Font ResizeHERE'S A LOOK at some of this week's most notable releases.
"Angels & Demons" (PG-13): Praying for another $750 million absolution at the global box office, the fairly unholy trinity of Tom Hanks, director Ron Howard and "The Da Vinci Code" author Dan Brown reteam on Brown's earlier novel and manage to be more obscure than a Latin Mass. As Robert Langdon, Hanks is recruited by a mysterious emissary of a mysterious biotech firm to help explain the mysterious death of a mysterious scientist whose chest was branded by his killer with the word "Illuminati," an ancient league of science-minded elites. What the killer was after was antimatter, which the killer promises will be used to level St. Peter's Basilica. As he embarks on a mission to save Roman Catholicism, Langdon encounters a young papal assistant (Ewan McGregor), a churlish Vatican policeman (Stellan Skarsgard) and an imperious cardinal (Armin Mueller-Stahl). The filmmakers may have faith, but they also know that God helps those who help themselves.
"Four Christmases" (PG-13): There's a good movie buried here, underneath the layers of baloney and ham, but we never get much of a taste. Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn play San Francisco lovebirds who avoid Christmas with their divorced parents by planning vacations disguised as volunteer expeditions. But this year, a thick fog grounds all the flights. Before Christmas Day is out, the couple have to make four
"Funny People" (R): As the film opens, comic superstar George Simmons (Adam Sandler) learns he has a probably fatal form of leukemia. Meanwhile, Ira Wright (Seth Rogen) works the unpaid L.A. comedy club circuit by night. George catches Ira's act and asks him to be his writing assistant and, it turns out, one-man entourage. Writer-director Judd Apatow's alert, crude and compassionate film takes digressive, thoroughly unexpected turns as George takes stock of his life, reconnecting with family, friends and his ex-fiancee (sublime Leslie Mann). At nearly 2½ hours, the film is too long, but ultimately it earns that running time, if only because it's that rare mainstream Hollywood movie that feels genuinely spontaneous.
"Imagine That" (PG): Evan Danielson (Eddie Murphy) is a careerist investment banker redeemed by fatherhood and fantasy. Little Yara Shahidi is beautiful and natural as Danielson's daughter, Olivia. As he struggles to maintain clients, Danielson discovers a quick path to happiness: In his daughter's fantasy world there are princesses who can make winning stock predictions. Audiences will make do with a movie that takes a major step toward reasserting Murphy's place as the comic heir not just to Richard Pryor, but to Groucho Marx.
"Shorts" (PG): Toby "Toe" Thompson (Jimmy Bennett) lives in the company town of Black Falls, where both his parents (Leslie Mann and Jon Cryer) work for Black Box Industries, which makes a device that can do everything from placing a phone call to brushing your teeth. While his parents try to find a way to improve the Black Box lest they be fired, Toe finds a rainbow-colored "wishing rock" that will grant his every stated desire. The poor kid's first request is for friends: The rock provides him with a flotilla of little E.T.s that promptly whip up a gourmet meal. Director Robert Rodriguez remains in perfect sync with viewers who, when presented with a giant, goopy piece of nasal effluvia, think: that's entertainment! The movie's celebration of mayhem and its restless, thrill-seeking vibe will absorb young viewers.
Also: "The Golden Age of Television"; "Gomorrah: Criterion Collection"; "Hogan's Heroes: The Komplete Series, Kommandant's Kollection"; "The Jerry Lewis Show Collection"; "Life on Mars: Series 2" and "Santa Buddies."
