Movies This Week: December 21-27, 2012

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A Christmas Story

Like the family members you may be visiting for the holidays, this week's new releases are an odd assortment. Judd Apatow fans can get their comedy fix with This Is 40; Quentin Tarantino fans can get their, uh, Tarantino fix with Django Unchained, perhaps the only Western ever to feature a German dentist. History buffs might check out Hyde Park on Hudson, but are advised to read its tepid reviews first. Also, there is some kind of fancy-pants musical based on an old French novel or something.

Those not interested in the new releases may well stick with DVDs or Netflix; it's not a banner week for special screenings beyond the usual holiday fare. Of course, the usual holiday fare isn't always a bad thing. My favorite Christmas film -- naturally, the snarky A Christmas Story (pictured above) -- screens Friday through Sunday at Alamo Drafthouse Ritz. And Elf fans will enjoy quoting along with Buddy and his friends at screenings at the Ritz on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. To stay on good terms with Jette, I must also plug the Alamo Kids' Camp presentations of The Muppet Christmas Carol, showing all week at the Alamo Lake Creek.

Movies We've Seen

Hyde Park on Hudson -- Bill Murray stars as Franklin Roosevelt in this story about FDR's love affair with his distant cousin Margaret Stuckley. The film focuses on a weekend in 1939 when Queen Elizabeth and King George VI visited the Roosevelt home in upstate New York. Elizabeth isn't impressed -- as she says in her review, "On paper, Hyde Park on Hudson seems bursting with promise, but the lazy screenplay, uncomfortable acting, and other factors ruin it." (Arbor)

Django Unchained (opens 12/25) -- In Quentin Tarantino's latest effort, former slave Django teams up with the bounty hunter who freed him to rescue his wife from a brutal plantation owner. Django Unchanged is every bit a Tarantino film; as I said in my review (look for it early next week), "If you adore Tarantino's cinematic trademarks -- the sometimes incongruous mix of oddball humor, seemingly endless conversations, horrific violence, and soundtrack music so unlikely that it somehow works perfectly -- you will adore Django Unchained." (wide)

Les Misérables (opens 12/25) -- This obscure, low-budget film based Victor Hugo's classic novel features little-known actors (will they be Hollywood's newest stars?) and maybe a little singing. Look for Mike's review next week. (wide)

This Is 40 -- Judd Apatow's sequel to Knocked Up updates the lives of Pete and Debbie, the first film's cutesy couple. Rod enjoyed the film, finding it an authentic look at everyday life for a young family. As he said in his review (look for it this weekend), "Viagra, flatulence, misbehaving children, troubled businesses and aging parents. This list could describe late night infomercial topics, but for our purposes it describes the litany of topics brought to the fore in this winter’s charming comedy This Is 40." (wide)

Other Movies Opening in Austin

Cirque De Soleil: Worlds Away -- This 3-D spectacle showcases Cirque De Soleil's elaborate performances. The story -- that may be too generous a word -- involves two people who travel through dreamlike worlds to find each other, but the film is all about the visuals. (Gateway, Tinseltown North, Tinseltown South)

Jack Reacher -- This thriller stars Tom Cruise as a homicide detective who investigates a case involving a military sniper who murdered five victims. (wide)

Parental Guidance (opens 12/25) -- In this comedy, problems arise when old-school grandparents look after their 21st-century grandkids. Are Billy Crystal and Bette Midler now old enough to play grandparents? Yikes. (opens December 25) (wide)