Rise of the Guardians (DreamWorks)

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With the success of last year’s Arthur Christmas, it seems there will be more holiday movies coming out to compete for the coveted title of ‘perennial favorite’ among such remembered classics as It’s A Wonderful Life, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

But then there’s Rise of the Guardians, which is a different beast of a family movie. How would you define this? Is it a holiday movie, a superhero movie, or just your average animated film?

The movie is based on a book series entitled Guardians of Childhood by William Joyce, who co-produced the film alongside acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro. It’s made by DreamWorks Animation, the studio riding on the heels of Pixar with its recently animated hits How to Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda 2, and last summer’s Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted.

The film stars Chris Pine (Captain Kirk from Star Trek and the upcoming Star Trek into Darkness) as the voice of Jack Frost. For 300 years, he’s been the mischievous mystical figure creating wintry thrills for children around the world.

Some people may find the plot too unusual for a family movie, while others may find it uniquely different from other holiday movies. In the end, the movie is able to sell it with their action, lovable characters and a moral lesson of discovering oneself.

The movie is made for all ages. Just be forewarned that some scenes can get pretty dark and emotional, so heed the PG rating at your own discretion.

Chris Pine gives Jack Frost a balance between likable and mischievousness. Some will find Alec Baldwin’s depiction of North as a Russian Santa Claus quite off.

Then again, Baldwin was able to give the character a winning personality. The rest of the voice cast is solid, with Jude Law able to create a very creepy persona for the character of Pitch. As an added bonus, Hugh Jackman's natural Australian accent is perfect for the Easter Bunny. 

It may not be in the same league as other animated holiday classics, but Rise of the Guardians is a movie that stands on its own. Think of it as Marvel’s The Avengers, but with holiday legends playing superheroes.

THE MOVIE’S RATING: PG (for thematic elements and some mildly scary action)

THE CRITIC’S RATING: 3.25 Stars (Out of Four)