Yule is so close we can almost taste it! As the world gets darker and darker we seek more light within our films and shows. This is such a wonderful time of year. A time for renewal, rest, warm hearths, cozy blankets and of course movies! For this week’s picture we chose a 2019 Netflix film called Klaus that immediately became an all-time favorite after our first viewing!

This one is a very sweet, comforting, and heartwarming movie that we potatoes love dearly. The animation is different but it just makes the film more interesting for the viewer!

We will do everything we can to not give too many spoilers in this review, but there is likely to be some, so please take that into consideration and read cautiously.

The film begins with our main character Jesper Johanssen, (Jason Schwartzman), the pampered, spoiled and often whiny son of the post master general.

Jesper’s father is beside himself, and frustrated. In an attempt to set Jesper on a different path, his father decides to send him to a town called Smeerensburg to set up a functional postal office.

Not only that! His father is giving him one year to get 6 thousand letters sent within and from Smeerensburg. If Jesper fails he will be cut off from the family fortune!

Jesper protests but is made to go anyway!

The cart he is given is pretty funny. We are positive that his father could have given him a nicer mode of transportation but the man is very fed up with his son.

After traveling a great distance by both cart and boat, exhausted and bitter, Jesper finds himself in Smeerensburg! The town is shrouded in grey mist, rundown and dismal…but that is only the tip of the iceberg!

The town of Smeerensburg is made up of two warring families, the Krum’s and the Ellingboe’s. Jesper learns this the hard way by ringing the battle bell in the town square unintentionally and starting a riot not five minutes after his arrival.

We do not want to give too many spoilers but the ferryman is a riot. He’s weirdly devious, but hilarious. Moving on!

The matriarch of the Krum family, Ms. Krum (Joan Cusack), and the patriarch of the Ellingboe family, (Will Sasso) are annoyed and amused that a new postman has been sent to their town. They do not view Jesper as necessary at all. Why would they want to send each other mail and what would they even send? Death threats? They can just walk across the street and do just that in person!

Jesper is overwhelmed by all of it, the feuding locals, the state of the buildings, and the misguided children that have been raised in this tumultuous environment.

We did find ourselves feeling for the children. Violence has not only been normalized but encouraged. They have to deal with the adults behaving incredibly poorly and as a result the children’s behavior is often problematic as well.

We think that at times, parents forget that they are modeling behavior for their children. It is not just about what a parent says, but what they do. The behavior of the older generations of Krum’s and Ellingboe’s set a bad precedent for the children of Smeerensburg.

It takes Jesper a moment to fully grasp the situation he is in and once he does, he finds it to be bleak at best.

Despite his despair he tries to convince the locals to write letters to no avail! Desperate he decides to visit a home on the far end of the island. It is especially remote, so Jesper is hopeful that he will be more successful.

Jesper reached the home but finds it empty…and yet not…the house is filled with wall to wall toys. Intrigued Jesper explores further into the house until he is discovered by the home owner who is a large and imposing man whose name is...you guessed it Klaus (J.K. Simmons).

Jesper makes a quick getaway but not without dropping the only “mail” he was able to trick a child of Smeerensburg to give him.

Klaus picks it up and demands to be taken to the child’s home for Jesper to deliver a special package to the child. What’s in the package? A toy.

The next day, Jesper finds himself being visited by children who heard that they could get a toy too…if they send a letter. This gives Jesper an idea…if he can convince as many children as possible to write a letter to Klaus that they can get a toy…perhaps he can meet that quota his father gave him and leave Smeerensburg!

Once the children know that there are toys involved…well let’s just say that they are eager to write letters for toys! But it is not simple…as it is not Jesper who makes the toys…or has a house full of toys.

Jesper must convince Klaus to read the letters, part with his toys and allow Jesper to deliver them.

Klaus is tentative, but with some persuasion, Klaus decides to go along with it. But! They will deliver toys only at night by hand because Klaus wants to participate.

Jesper dislikes this, but he has to let it go as again, he is not the one with the toys and he greatly needs them in order to get those letters out!

As more and more children are given toys they find themselves sharing their toys amongst each other and making friends! The children also start bettering the village in many ways and seeking an education so that they can write their letters.

The older generations are displeased to say the least, as they are determined to pass down the feud from generation to generation. Friendship, education and play well…that is not acceptable. Mrs. Krum and Mr. Ellingboe feel that something needs to be done about this!

As the film progresses we see many friendships form, relationships change, and people grow. As Klaus likes to say, “A true selfless act always sparks another.”

This movie is a bright, funny, joyful and warm take on the origin story of our favorite Yuletide spirit Santa Klaus.

It is so original and well written that even though it does follow some typical Christmas movie tropes, it does it so beautifully and you will hardly find yourself paying attention to that.

Not all Christmas tropes are trite or corny, especially when they are as well done as they are in this film. The animation is engaging and charming. The story is endearing, moving and humorous.

We 100 percent love this movie and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys beautiful cinemas that make you laugh and touch your heart!

We give this movie…5 glasses of eggnog out of 5!

The Klaus Drinking Game

Take a sip anytime:

1.     Jesper slacks off

2.     Jesper talks about his silk sheets

3.     Jesper whines or whimpers

4.     Jesper makes an ass of himself

5.     Anyone says letter or letters

6.     Anyone says Smeerensburg

7.     The ferryman, Mogen, is sarcastic

8.     Anyone says Ellingboe or Krum

9.     The battle bell rings

10.  An Ellingboe or Krum fight

11.  Alva handles a fish

12.  Klaus looks annoyed or bewildered by Jesper

13.  Magical wind swirls around

14.  A child plays with a toy

15. Anyone speaks Saami

What did you think?? Did you like the movie? Did you hate it!? Do you have suggestions for films we should consider?! Let us know here in the comments and always remember to be safe and drink responsibly!