Dreamworks are off the 'Naughty' list.

Rating: 8/10 (25 February 2014)

Sadly overlooked during the Christmas period of 2012, 'Rise Of The Guardians' is a sorely underrated of example of Dreamworks operating outside their comfort zone of toilet humour and pop culture references.
Jack Frost is seemingly brought to life beneath a sheet of ice in the black of night, with no purpose or sense of direction, and invisible to the inhabitants of the world he finds himself wandering. After many years of wreaking playful havoc on Earth with his ability to manipulate snow and ice, Jack is summoned to join the ranks of the 'Guardians', an elite group of child minders including the tooth fairy, the Easter bunny, and even Santa Clause. Much to everyone's surprise, it is presumed that Frost is to play a vital role in defending the children of the world from the growing threat of the Boogeyman, a malevolent entity who aims to infest civilisation with nothing but nightmares.
'Rise of the Guardians' is not a festive film, but its use of the Santa Claus legend and the focus on wintry weather leave it gravitating towards a holiday atmosphere. Visually splendid in a creative sense, not just in the quality of the animation, the film is one that Dreamworks can proudly place by the side of their most important works. Its themes of hope and dreams are universal, regardless of the time of year, and this achievement is especially more profound when you appreciate how the writers wove in the messages of the Easter and Christmas holidays without preaching the corresponding religious values. It isn't very often Dreamworks give characters a genuine arc to explore, but Jack's is not only such a journey, but also a very touching, humble one.
Despite the fairly short running time, their is a minor lack of development for some characters, whose importance is therefore realised too late. Simply, however, the film is a pure delight, and 'Rise Of The Guardians' certainly deserves to be lauded. It isn't groundbreaking in any sense, but it is proof that Dreamworks might have finally found their centre.