Does Santa Claus exist? This movie, based upon the best selling book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg, will provide that answer, with Tom Hanks as the voice for five different characters in this animated children’s film.

A young boy (Tom Hanks) listens for the sound of Santa’s sleigh bells on Christmas Eve. What he hears is a train whistle, and when he leaves his bed to peer out the window, he sees a conductor (Tom) beckoning him aboard the train for the North Pole to see Santa Claus. He’s reluctant at first but jumps on board when curiosity gets the better of him.

On this journey he meets a Lonely Boy (Peter Scolari) who, by comparison, makes just about any kid look happy. Our young hero also becomes a friend with a bright and spunky Heroic Girl (Nona M. Gaye), a central personality who shares experiences with various characters. A know-it-all kid and a transcendent hobo, who hitches a ride atop the fast moving specter-train, round out the passenger list.

The journey to the North Pole is filled with suspense as the train looses its brakes on a steep downgrade, and later it slides precariously across a frozen lake as the ice begins to crack. Once at the North Pole, the wonderment of Santa Claus and the work of his reindeer and elves blossom.

The film uses the latest animation technology called "performance capture," which features detailed facial movements and allows characters to appear not as caricatures but rather as human subjects that have been painted.

The animated "people" in the film have a malaise to their expressions that at times seems eerily sad. Tom Hanks lending his voice and movement to five roles was virtuosity but the film may have had more depth with more variety. Of course, there is a Santa Claus so the movie clearly ends on a high note. We believe!

George’s Take: I enjoyed the film but think it’s more suited for kids and not as much as a dual path for adults as well, like "Shrek 2," "Shark Tale," and "The Incredibles."

Pam’s Take: It was hard for me to distinguish the dialogue in the film. I don’t know if that was the movie itself or the fact that we were sitting in the upper balcony at the Cadillac Theater.