The Polar Express came out at a time when I was too grown up for animated movies and didn’t see it for a while. It has since become a staple of my family’s Christmas season despite the often creepiness of the look and the obnoxious kid with glasses. There are moments in this film that are pure spectacle and the bell ringing at the end breaks me every time. The Polar Express earns the Not Quite Golden, Ponyboy rating.
Polar Express is an enjoyable Christmas film
A young boy (voiced by Daryl Sabara) finds himself questioning the existence of Santa and struggling to keep believing. A train shows up and whisks him away to the North Pole where he learns about friendship, heroism, and the true spirit of Christmas.
This film has some great moments and Tom Hanks shines in the multiple roles that he plays. I’ve read several theories about this film and the multiple layers that are built into it. However, the surface layer of Christmas spirit and the power of believing is enough to make the film a Christmas staple. The lead character, credited as Hero boy, is at the apex of many adolescent’s lives. He is getting older and starting to doubt the existence of Santa Claus. In many ways, his arc is a rites of passage story, as part of growing up involves questioning childhood truths that were just accepted. However, he finds himself at a crossroads and the sleigh bell being the symbol of belief. It’s a powerful moment and I love it.
It’s hard to not love the music
There are some great songs in this Robert Zemeckis animated film. The songs “The Polar Express,” “Believe,” and “Hot Chocolate,” all get played during this time of year. The sequences for “Hot Chocolate,” plays like a music video in the movie featuring a full on dance number. It’s great and really feels fitting for the winter season. The song allows Hank’s character to break his stuffy demeanor and have a little bit of fun. Of course, the song ends and he’s back to that all business exterior. It’s a fun bit and really gives a little bit of depth to this character. Hank’s manages to get his charm across even through the motion capture performance.
The Polar Express feels slow to me at times, but ultimately hits the emotional nail on the head by the end. The manufactured adventures feel bigger than needed at times, but still manages to capture the awe it is going for. The movie is an animated spectacle from a train skating on iced over tracks to the inner workings of Santa’s factory. There is enough action and adventure to keep most kids captivated and of course we know how the little children love Aerosmith (really an odd choice). It’s a regular in my household and no Christmas season can go by without watching this one a few times.
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