Eenie Meenie Miney Movies: December 2010

One month in and I've already dropped a deadline, but as the next two weeks are crucial  – the kids are out of school and need entertaining – let's review this month's cinematic offerings for the little ones.

Notable theatrical releases in Austin (December)

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (Dec. 3, R, limited release) -- This one isn't for the wee ones, but pre-teens will probably get a kick out of this Christmas-themed holiday monster action movie. If you don't mind a little non-sexual full-frontal old man nudity (hence the R rating) and some subtitles, this one's a lot of fun. I saw it at Fantastic Fest and the opportunity to see this in a theater probably won't come around again. Alamo South Lamar is still playing it through Tuesday. [Read Debbie's review for more details.]

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Dec. 10, PG, wide release) -- The latest in a series of thoroughly charmless adaptations of the classic Narnia books. The kids will doubtless love more talking animals and swashbuckling adventure but if the reviews are anything to judge by, there's nothing here for adults.

TRON: Legacy (Dec. 17, PG, wide release) -- The original TRON was not great but made big impressions on the youth of its day, which is why the release of a sequel nearly 30 years later is such an event. But hey, apparently not even 3D magic and nostalgia goggles can save this one from being a snoozefest. Way to go, Disney. [For another point of view, read Mike's review.]

Yogi Bear (PG, wide) -- I don't know anyone over the age of 8 who's looking forward to seeing what looks like an aggressively mediocre CGI 3D version of Yogi Bear, but there it is. If you must sate your morbid curiosity don't say that no one warned you – the film earned only a 13% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. On a more positive note, at least it gave us this "alternate ending" video (not for kids).

Tangled (PG, wide) -- This Disney fairy tale (based on the story of Rapunzel) was released in November but it's still in theaters and it's probably the best thing currently out there for small children. I saw it over Thanksgiving weekend with my four-year-old and I liked it nearly as much as she did. [Read Mike's review to learn more.]

Elf quote-a-long  (PG, Dec. 25, Alamo Ritz) -- If you've never seen Elf, do yourself the favor of taking in what is the closest thing to a Christmas classic released in the last 10 years. This quote-a-long screening is really for die-hard fans but it could be fun for a kid who knows the lines by heart.

Home Alone (PG, Dec. 19 and 21, Alamo Lake Creek) -- If you're on the north side of town or just have a hankering for big-screen slapstick action, Lake Creek's free family movie is for you. This flick has a (partially deserved) bad rep for its overly precocious child star but there are many genuinely funny moments and an outstanding supporting cast doing good work here. And heck, it's free.

Notable home video releases

The home video release lists don't have a lot to offer in December – most films released this late in the year come out in November to be ready for the Christmas shopping rush. However, these two titles stand out.

Despicable Me -- Animated kids' films worth watching outside of the house of Pixar are few and far between, but Despicable Me is surprisingly watchable for both children and adults. If you missed this one in theaters I highly recommend it for a night in with your youngsters, though much of the humor will go over the heads of small children.

Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days -- Anyone who follows me on Twitter knows my fascination with the Muppets. The appearance of a Sesame Street DVD set with retrospective clips, cast interviews and behind-the-scenes footage definitely got my attention. The show's 40th anniversary provides a great excuse to look back at the show's history, especially since the original cast is getting on in years. I can't wait to see this. Amazon has an exclusive version that includes an episode from Season 41.