If the kids are driving you crazy this festive period or you just want to watch a family film then there are a string of releases this Christmas that will fill all of your needs.

Fred Claus
Every year there's a movie about the very festival we are celebrating, Santa Claus the Movie, Deck The Halls, Miracle on 34th Street andso on. This year with Fred Claus the movie industry sees no need to break this long standing tradition.Filled with festive cheer, and a $100 million budget, Fred Claus follows Santa's lesser known older brother Fred who, after being bailed out of jail by his saintly brother, has to repay this by maming toys in Santa's North Pole retreat.But Fred isn't exactly elf material and by not really keeping his half of the bargain, being more of a hinderance and distraction than a help, Fred is about to jepordise the biggest holiday of the year.

Fred Claus' upper hand on many other festive movies is it's impressive cast: in the role of Fred Claus is Vince Vaughn who is suprisingly being a great box office draw, his 2005 film Wedding Crashers grossed a very healthy if somewhat unexpected $285 million.

Filling the red and white suit of Kris Kringle is Academy Award nominee Paul Giamatti (Cinderella Man, Sideways).

They are supported by Miranda Richardson (Sleepy Hollow), Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener), Kathy Bates (Misery) and Kevin Spacey (Superman Returns).

Fred Claus is released 30th November.

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Enchanted

Enchanted is the new release from animation giants Walt Disney which mixes a classic fairy tale with modern life.

The film follows Giselle (Amy Adams) who is banished from her animated land by the evil queen (Susan Sarandon).

She finds herself in the real world on the gritty and unfriendly streets of New York City.

Giselle begins to fall in love with the charming, if somewhat flawed, divorded lawyer Philip, the only person that helped her in this strange and chaotic world in which she finds herself.

But she is promised to Prince Charming (James Marsden) who is also in New York looking for her closely followed by the evil Queen.

On reading the plot it does sound horrific but the trailers are incredibly funny and Disney, like Fred Claus, have assembled a great cast and director Kevin Lima (Tarzan).

The live action is bookended by nine minutes of what Disney does best 2D animation as they laugh at themselves with this clever almost spoof like film.

Enchanted is released 14th December.

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Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

Shooting only in Cinespace Studios in Canada on a $50 million budget Icon present Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium for the festive season.

Mr Magorium (Dustin Hoffman) is 243 year old and own a magical toy store and manager of that toy store is the awkward and insecure Molly (Natalie Portman).

But Mr Magorium is dying. But he has chosen to die and wants to leave bihind a fantastic life for somebody else.

Much to her surprise Mr Magorium leaves his toy store to Molly.

But when a mysterious stranger Henry (Jason Bateman) arrives he threatens the very existence of teh toy store and it, as well as Molly's future are in jepordy.

Mr Magoriums' Wonder Emporium is written and directed by Zach Helm, who is making his directorial debt. However Helm did pen Hoffman's last movie Stranger Than Fiction.

Once again the story involes pending death but this time around in stead of trying to avoid it Mr Magorium has chosen to die.

Once again a great cast has been assembled with two time Academy Award winner Dustin Hoffman taking the lead role with support from the ever flexible, in terms of her work, and Academy Award nominee Natalie Portman.

Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium is great fun for all the family and is released 24th December.

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Bee Movie

Where would the festive period be without a good family animation?

From Dreamworks Animation, who are attempting to rival Pixar, comes Bee Movie.

Benson finds himself disillusioned by the prospect that he has only one career choice in his life - honey.

He believes that must be more to life and when he ventures out of the hive for the first time he breaks the number one bee rule - he talks to a human.

He befriends a florist in New York city called Vanessa.

On his adventures outside of the hive Benson is shocked to discover that the human rae have been stealing their honey.

Benson believes that he has discovered his true calling in life - to sue the human race.

Bee Movie is just the lastest release from Dremaworks who brought us Shrek the Third earlier in the year and will also present Kung Fu Panda early next year.

With the voice talent of Jerry Seinfeld and Renee Zellweger, Matthew Broderick,Chris Rocj and Eddie Izzard it proves that animation is pulling in the big names more than ever.

Bee Movie is released 14th December.

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Helen Earnshaw