Christmas cheer tied with a corporate ribbon.

Rating: 6/10 (24 November 2012)

It comes around like clockwork every year, and 2012 is no exception. As the holiday season draws nearer, so too does the avalanche of Christmas films for the kiddies.
Leading the charge this year is Rise of the Guardians, a film that ambitiously teams up Santa Claus (Alec Baldwin), the Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman), the Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher), the Sandman and Jack Frost (Chris Pine) in their fight to banish the Boogeyman (Jude Law) from the nightmares of children the world over.
The A-list voice acting is commendable. The entire cast clearly has fun hamming up their performance, none more so than Baldwin as a re-imagined, tough-as-nails Saint Nick. The film is visually breathtaking, making superb use of 3D and deftly showcasing just how immersive the medium can be when applied properly.
Plot-wise, it's certainly all been seen before. The concept of a reluctant hero has been done to death, particularly in this genre, but Frost is infused with a stubborn cynicism that at least gives his character a touch more depth than expected. The film tailors itself for all ages with an inherently non-threatening baddie, with just the right amount of villainy to ensure the target audience will antagonise him, but not lose any sleep over himÂ…quite literally.
With Rise Of The Guardians, DreamWorks has again stumbled in its punch-for-punch battle with rival Pixar, delivering a film devoid of the alluring enchantment of its primetime opponent, but one that furthers the company's niche of providing a forgettable but passable piece of family entertainment.
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