s back today with a look at one of the more unlikely nominees for Best Animated Feature, 2019’s KLAUS. It’s always nice when a film gets recognition that’s not from one of the ginormous animation houses. But I ask you, is a tagline like “Welcome to the Jingle” really what you think of when you think of an Oscar film? While that might have deterred me, it did not deter Christina, who will be up in a moment with her review. Don’t miss her debut review at One Movie Punch for WEATHERING WITH YOU (Episode #687), distributed to the United States by GKIDS. She’ll be back with their most recent import, RIDE YOUR WAVE, later in the month.

Before the review, we’ll have a quick promo from our good friend Kolby Told Me, one of our biggest supporters of the podcast last year, as demonstrated by his near domination of the Follow Friday boards. You can find him on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @kolbytoldme. And if you take up one of his recommendations, let everyone know that Kolby Told Me!

Subscribe to stay current with the latest releases.

Contribute at Patreon for exclusive content.

Connect with us over social media to continue the conversation.

Here we go!

/////

>

/////

Hello, everyone!

This is Christina Eldridge with Durara Reviews (a part of One Movie Punch), and I’m back with another review. Since my first review of WEATHERING WITH YOU (2019), I’ve been trying to promote myself and One Movie Punch by social media presence, so if you’re not following my Twitter, @durarareview, or @OneMoviePunch, please go give us a follow!

Today’s movie is KLAUS (2019), which was written by Sergio Pablos and co-written by Zach Lewis and Jim Mohoney.

KLAUS (2019) is an alternative origin story of Santa Claus, set in a fantasy world that resembles a gloomy 19thcentury. A chance meeting by a spoiled son of a postmaster and a hermit woodsman gives life to a town plagued by a feud and begins the Christmas tradition.

This review is spoiler free.

This light-hearted comedy is the Spanish animated directorial debut of Sergio Pablos, who is best known for his work in Disney’s animation department. He has worked on such hits as  HERCULES (1997), TARZAN (1999), SMALLFOOT (2018) and is probably known best for creating the entire DESPICABLE ME universe.

KLAUS (2019) was produced by Sergio Pablos Animation Studios and is currently distributed in the United States by Netflix. The film was animated electronically, but Pablos used his experience at Disney to make 2D look more 3D. His work paid off with an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Featured film.

Jesper Johansson (Jason Schwartzman) is the son of a highly successful and wealthy postmaster. He has no aspirations other than to leach off the family wealth. Jesper is forced to enroll in the Royal Postal Academy and purposely tries to fail so he can go back home to his pampered life.  Instead, it is decided that he will become postmaster of Smeerensburg, a Northern island town, and will be tasked with posting 6,000 letters in one year’s time or he will be cut out of the family estate. Jesper meets a ferryman in town named Mogens (Norm MacDonald), who quickly introduces Jesper to Smeerensburg’s forever feud perpetuated by two families: the Krums and the Ellingboes. Because of the feud, no one writes letters or even goes to school, as explained by the teacher turned fishmonger, Alva (Rashida Jones). After countless attempts to get anyone to mail anything, Jesper decides to try the only person left in town he hasn’t talked to: the lonely woodsman to the East, Klaus (J.K. Simmons). After a misunderstanding related to perception of character, he and Jesper set out to improve the town, which secretly will help Jesper fulfill his mission.

Even though KLAUS (2019) is based on the tired trope of family feuds in the Hatfield/McCoy tradition, the story is charming enough to keep it from feeling stale. The friendship that evolves between Jesper and Klaus and their determination to make the children in town happy is touching, entertaining and powerful.

I did have two issues with this movie, starting with its predictability.  From the start, you can guess exactly how it will end. Since this is a family movie, and children probably can’t follow complicated plot lines, I didn’t let it spoil my experience. My second issue is Jason Schwartman’s voice acting attempt. It felt a little over done and like he can maybe use another voice acting class or two, but it sort of works for a family film.

KLAUS is the tale of a long con perpetrated by a sheltered brat that turned into a character-building life lesson. His motto goes from, “Everyone’s out to get something” to “A true selfless act always sparks another”. Everyone should watch it with their family at least once, and possibly add it to the holiday movie list if the kids are into it.

Rotten Tomatoes: 93% (CERTIFIED FRESH)

Metacritic: 64 

One Movie Punch: 8/10 (Posted Letters)

KLAUS (2019) is rated PG and is currently streaming on Netflix.

Thank you, everyone!  Keep an eye out for my upcoming review, RIDE YOUR WAVE (2019), coming next month.

Until next time!