The Polar Express

Christmas wouldn't be the same without some sentimental animation. And while The Snowman will never melt in our hearts [sorry] there are other fine seasonal animations available. Here Robert Zemeckis has created an extraordinarily attractive-looking adaptation of Chris Van Allsburg's yuletide book. Tom Hanks undertakes the voicing of multiple characters in this tale about an unnamed boy who is having doubts about Santa's existence. Cue the arrival of a steam train in which he (and some other doubting nippers) is whisked on a journey to the North Pole. Handsomely made, The Polar Express is expansive but rather… well… dull. The tidy morality of the tale will put more mature viewers off, however, it is the season to be schmaltzy and as these movies go, this is sold and inoffensive viewing for the childer - and those of us who want a warm feeling in our toes, other than gout of course.