The Polar Express

　　小男孩不知道该不该相信圣诞老人的存在，一辆开往北极的豪华列车载着他和他的小伙伴去解答心中的疑问……

The Hero Boy, living in what looks to be a 1950s-era middle-class home. The boy isn't sure about this Santa Claus thing. It's Christmas Eve, but he is beginning to doubt the existence of Santa, and longs to stay up late enough to hear the sleigh bells approaching.

He closes his eyes and tries to sleep, but is awakened¹ by a chugging sound and a bright light. When he walks outdoors he discovers that a train called the Polar Express is sitting outside his house. A conductor asks him whether he's getting on board, telling the boy that he has a schedule to keep -- after all, it's Christmas Eve, and they have to get to the North Pole to see Santa before he takes off on his annual journey.

The Hero Boy does indeed board the train, and discovers there are many other children aboard as well, all dressed in their nightgowns and pajamas². On the "wrong side of the tracks," a Lonely Boy walks toward³ the train, which pulls away from him, then decides to try to ride at the last minute.

The Hero Boy and a Hero Girl (Nona Gaye), a leader among the children, help out the Lonely Boy, who says that Christmas never has meant much to him. "I guess that Santa's busy, 'cause he's never come around," the boy sings in the instant holiday classic⁴ "When Christmas Comes to Town", it carries the tender⁵ spirit and message of the movie.

Yes, there are songs, and dance numbers. My favorite sequence⁶ is "Hot Chocolate," performed by Hanks the conductor and gravity-defying dancing waiters. Roller-coaster-esque thrills on the out-of-control train will delight everyone.

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