Arthur Christmas (PG)
The people who brought us Wallace & Gromit created this clever animated Christmas tale about Santa’s klutzy youngest son who at the last minute discovers an undelivered bicycle and takes matters into his own hands. All sorts of good surprises.
Happy Feet Two (PG)
Back to Antarctic, although not as entertaining a trip as the 2006 version. All the penguins are still singing and dancing, except for Eric, Mumble’s misfit son. A pair of krill (Matt Damon and Brad Pitt) add a needed touch.
Ides of March (R)
The manipulations and scandals of politics. Ryan Gosling is the press secretary to Ohio Governor Mike Morris (George Clooney), who promises a yes-we-can kind of government. Marisa Tomei, as a New York Times reporter, Philip Seymour Hoffman as the governor’s campaign manager, and Evan Rachel Wood as the sexy office intern. Vote yes.
Immortals (R)
The ambitious and brutal King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) sends his army rampaging across Greece so he can replace the Gods of Olympus. Stonemason Theseus (Henry Cavill) is the key to halting the destruction.
Jack & Jill (PG)
Adam Sandler plays both Jack Sadelstein, a successful Los Angeles ad executive and family man, and Jill Sadelstein, Jack’s annoying twin sister from the Bronx, N.Y. Separately or together, neither is funny. With Al Pacino and Katie Holmes.
Moneyball (PG-13)
In the Oakland Athletics 2002 season, after 11 losses, general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) uses a cost-benefit analysis of players formulated by young Yale grad, Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), for recruiting. Philip Seymour Hoffman as team manager, Art Howe. Homerun.
The Muppets (PG)
Walter and his friends Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) discover oilman Tex Richman’s (Chris Cooper) plan to destroy the Muppet Theater. It’s mishmash as Kermit reunites the Muppets to save the theater by staging a telethon. (Animal is in a California clinic for anger management.)
Puss ‘n’ Boots (PG)
Dreamworks produced this animated adventure of the notorious Puss ‘n’ Boots, a loveable outlaw who becomes a hero trying to save the town with help from Humpty Dumpty and Kitty Softpaws.
The Rum Diary (R)
From gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson’s 1998 autobiographical book. Reed (Johnny Depp) writes for a paper in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1960, and defying his boss (Richard Jenkins), produces critical portraits of American colonialists. Teamed with PR man (Aaron Eckhart), and his girlfriend (Amber Heard), Reed, in a drunken haze, goes from one wild scheme to another. Should be more fun.
Tower Heist (PG-13)
Tepid comedy caper with Ben Stiller as Josh, the born-to-serve manager of a swanky NYC apartment complex trying to steal money back from Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda) — a Maidoff-like character who robbed pension funds. His cohorts include brother-in-law (Casey Affleck), a broken down Wall Street failure (Matthew Broderick), feisty maid (Gabourey Sidibe), and clumsy sidekick (Michael Pena). But it’s Eddie Murphy as a street-smart crook who steals the show.
Twilight Saga Climax: Breaking Dawn (PG-13)
Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) finally marry, but after Bella gets pregnant she grows increasingly frail, dangerously weak and ultimately very red-eyed.
