Lashings of snow and sugar

Anyone would think it’s nearly Christmas, writes our Movie Blogger Carl Jones. This week at the cinema we’ve got heaven-sent babies in cribs, cuddly white things which live in arctic faraway kingdoms, and picture-postcard snowy scenes of the British countryside.
Yep, lashings of sugar, family fun, and a gentle prod to remind us that Christmas is about more than just shopping til you’re dropping.
If energy, fun and cheeky charm could win an audience over, The Holiday would sweep you off your feet. It’s one of those films which gives the impression of a cast and production crew having an absolute ball.
With a dreamy, festive setting and underlying message of love to all men and women – especially if they’re single and unspeakably attractive – this is a corny comedy that will appeal particularly strongly to hopeless romantics.
But to buy into it, you have to take a pretty big leap away from reality.

Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet play frustrated women on either sides of the Atlantic who are sick of their respective partners and decide to swap lives for the festive season.
They’re delighted to escape from their old lives, only to find that love is quite literally on their new doorsteps in the shape of too good to be true Jude Law and Jack Black.
This is a film you’ll either love or loathe – the saccharine finale will leave audiences feeling either warm and fuzzy, or slightly nauseous.
Meanwhile, Shropshire audiences this weekend get chance to see the animated family fun which kicked James Bond’s butt at the American box office.
Happy Feet is the tale of a young emperor penguin who is an outcast in his community because he can’t sing. Instead, he’s got groovy dancing feet.
Alienated from his community, he sets off on a journey of self discovery and meets a host of hapless oddballs.
This cross between March Of The Penguins and Riverdance is packed with some fabulous Busby Berkeley inspired song and dance numbers against the backdrop of stunning visuals, and lively voiceovers from the likes of Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman. But Robin Williams, as ever, steals the show.
All of which may have you yearning for some more grounded reality. Enter The Nativity Story, based on the gospels of Matthew and Luke, and telling the tale of Jesus’ birth and the trek to Bethlehem by Mary and Joseph.
Beautifully photographed (and no doubt inspired by the box office success of Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ), it’s disappointingly uninvolving, save for a stoic performance by Oscar-nominated Keisha Castle Hughes as the virgin Mary.
* Next week I’m planning to take a look at the best and worst movies of the year. Anyone got suggestions? Email me at cjones@shropshirestar.co.uk