The Polar Express

REVIEW:

Another Robert Zemeckis animated Christmas movie which I had not seen, The Polar Express has always been one of those films I’ve caught in fragments on TV during the festive season. However, this year I finally sat down to watch it in its entirety, curious to see if it lived up to the holiday magic it promised. As a reunion of Zemeckis and Tom Hanks—who gave us the cinematic brilliance of Forrest Gump—I hoped for a standout Christmas tale. Unfortunately, it left me feeling underwhelmed.

The movie, based on the beloved book by Chris Van Allsburg, tells the story of a young boy who embarks on a magical train journey to the North Pole. Having not read the source material, I can’t comment on the movie’s faithfulness to the book, but what I can say is that the film felt like a series of loosely connected moments rather than a cohesive story. It’s essentially a string of events—some visually captivating but lacking emotional weight—until the train finally arrives at its destination.

One of the core themes of The Polar Express is a child grappling with the waning belief in Santa Claus, a concept ripe for emotional exploration. However, the film only skims the surface of this idea. I wish Zemeckis had leaned into this internal conflict more, building a sense of wonder and triumph when the boy ultimately discovers that Santa and the magic of Christmas are real. This emotional payoff is present, but it doesn’t resonate as strongly as it could have.

On the technical side, the animation, though impressive for 2004, feels dated by today’s standards. The motion-capture technology captures a degree of realism, but the characters occasionally fall into the uncanny valley, which can be distracting. That said, the movie has a wonderfully festive score, and its use of music does succeed in evoking the spirit of Christmas.

For children, The Polar Express has plenty to offer. The roller-coaster-like sequences, especially when the train hurtles along at blazing speed, are exhilarating and give a sense of excitement. The point-of-view shots of the track and the chaotic ride across a frozen lake stand out as thrilling moments that younger audiences will likely adore.

As an adult viewer, however, the film didn’t quite hold my attention. It’s not a bad movie—far from it—but it’s not one I’d revisit when there are far more enjoyable Christmas classics out there. It lacks the emotional depth and engaging narrative to make it a must-watch for older audiences. While I’d argue it’s a better movie than Zemeckis’s A Christmas Carol, it’s still not something I would personally recommend.

Ultimately, The Polar Express is a fine holiday movie for its target audience of children, but it lacks the universal appeal of other Christmas staples. It’s a journey worth taking once, especially if you’re watching with kids, but for me, it’s a train ride I won’t be boarding again.