Santa vs. the Snowman 3D

Originally made as a holiday TV feature, the animated Santa vs. the Snowman (by Steve Oedekerk, John A. Davis, and Keith Alcorn of DNA Studios in Dallas - the same creative team behind Jimmy Neutron) has been remade as a 3-D IMAX movie. Padded with a little extra material (including an outtake reel at the end), the movie is an entertaining kids' diversion, although its hard-core sentiments may prove a bit off-putting. A mute little snowman goes looking for his lost flute and instead finds Santa's heavily fortified workshop. Alarms sound, Santa's army comes to his defense, but still the snowman makes off with Santa's backup sled in order to deliver gifts and become as widely loved as Santa. The movie's self-defense posture has become more timely than ever, although be warned that the sound of Santa hollering, "Attack, attack!" might be disconcerting to some of his believers. Voice contributions by Jonathan Winters and Ben Stein help buoy the film's better moments.