I was really looking forward to see it

Rating: 3/10 (9 October 2009)

Good thing I didn't get a chance to see it in theaters, but watched it on TV for "free". Otherwise, it might not have been 3 stars, two of which I give for the excellent first try of realistic motion capture. No, it's true - at times I'd forget it's not a live action movie. Until they show the faces up close, that is. The third star goes for the sincere effort of making a good fantasy movie. As one of the characters put it: "It's the thought that counts".
Now to the bad parts, one by one:
1. There is hardly any plot. The whole movie is a sequence of unconnected and meaningless mishaps, which are supposed to be adventures, I guess. Take them away and you got nothing left. I couldn't shake an impression that the movie was made specifically to turn it into a theme park ride. I wonder why they didn't? Or maybe they did and I missed it? If so - lucky me.
2. The real miss is that they didn't make it a live action/cartoon combo. The "reality" scene should have been done by live action - that's how it's supposed to be! Yes, sometimes you can break traditions, and it works, but this time it didn't.
3. What is the deal with all the broken story lines? That weird hobo on the train (I do mean ON the train) - it looks like there is a damn good story about him. Who is he? Why is he the way he is, and does what he does, and thinks what he thinks? Nothing is ever explained, except for a very vague hint about ghosts, which, of course, reveals nothing interesting. I waited till the end to find out his story, but none came! We never even learn what was that present Billy was making such a big deal about. We are being teased till the end, but never find out. Why?! And what is the deal with the two main character having no names? That was the last straw.
4. But the worst of all are the supposed "messages" of the film. I counted three: - Love Christmas more so that you can buy more presents. - Make friends so you can say "goodbye forever" to them. And, last but certainly not least: - You must throw away your rationality and the ability for critical thinking and succumb to a full blown delusion... for no reason, but to have a persistent auditory hallucination".
I don't think I have to explain what I think of those messages, do I?