An unexpectedly sweet treat is Elf, starring American comedian Will Farrell in the title role of a baby that crawls into Santa's sack and is raised to adulthood at the North Pole.

It soon becomes apparent to Buddy, as Santa's elves call him, that he is not like the other little toy-makers in tights and pointy hats.

Little, of course, being the operative word, as Buddy is a tall chap who almost breaks the knees of his adopted father (Bob Newhart) whenever he plonks himself on the tiny man's lap for a lesson or pep talk.

When Buddy discovers one day that he is actually a human from New York, he decides to set out to discover his father, a publishing big-wig (James Caan) who happens to be on Santa's Naughty List. After a trek through sugar-candystick snowlands, Buddy ends up in the concrete jungle, an innocent surrounded by cynics.

There, during a series of fish-out-of-water situations, he not only meets and bewilders his father, but also connects with a pretty young woman who works in a toy shop.

There are a good few smiles to be had from this little movie which offered good family pick for the festive season. Rating: 7/10. - Billy Suter