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Hogfather (2006) DVD Review
Hogfather (2006) DVD Credits:
Hogfather (2006) Directed by:
Vadim Jean
Hogfather (2006) Written by:
Vadim Jean
Hogfather (2006) Cast:
David Jason, Marc Warren, Michelle Dockery, Nigel Planer, Tony Robinson, Peter Guinness, Stephen Marcus, Ian Richardson, David Warner, Joss Ackland
Hogfather (2006) Released by:
Not available at this time
Region:
1
Hogfather (2006) DVD Release Date:
4th March 2008
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Hogfather (2006) Synopsis:

It's the holiday of Hogswatch in the parallel universe of Discworld, the night when kids anticipate presents from the beloved Hogfather. But someone - or omsething - wants the Hogfather out of the way. Now it's up to the most unlikely of heroes to get the holiday back on track before humanity loses all hope.

Hogfather (2006) DVD Review:

Hogfather is a British mini-series based on author Terry Pratchett’s series of “Discworld” novels. Apparently Pratchett has written a whole stable of entries, and Hogfather is only adapted from one of them, so there’s an opportunity for many other television installments down the road. If Hogfather is any indication, then I look forward to further exploring Terry Pratchett’s world.

Hogfather is a unique blend of genres as only the British could do it. Mix the dark and childlike fantasy world of The Nightmare Before Christmas with the absurdist humor of Monty Python and you might start to get an understanding of what Hogfather is all about. I wish I could be more specific, but it’s one of those films you just have to see, which speaks highly of its originality.

Hogfather is a holiday film of sorts in that it takes place during the Discworld holiday of Hogswatch. Although Hogswatch may not exist in our reality, it bears more than a passing resemblance to Christmas, which makes it perfect viewing for that time of year. To be perfectly honest though, Hogfather has enough unique elements in it that you could probably watch it at any time of year and not feel too out of season. After all, it’s as much a gothic fantasy as it is a holiday film.

The art direction of the film is a wonder to behold, as there are a number of memorable set designs, from Death’s hall of hour glasses to the stark whiteness of the Toothfairy’s castle. It may not be quite up to Tim Burton levels of artistry, but the handful of sets in the film are creatively designed and expertly rendered despite the film’s made-for-television constraints.

Despite the macabre tone and dark visuals, the film has an underlying light-heartedness that provides a nice juxtaposition to the more sinister elements in the film. The most comedy is derived from scenes with Death as he tries to take over for the Hogfather (Discworld’s Santa Clause equivalent). Seeing the iconic image of the grim reaper don a Santa Claus outfit and a fake beard is a hilarious visual gag on its own, but hearing him try to bellow “Ho ho ho” in a believable fashion takes the humor even further.

Despite my praise for the film, there are two large flaws that keep the film from greatness. Firstly, the portrayal of the villain, Teatime, is often grating. The actor plays the character in a childlike tone of voice with quirky mannerisms and the whole performance feels much too similar to Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The villain is supposed to be a dangerous and menacing assassin, but more often than not he’s just annoying. I appreciate that the actor was going for a different take, but it just wasn’t successful, and the film suffers for it.

The other problem with the film is that it relies too heavily on one’s prior knowledge of the book. I knew nothing about the books going into the film, and I have to admit that there were certain moments in the film where I didn’t have a clue what was going on or why certain characters were doing things. I was consistently entertained due to the style and tone of the film, but from a storytelling standpoint I often found myself feeling confused.

There’s only one extra on the DVD aside from the trailer, and it’s an interview with author Terry Pratchett. The interview runs for a little over twenty minutes and is full of interesting information. It tends to center more on the books than the film, so fans of the series may be more interested than those people who have only seen the film.

Hogfather proves to be a very unique film. The strong aesthetics and quirky sense of humor make it very enjoyable, even if the story leaves those who are unfamiliar with the books feelings lost on occasion. Although it is technically a family film, some parents may want to screen it first, as it is definitely on the darker side and may even include some elements that parents find questionable (drinking, smoking, mild language, etc.). However, if parents deem it appropriate viewing material for their children, then they should definitely sit down and watch it together, as it is one of the most original fantasy family films to come out in quite some time and I look forward to future adaptations of the series.

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Hogfather (2006) DVD review written by: Anthony Berk

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