Santa vs. The Snowman

The title of this high-spirited, 37-minute, 3-D, computer-generated animation adventure at the IMAX is not misleading. Santa and his elves actually go to war against a troubled snowman and an army of minions that he sort of clones from ice cubes. The Star Wars similarity includes a phalanx of igloo walkers and a battle with freeze rays and hot-cocoa squirters. The story begins when the lonely snowman wanders into Santa’s Village, is awed by the camaraderie and splendor and attempts to replace a broken flute (his only worldly comfort) with one from the busy workshop. The theft and the rotund fellow’s pursuit by elves ignite a rivalry that threatens to ruin Christmas for the entire planet. Producer-creator Steve Oedekerk (who penned Ace Ventura) and the team that brought us Jimmy Neutron keep the visual wonders flowing at an exhilarating pace even as the story about the need to be loved, the spread of goodwill, patience and forgiveness take a back seat to action. The movie was directed by John A. Davis and features the voices of Jonathan Winters, Ben Stein and Saturday Night Live graduate Victoria Jackson.