When I asked my sister-in-law if she fancied going to see New Year’s Eve, one of the festive movies on offer this season, her response was heart-warming.

“Ooh yes,” she gushed. “They gave it a massive slating on Film 2011, so I definitely want to see it’.”

New Year’s Eve has had such awful reviews, I too feel obliged to check out just how bad it really is.

Like its equally imaginatively-titled sister movie Valentine’s Day, it’s one of those twee ensemble pieces with a ‘who’s who’ cast of Hollywood royalty and cool young brat-packers. Love, Actually has a lot to answer for.

Thing is, we don’t mind corny rubbish at this time of year – in fact, we welcome it.

Christmas is so unashamedly sentimental we’re expected to indulge in treacle-coated escapism.

The festive adverts are particularly schmaltzy – who hasn’t welled up at the little boy waiting for Christmas in the John Lewis ad? – and no TV Christmas special is complete without a birth (preferably in a stable), death, dramatic exit or romantic tryst.

And, from Wham! to Shakin’ Stevens, I love Christmas records, apart from that one by Chris de Burgh.

But Christmas isn’t complete without a Christmas film. I still remember the warm glow I felt watching White Christmas as a child, and I’ve loved a syrupy festive movie ever since.

It’s okay to embrace the tosh as long as you stick to the rule that, like carols, mince pies and brandy butter, Christmas films are strictly seasonal. I couldn’t stomach It’s A Wonderful Life any other time of year. Come to think of it, I can barely stomach it at Christmas.

My favourites include the delightful Elf and Polar Express and, although it’s not technically a Christmas film, ET is as perfect a family movie as it gets.

Of the countless interpretations of A Christmas Carol, the Muppets’ version has a place in my heart (it’s got Miss Piggy with ringlets and Kermit in a top hat – what’s not to like?) but you can’t beat the classic 1951 film Scrooge. I try and make a point of watching it every Christmas Eve, just for Alistair Sim’s exquisite central performance.

The Christmas TV schedule no longer draws such huge collective audiences as in the days of Morecambe And Wise and Only Fools And Horses specials, but festive telly still has a spirit of its own.

I’ll watch any old nonsense this time of year. I once even did my present-wrapping while watching Northern Lights, starring Robson Green and Mark Benton. As festive tosh goes, that’s devotion.