Some may be left a bit dumbfounded by the "family fare" offered moviegoers at this time of year. Perhaps it's that post-9/11 hangover we've all been hearing so much about, but Xmas cinematic fare couldn't be much grimmer. Think Cold Mountain, House of Sand and Fog and Alexandra's Project - what fun!

Still, there's one truly surreal retro entry out on DVD that I've got to recommend. A Christmas Wish (1950) is being dubbed "the Jimmy Durante Christmas classic!" (I didn't know there was one, but I'll take Fox Publicity's word for it.) In true on-screen Xmas fashion, Durante and family find that their season is threatened by fiscal hardship. They move into a ramshackle apartment - but guess who saves the day? Why, a friendly, talking rodent called Rupert the Squirrel! Beyond this film's ludicrously maudlin tone, we get to hear Durante sing "Jingle Bells" and - best of all - the entire thing has been colourized, creating the sense that the cast has been double dipped in fluorescent paint. Now this is heartwarming. » Matthew Hays