(U, 100 mins): Starring the voices of Tom Hanks, Nona Gaye and Daryl Sabara. Directed by Robert Zemeckis.

It's wholesome and sweet, based on a book which has become the set text for preaching the real meaning of Christmas and it stars Tom Hanks in full-on crowdpleasing form.

Don't be surprised if the titular form of transport is fuelled by sugar.

The saccharine-powered locomotive rolls into town one snowy Christmas Eve as an eight-year-old boy lies awake in his bed waiting nervously for the sound of the bells on Santa's sleigh.

Having gathered evidence that Father Christmas is a myth perpetrated by adults, the boy desperately wants to believe in the icon of the festive season but is afraid that he will be disappointed. So he hops aboard the magical steam train and heads off to the North Pole to meet the big red man himself.

This state-of-the-art computer animated feature based on the beloved children's book by Chris Van Allsburg is a real curio.

With Hanks' face scanned on to numerous characters and a doll-like appearance to the features, it all looks a little too freaky to be truly heart-warming.

Strictly for the kids, this is far too twee to melt the heart of any self-respecting cynic.