Movie Minis

OPENING

• Death at a Funeral (2007) (R). A farce about the mishaps and indignities, fitfully obscene, that await an English family gathered for the funeral of a deceased dad. Matthew MacFadyen and Rupert Graves are cast as respectively earnest and flighty sons. As the widow, Jane Asher gets a funny line that transcends the context: “Tea can do many things, my dear, but it can’t bring back the dead.” Alan Tudyk has some virtuoso scenes as a guest accidentally zonked by a hallucinogenic pill. The filthiest gags target Peter Vaughn as an immobile, cranky codger. With Peter Dinklage as the resident ringer. Directed by Frank Oz from a screenplay by Dean Craig.

• The Invasion (2007) (PG-13). Another remake of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” set in the District and co-starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig as endangered members of the medical profession. Infiltration evidently begins with the crash of a space shuttle contaminated by alien organisms. The cast also includes Veronica Cartwright (prominent in Philip Kaufman’s 1978 remake), Josef Sommer and Roger Rees. The sturdy source material, a novel by Jack Finney, was updated by Dave Kajganich and others.

• The Last Legion (2007) (PG-13). A Roman-era saga. Colin Firth is cast as the leader of a loyal but distant legion in the British Isles, soldiering on despite the capture and exile of the last Western emperor, Thomas Sangster’s Romulus Augustus, in the fifth century. Arthurian legends evidently are part of this imperial mix, derived from an Italian novel by Valerio Massimo Manfredi. The cast includes Ben Kingsley as a shaman and Aishwarya Rai as a warrior babe.

• Rocket Science (2007) (R). A fictional feature debut from writer-director Jeffrey Blitz, the documentary filmmaker whose account of the 1999 National Spelling Bee, ” Spellbound,” was an Academy Award finalist as best documentary feature in 2003. The Baltimore area doubles for the New Jersey suburbs near Trenton in this account of a high school freshman named Hal (Reece Daniel Thompson), whose problems include a broken home, a fuming older brother (Vincent Piazza) and a bossy, overachieving senior (Anna Kendrick) who recruits him in bad faith as her “partner” on the debating team, despite Hal’s persistent stammer.

• Superbad (2007) (R). A sex farce about virginal high school nerds (Jonah Hill and Michael Cera) who concoct harebrained schemes in hopes of getting lucky with girls during graduation week. Written by Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen, the co-star of “Knocked Up,” who also has a featured role here as a cop, partnered with Bill Hader. Directed by Greg Mottola, who helped introduce Live Schreiber and Hope Davis a decade ago in “The Daytrippers.”

• This Is England (2007) (No MPAA rating: Adult subject matter). A melodrama about juvenile delinquency set in a decaying industrial city of England in the early 1980s. The plot revolves around a fatherless adolescent (Thomas Turgoose) who becomes the mascot of the local skinhead gang. Exclusively at the Landmark E Street Cinema.

NOW SHOWING

• Becoming Jane (2007) (PG: Brief nudity and mild language) — …. A fun and frothy costume drama that re-imagines Jane Austen as the heroine of a complicated love story not unlike those she wrote. Austen fans will have fun spotting the allusions to her six novels, but they might not be satisfied with the idea that the great novelist would have given all her talent up for love. Anne Hathaway puts in an accomplished performance as the author. — Kelly Jane Torrance

• The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) (PG-13: Intense action sequences) — …. Jason Bourne is back in this third, and potentially final, tale of the operative who can’t remember his past. Matt Damon remains a gripping action hero, and the film’s fight sequences rank as some of the year’s best. — Christian Toto

• Daddy Day Camp (2007) (PG). A sequel to “Daddy Day Care,” a domestic farce of 2003 that co-starred Eddie Murphy, Jeff Garlin and Steve Zahn. None return for this round of facetiousness, which was directed by Fred Savage and stars Cuba Gooding Jr. Not reviewed.

• Dans Paris (2007) (No MPAA rating: Adult subject matter). A domestic melodrama from French writer-director Christophe Honore, who casts Romain Duris as a young man whose despondency in the aftermath of a failed marriage is healed by a renewed intimacy with his father (Guy Marchand), mother (Marie-France Pisier) and younger brother (Louis Garrel). In French with English subtitles. Exclusively at the Landmark E Street Cinema. Not reviewed.

• El Cantante (2007) (R: Drug use, sexuality and language) — ..1/2. Jennifer Lopez and her Nuyorican Productions’ first feature film, a biopic about the tumultuous life of salsa pioneer Hector Lavoe. The Latina’s real-life hubby, Marc Anthony, stars as the Puerto Rican singer, who immigrates to New York City in 1963 and soars to singing success on the wings of the emerging salsa genre. But as his career blossoms, his personal life shrivels, including his marriage to “Puchi” (Miss Lopez). The movie’s best attribute is Mr. Anthony’s electric renditions of his predecessor’s songs, which appear mostly in splashy mini music videos complete with subtitles. — Jenny Mayo

• Evan Almighty (2007) (PG: Mild rude humor and some perilous situations) — …. This sort-of sequel to the Jim Carrey hit “Bruce Almighty” features Steve Carell as a congressman chosen by God (Morgan Freeman) to build an ark. The family-friendly comedy offers just enough laughs for the adults, thanks to a strong supporting cast, including Wanda Sykes. — Christian Toto

• Hairspray (2007) (PG: Some language, suggestive content and teen smoking) — …. Director-choreographer Adam Shankman takes inspiration from the 1988 John Waters film and subsequent Broadway show. Full-figured teen Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) finally gets her chance to be on “The Corny Collins Show,” but soon learns she’s not the only person facing discrimination in ’60s-era Baltimore. Also starring John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah, Zac Efron and more. Not as poignant as Mr. Waters’ work, but cheekier and a whole lot more music-centric. — Jenny Mayo

• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) (PG-13: Fantasy violence and frightening imagery) — … The madly popular series continues, and so do wicked Lord Voldemort’s plans for revenge. The powers that be at Hogwarts Academy don’t believe Voldemort’s return is imminent, putting poor Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) at a perilous disadvantage. “Phoenix” marks the series’ low point, a confusing affair with very little magic in its storytelling. — Christian Toto

• I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007) (PG-13: Crude sexual humor, nudity, adult language and drug references) — … Adam Sandler and Kevin James play a pair of straight firefighters who pretend to be a same-sex couple to receive domestic-partner benefits. The intermittently amusing film staunchly defends homosexual rights while maligning the women in the cast and insulting an Asian character. — Christian Toto

• Interview (2007) (R: language, including sexual references and some drug use) — …. Steve Buscemi directs, co-wrote and co-stars in this remake of a 2003 film by slain Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh. Mr. Buscemi plays a political journalist resentful of being assigned a puff piece on an actress (played by Sienna Miller). This sexually charged game of cat and mouse is engrossing from start to twist finale, thanks to the perfectly-cast performances of the two leads. — Kelly Jane Torrance.

• Knocked Up (2007) (R: Adult language, sexual situations, drug use and mature themes) — …1/2. Writer-director Judd Apatow (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin”) strikes again with this very adult, very funny comedy. A mismatched pair (Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl) hook up one drunken night and later learn they’re going to be parents. — Christian Toto

• My Best Friend (2007) (PG-13). A comedic reunion vehicle for star Daniel Auteuil and director Patrice Leconte, who collaborated eight years ago on “The Girl on the Bridge.” Cast as a successful but arrogant antiques dealer, Mr. Auteuil is goaded into a wager by a business partner who accuses him of being essentially friendless. Challenged to produce a “best friend” in a certain period of time, the protagonist turns to a complete stranger, a jovial cabbie. In French with English subtitles. Not reviewed.

• No Reservations (2007) (PG: Some sensuality and language) — … “No Reservations” is as safe and predictable as a night out at a suburban restaurant chain, when it could have been the kind of daring dish its main character serves up at Village eatery. Catherine Zeta-Jones stars as a high-strung chef whose cocoon is shattered by the arrival of her orphaned niece (Abigail Breslin) and a fun-loving sous chef (Aaron Eckhart). — Kelly Jane Torrance

• Once (2007) (R: Language and some mature themes) — ….. Irish writer-director John Carney’s “modern-day musical” is about a Guy (Glen Hansard, lead singer of the Irish rock band the Frames) who busks in the streets of Dublin and meets a Girl (Frames contributor Marketa Irglova) who plays piano and takes a liking to his tunes. As their friendship grows, they become professional partners, but both carry residual relationship baggage that may get in the way of a more serious (and sensual) commitment. Featuring Mr. Hansard and Miss Irglova’s lovely singer-songwriter fare, the film seamlessly melds dialogue and ditties in a way that redefines the term “musical.” — Jenny Mayo

• Ratatouille — (2007) (G: Nothing objectionable — except very minor peril and a whole lot of rats in the kitchen) — ..1/2. Pixar’s latest, written and directed by Brad Bird of “The Incredibles.” Remy (voiced by Patton Oswalt) is a sewer rat with dreams of culinary greatness. Linguini (Lou Romano) is a bumbling boy who snags a job toting trash at a five-star restaurant. Together they amount to gastronomic genius, but will someone in the kitchen smell a rat? The animation is fantastic, and the moral is a nice one for children, but the flick lacks the Pixar “pop” seen in earlier undertakings such as “Toy Story 2.” — Jenny Mayo

• Rush Hour 3 (2007) (PG-13: Nudity, violence, adult language and sexual innuendo) — ..1/2. Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan reunite for a third “Rush,” heading off to Paris to stop a Chinese organized crime syndicate. They have their moments, but the film suffers from a convoluted story. — Christian Toto

• The Simpsons Movie (2007) (PG-13: Irreverent humor throughout) — …. Two decades after their first appearance on “The Tracy Ullman Show,” the Simpsons clan finally makes the leap to the big screen with a film that might not revive Simpsons fever to its peak levels, but serves as an important reminder of why we let the clan into our homes and why they became a phenomenon. The flick is wider, longer, less about peripheral characters and has splashier animation as well as a more epic plot than its TV counterpart, but its plot line (Homer’s stupidity leads to the possible demise of his marriage and all of Springfield) feels familiar in all the right ways. — Jenny Mayo

• Stardust (2007) (PG-13: Fantasy violence and risque humor) — ..1/2. Director Matthew Vaughn and a star-studded cast take on Neil Gaiman’s epic fantasy novel. Tristan (Charlie Cox) crosses from the English town of Wall into a world of magic and murder called Stormhold to fetch a falling star (Claire Danes) for the woman he loves (Sienna Miller). On the way home, he’ll have to protect her from venomous princes, a lightning-stealing pirate (Robert De Niro) and a bloodthirsty witch (Michelle Pfeiffer). Imagination and performances are “Star”-y, yet some of the humor crumbles like “dust.” — Jenny Mayo

• Sunshine (2007) (R: Adult language, violence and mature themes) — ..1/2. It’s 2057 and the sun is starting to cool. A team of astronauts, including Cillian Murphy, is sent to the sun to reignite its life-giving flames. “Sunshine” delivers a moody atmosphere, brilliant visuals and, ultimately, a far too conventional ending. — Christian Toto

• Talk to Me (2007) (R: Profanity, adult situations and some sexual content) — …1/2. A straight-from-the-shoulder biopic about the late disc jockey and TV host Petey Greene, who emerged from an armed-robbery sentence at Lorton to become a charismatic fixture at Washington’s WOL-AM in the late 1960s and a calming influence in the aftermath of the 1968 riots. With standout performances from Don Cheadle as Mr. Greene and Chiwetel Ejiofor as WOL’s program director, as well as a stellar soundtrack that makes up for a non-climactic ending. — Robyn-Denise Yourse

• The Ten (2007) (R: Nudity, adult language, mature themes and drug use — ..1/2. Ten comedy sketches based on the Ten Commandments. Some of the segments click, others merely insult the audience, not to mention the spiritually minded. This comic grab gab gleefully insults religion, but does it with an innocent smirk. — Christian Toto

• Transformers (2007) (PG-13: Stylized action, brief sexual humor and adult language) — ..1/2. The 1980s cartoon favorite hits the big screen, courtesy of bombastic director Michael Bay (“Pearl Harbor”). Two warring robot squads, each with the ability to shape-shift, renew their hostilities with humanity (including actor Shia LaBeouf) caught in the balance. Terrific first half is followed by inane, numbing finale. — Christian Toto

• Vitus (2006) (PG: Mild thematic elements and language) — …1/2. This is the rare family film that has it all, enough charm to delight the kiddies and enough depth to satisfy their parents. A piano prodigy finally gets the chance to be normal, but finds out it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. He can’t stop playing like a genius, but will go to any lengths — even insider trading — to hide his talent in this Swiss entry in last year’s Oscars. In Swiss German with English subtitles. — Kelly Jane Torrance

MAXIMUM RATING: FOUR STARS