Stick Man (2015 TV Movie) User Reviews (17)

Nice and fun

[Pramitheus · 8/10 · 6 January 2017]

Well, I didn't know this was a Christmas short. It somehow ended up in my laptop and now that I've seen it, I thought why not review it especially because it has Dr.Watson or Martin Freeman in it.

It's a fairly simple story with Martin Freeman's Stick Man, who lives with his family and one fine day decides to go for a jog and finds himself in an adventure he wasn't really expecting. That's it. No complications, no hidden meaning. Simple and fun.

The animation had a stop-motion kind of a feel to it. I mean, it looked like stop-motion but nowadays animation has reached such heights that it's difficult to tell the difference between actual stop-motion and artificial. Stick Man's youngest kid is the cutest Stick I've ever seen. The dialogue in the movie consists of rhymes that are said by various elements in the movie like the frog or the pigeon etc. It was basically Toy Story with twigs, oh sorry, Stick Man. Martin Freeman really plays these funny, frustrated characters really well and he conveys it only by the grunts when he slams into an oar and also how his tone changes every-time he says the poem.

Definitely give it a watch. It's only 27 minutes long which has 5 minutes of credits in it. It reminded me that shorts and even full- length films can be made just for the fun of it and this one made me feel like a kid again.

Another success for Donaldson

[Horst_In_Translation · 6/10 · 31 December 2015]

"Stick Man" is a British television short film from the writing team of the 2 Gruffalo short films and "Room on the Broom". It's not difficult to see that, also without the trademark squirrel and the rhyming verses from start to finish. It is about a stick man, who is mistaken for a stick and unlucky coincidence makes it that he gets taken away further and further from home as the film goes on. It goes on for 26 minutes and the thing takes place at Christmas. In the end Santa gives to the stick man after the Stick Man helped Santa before. A cute little film, mostly for younger audiences, but grown-ups can also have fun. The cast includes Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins, Emmy winner Martin Freeman (for the main character) and Golden Globe nominee Hugh Bonnevill voicing Santa. Not bad for a television production. I personally thought this was a good watch. No truly great moments, but certainly worth checking out during the holidays.

On my way home

[Prismark10 · 7/10 · 29 January 2016]

Stick Man is an endearing adaptation of Julia Donaldson's children's book featuring the voices of Martin Freeman, Sally Hawkins and Hugh Bonneville. It remains faithful to the rhyming text.

Stick Man lives in the family tree with his family. Stick lady and stick kids or should they be twigs?

However while he is out for a jog he gets snatched by a dog and there begins a series of events leading him to be taken further away from home and seemingly no chance of finding his way back to the family tree as the seasons come and go. Luckily for Stick Man there is a festive tinged ending in sight for him.

Stick man takes a lot of knocks in this heart-warming CGI cartoon adaptation but he is a kindly soul but at a loss as to why people do not see him as a person but just as a stick.

As a slightly cynical parent it is easy to be dismissive of these types of Christmas day special cartoons but I found this to be charming.

Stick Man

[jboothmillard · 6/10 · 5 January 2016]

I saw clips for this short animation that would be broadcast during Christmas, I could tell it was the same writers and producers of The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child, so I was hoping for the same kind of fun. Basically Stick Man (Martin Freeman) is a living tree twig who lives with his Stick Lady Love (Sally Hawkins) and their children in the family tree. One day Stick Man goes out for a jog, and through a series of incidents gets pulled further away from his home. As a tree twig he is used as a stick for a dog to play fetch, by a child as a Pooh Stick for the river game, a twig for a swan building its nest, washed out to sea and landing on the beach to be used as a mast for a flag on a sand castle. Every incident he manages to escape, and repeats the phrase "I'm Stick Man, I'm Stick Man, I'M STICK MAN, that's me!", and it appears that he is gone for an entire year. In the end it is Santa Claus (Hugh Bonneville) who is his unexpected saviour, he helps him get back home to his family in time for Christmas, and he is content to stay with them, family is all he needs. Narrated by Jennifer Saunders, also starring Russell Tovey as Dog and Rob Brydon in various supporting roles. It's a simple story about a man who is a stick dragged away from his family, getting caught in sticky situations, and trying to find a way to get back to his family and stick with them, with fantastic stop-motion animation and well chosen voices it is a charming and likable animated fantasy for all ages. Good!

What a great movie

[gbernardj · 9/10 · 11 September 2018]

My two and a half year old grandson absolutely loves this movie and watches it on a regular basis. It teaches some good lessons for youngsters and the characters make sense to young children. I find the gentle voices are just right and the story line progresses at a rate young children can easily follow. I have watched it several times and as yet I have not got bored with it as there is so much to point out to my grandson. With another one on the way. I think I shall be watching it for a few years yet!

Very moving

[safenoe · 10/10 · 10 January 2017]

I stumbled upon Stick Man when channel surfing and what a delight this Christmas special is!!

So many elements make Stick Man so appealing and emotionally moving. The animation, the voices. Martin Freeman shines as the voice of Stick Man (incidentally, I was shocked to hear of his break-up with Amanda Abbington at the end of 2016 - how will this affect the casting of Sherlock?) and when Sherlock ends Martin should consider being a voice artist.

The ending was very moving with the viewers wondering whether Stick Man will be reunited with his family in time for Christmas. Thankfully Santa Claus saves the day for Stick Man.

Very enjoyable

[rogerdozier · 10/10 · 12 August 2018]

A fun little toon that made me feel happy, just like it should for a 44 year old haha, I'm still a kid at heart and most kids will probably love it.

I want more Stickman!

[pinkyisup · 10/10 · 3 January 2023]

I stumbled upon stickman by accident, forced the hubby to watch- he knew once I saw a clip that I HAD to see it. I fell in love with this movie big time

The characters and the simplicity, it was charming and intriguing. I think my Husband was pretty tolerant, he didn't fight it too much, so maybe he secretly enjoyed it- he sure saw that I enthusiastically did.

My only regret is that my mother isn't here to see it, she would have loved this character "Stickman" as much as me.

I need more. This could easily be a series !!

It brought me joy, and entertainment which is more than I can say for many things I watch.

Did not live up the hype.

[dar0417 · 3/10 · 5 December 2019]

I guess if you are a child you might think this short is cute but it's not funny nor entertaining.

Charming and moving

[Selcaby · 9/10 · 9 January 2020]

My little niece and nephew wanted to watch this practically every day over Christmas, and I have watched it of my own accord since then. It's got beautiful animation (looks like stop motion but is actually CGI I think) and a lovely classical-style score. The voice acting is also very good. I particularly like Russell Tovey as the dog, and Martin Freeman as Stick Man does an excellent job of selling lines I thought were inane when I first read the book.

It's very faithful to the book, with an animation style that's a close match for Axel Scheffler's pictures, and it includes all of Julia Donaldson's words with very few extras and minimal changes, mainly pronoun changes to allow lines to be spoken by characters instead of the narrator. This means the extra scenes, such as the prologue showing the stick family having fun at Christmas, unfold mainly without dialogue, which can be slightly jarring. It also means there are sometimes long gaps between pairs of rhyming lines, which makes the rhymes sound odd and unnecessary. These stylistic choices are the same as in all the other Julia Donaldson TV adaptations since The Gruffalo, and they're things you can get used to if you're prepared to let your busy grown-up mind slow down for a while.

The story gets quite dark and worrisome at times. While Stick Man initially takes his tribulations with good humour - for example, helping the girl who threw him in the river by swimming ahead of the other Pooh-sticks - later on he's in real peril and clearly at the end of his endurance. Small children might miss the indications of the changing seasons that show just how long his journey takes, but older viewers won't. Also, to me, the idea of being swept out to sea, unable to control where the current takes you, is pretty scary. So is the thought of a partner or parent going out one morning and never coming home. Kudos to the filmmakers for taking the little twig guy's problems seriously while maintaining a light touch so that children aren't overwhelmed.

It's the thoughtful details that keep me interested. The watchful cat that provides a bridge between two scenes in a montage. The charcoal drawing of the stick family, which fades into a shot of Stick Man lying in a grate, flanked by ordinary sticks. Stick Man recognising the boy who used him as a bat, and picking out a real cricket bat from Santa's sack. The look on his face when he realises the last three presents in the sack are wrapped in leaves. I have never been bored while watching Stick Man, and if my niece and nephew want to watch it again next time I visit, that's fine by me.

Lovely. Moving.

[madden-brad · 9/10 · 24 December 2018]

This is a delightful short film and it's nice to watch with the kids. Its visual storytelling is impressive and the music is quite moving. Highly rrecommend recommend.

good

[NijazBaBs · 9/10 · 23 April 2021]

Nothing special to say about this movie except that it is one of those best cartoons or animations based on a book. Simple, magical, funny, sweet, inspirational. For example it inspired me to build some small device similar to branch and let river or even just a stream bring it to far far away. Something I always imagined as a kid. Also flying in air either in real vehicle or in from of toys like drones. Good for Christmas and New Year. Reminds me of some religious or spiritual teaching that even branches are alive.

Sweet

[bevo-13678 · 10/10 · 15 March 2021]

On of my favourite rom coms of all times. Up there with die hard and the karate kid

He is not a sword, and he is not a boomerang. He is Stick Man...

[paul_haakonsen · 5/10 · 26 May 2017]

I ended up watching "Stick Man" because my son wanted to watch it. I had no idea what it was about or who was in it.

"Stick Man" turned out to actually be an entertaining animated movie, despite it being fairly short.

There is an overwhelming sensation of this story being based on a children's rhyme or perhaps even a book, although I am not sure, nor familiar with such a rhyme or book. It is because of the narrative presentation that the animated movie does take on that quality.

As for the voice acting, well then there was surprisingly little dialogue in this animated movie. And I had no idea that it was Martin Freeman who actually voiced Stick Man before I came to review the animated movie.

The animation in "Stick Man" was good and to the point. Although it was at times fairly simplistic, it served its purpose well and it was straight to the point.

"Stick Man" hardly is a classic, but it is still fun enough to watch once or twice.

My Favourite Christmas Film

[olivia-94055 · 10/10 · 27 December 2023]

This film is truly beautiful in every way. It is stunning animation, adventurous, fun, meaningful, comforting, atmospheric, beautiful storyline, stunning music too and rather emotional as well.

I can watch it every year and never get bored of it.

Fantastic actors/voice actors too, Sally Hawkins has such a wonderful, soft and comforting voice and I love her in everything I see or hear her in!

I feel a fondness to stick man and he's family, and I so wish for him to get back home to them and root (pun wasn't intended) for him the whole way through the story.

10/10 highly recommend. And even as an adult I can say it's probably one of the best little Christmassy animations I've ever watched.

Delightful!

[nancyldraper · 8/10 · 26 September 2018]

Delightful! An incredible voice cast. Endearing animation. A wonderful, adventurous tale to be revisited often by folks of all ages. I give this film an 8 (delightful) out of 10. {Animated Family Short}

Nicely paced peril and distress, but done in a non-threatening, family-friendly way

[bob the moo · 9 March 2019]

I've not read this book but recently watched this with my toddler. Knowing it comes from the same place as Room on the Broom, and most recently, Zog, I was surprised that it had quite a downbeat tone. Essentially the plot sees Stick Man getting into bad situations, each one taking him further from home and into greater danger. I was surprised on watching that it wasn't lighthearted, it wasn't funny but that it played quite dark. Okay it has the rhyming dialogue that these type of things have, and the animation was rounded and likeable, but the material had that tone to it, and there weren't any laughs to break it up.

Reflecting back, it maybe played well for what it did, because it produced something based on danger and loss, but did it in this animated way that was easier to digest. I can imagine children being a bit saddened, before the magic of the end produces a happy ending, but they will not be overly frightened or threatened by it. My toddler understood the importance of Stick Man's family, and why his situation was bad, but she didn't get upset or bored by it - in this way I think the balance was good and the film's tone carried it off well. Not one of these films that I'll come back to loads, but an interesting change from the other BBC/Donaldson animations.