The new, animated Nutcracker Prince brings together Tchaikovsky's music, E. T. A. Hoffman's story and a few glib modern touches to create a muddled and bland version, which isn't the kind of difference it needs.

A blend of leaden gags, muddled storytelling and Saturday morning-style animation, it's more a holiday threat than a treat.

The level of imagination in the story is about as inventive as on most Saturday morning cartoon shows.

"Prince" is a fine introduction to the classic tale. But Older viewers may find it largely unengaging.