Rise Of The Guardians
Peter Ramsey
The story: North (Alec Baldwin voicing Santa Claus), Tooth (Isla Fisher as the Tooth Fairy), Bunnymund (Hugh Jackman as the Easter Bunny) and Sandy the Sandman (who communicates through visuals of sand which appear over his head) are the Guardians of children all over the world. When Pitch the Boogeyman (Jude Law) attempts to plunge the world into fear and darkness, the Man in the Moon anoints one more Guardian to help in the battle – the carefree Jack Frost (Chris Pine). The fantasy adventure is based on William Joyce’s The Guardians Of Childhood book series (2011-2012).

Think you know Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny? Think again because one of the pleasures of Rise Of The Guardians is how it takes familiar traditions and folklore and has a little whimsical fun with them.
So Santa Claus is not exactly a jolly grandfather but an imposing figure who speaks with a European accent and has “Nice” tattooed on one forearm and “Naughty” on the other.
And the Easter Bunny is no fluffy ball of cuteness but a 6-foot-tall rabbit with a mean Australian accent and meaner boomerang-throwing skills.
But not to worry, there are still adorable characters around to gush over, from the hummingbird-like baby tooth fairies to the earnestly industrious yetis and elves who populate Santa’s headquarters at the North Pole.
Keep an eye out for the running joke about the yeti who just cannot get the colour right regardless of what he is painting.
There is even wit to the villainy as Pitch unleashes his nightmares to gallop into the dreams of sleeping children and wreak havoc with the work of the Guardians.
If children stop believing in the tooth fairy or the Easter bunny, then the very existence of the Guardians themselves are threatened and the things they seek to protect – wonder, hope, memories and dreams – will be destroyed.
Standing between Pitch and his dark plan is Jack Frost, a fun-loving spirit who brings a touch of winter with him.
The irresponsible prankster seems to be an unlikely choice for a Guardian but gradually, he embraces the role thrust upon him and discovers his true self along the way.
Bringing the characters to life is a roster of voices which includes name actors such as Baldwin, Jackman, Pine and Law.
My initial concern that this was going to be a case of celebrity stunt-casting turned out to be unfounded as they inhabited the roles they played instead of being intrusively recognisable as, say, Jennifer Lopez was in Ice Age 4: Continental Drift (2012).
There is also a vibrancy and liveliness to the animation, particularly in the action sequences. For example, a little boy has the ride of his life as Jack zips in and out of traffic and other obstacles and lays down a path of slippery ice along his way.
This little boy, Jamie (Dakota Goyo from sci-fi sports drama Real Steel, 2011), ends up playing a pivotal role in the battle against Pitch.
There is an empowering moment for children when Pitch mockingly asks who will protect the Guardians and Jamie steps forth and says that he will.
With a positive message for the little ones and wit and humour for the adults, Rise Of The Guardians is an animated treat the whole family can enjoy together.
(ST)