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An executive assistant (Michelle Pfeiffer) who’s never had a chance to live life tasks a young courier (Zac Efron) to give her the time of her life in exchange of tickets to the biggest party of the year. Meanwhile, pregnant couples vie for the first baby of the new year, old flames are re-ignited, and new flames are lit in this star studded dreck. In fact, just a partial list of the guilty involved includes, Robert De Niro, Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Ashton Kutcher, Katherine Heigl, Jon Bon Jovi, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Hillary Swank. The main premise being the magic of New Year’s eve and all the wonders to behold the night. But, in the midst of all the talent it’s as if the writers forgot that somewhere in here there needs to be a plot worth caring about, sadly there’s not. There are a few plot lines that have a shred of value to them, but the lion’s share of the film lazily stumbles from start to finish with few points of originality or unpredictability. I’m sure there’s a market for this, I am not it. New Year’s Eve is rated PG-13.

So it’s a short week for me this week and frankly there’s not much time for me to write this week so I’ll be brief on this weeks’ reviews.

The Muppets, I’m adding this one to my list of favorites for the year. I grew up with these characters, who didn’t love Statler and Waldorf, Kermit, Piggy, Gonzo and his chickens, Scooter, ANIMAL, Rolf, Bunsen and Beaker, Sam the Eagle, the list goes on and on and on. Nostalgia be damned the writers nailed it with this one. Jason Segel and Amy Adams are perfect foils for the Muppets, and Chris Cooper is a shoe in as Tex Richman, Oil tycoon. And, the dozens of cameos make the film even THAT more enjoyable. The only thing I REALLY REALLY wanted to see happen was a scene with Steve Martin…alas no Steve…Regardless, it’s awesome, and as usual it’s humor for the parents and Muppets for the kids, spot on!

Hugo, Martin Scorsese makes beautiful films. But, he makes LONG beautiful films. For a film that’s being touted as a Scorsese film for kids, I argue this might move a little slow for today’s kids. Still I personally really identified with the storyline here, a film about films, magic, clockworks, paths in life, etc. And, the cinematography here is nothing short of amazing. Sir Ben Kingsley is right in his wheelhouse, same goes for Jude Law, and Sacha Baron Cohen. It’s a gem and a love letter to many of the films of the 30’s that made movies what they are today, pure magic! Worth it!

My Week With Marilyn, Michelle Williams embodies the one of the world’s most regarded and major sex objects– Marilyn Monroe. And, told with excruciating detail many will get a peek into the life of the real Marilyn, her flaws, faults, fears, and pains. Oscar nods to Williams here, this is an impressive work. Also worth it, we’re definitely getting back into good cinema territory this week! YEAH!

Mortal Bella (Kristen Stewart) has just graduated from high school and time is of the essence if she’s to marry her young looking vampire love Edward (Robert Pattinson). The date is set and it would seem as though the perfect romance is in play. Of course, Jacob (Taylor Lautner), the friendly neighborhood Quileute werewolf, disapproves of the union, but there’s little to be done. Can you feel the tension in the air? Ain’t nothin’ like brooding teenage love rage right? Adding insult to injury, Bella becomes pregnant with Edward’s spawn. The catch, oh no, the pregnancy could be deadly, and nobody knows what the fetus will be….The horror! How will Bella weather the pregnancy, what will the rest of the Quileute Nation think of this, and what of the silent Volturi? Wooden acting through and through, it’s as though any hope of a dramatic performance has been drained from the lifeless bodies of the actors– to the point it’s comedic. Seriously, this may take the cake for unintentional comedy of the year. Then there are moments of genuine comedy, after all who doesn’t laugh when they break the headboard in the throws of passion? The rest of the film seems confused, am I a serious film made with care or am I a quickly bashed out piece of schlock with lousy telepathic werewolves. Sadly, but not surprising, I’m siding with schlock. Again, the fans will eat this drivel up, the rest of us will point and laugh. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn part 1 is rated PG-13.