2012 (C)

After wreaking havoc in “Independence Day” and “The Day After Tomorrow,” director Roland Emmerich adds a third leg to his disaster trilogy with “2012” n an overlong, overindulgent action film that wants to be fun and exciting, but is really rather dull and exhausting.

Armored (C-)

An average caper flick about a group of security guards who try to steal a truck containing 42 million. The premise is interesting and the cast (including Matt Dillon and Lawrence Fishburne) is fine, but the script just falls apart n with way too many ridiculous coincidences thrown.

The Blind Side (B)

Ads suggest a Sandra Bullock dominated picture, but this true story of Baltimore Ravens lineman Micheal Oher is way better than you would expect n a rousing sports movie, with its heart firmly in the right place.

Brothers (B)

In a year that has already seen a pair of outstanding modern-day war pics (“The Hurt Locker” and “The Messenger”), the latest from director Jim Sheridan, “Brothers,” adds another intriguing entry into the genre.

Anchored by a strong cast and a solid story, this remake of a Danish film is a competent piece of filmmaking that deserves an audience.

A Christmas Carol (B-)

This animated retelling of the Charles Dickens classic from director Robert Zemeckis serves its purpose n it delivers just enough holiday cheer to appease the most festive and still entertain the Scrooges of the world.

Couples Retreat (C)

Vince Vaughn has his moments, but even he can’t save this rather tepid romantic comedy about four couples who take a vacation to a tropical island resort designed to help couples work on their marriage. This is the kind of film that screams for raunchiness, but settles for safe and dull.

The Fantastic Mr. Fox (B+)

>From “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” to “Matilda” to “The Witches,” adapting the books of children’s author Roald Dahl has proven to be quite productive.

Now comes his latest, “The Fantastic Mr. Fox,” an animated film directed by Wes Anderson (the man behind “Rushmore”). Here is a film that may be as odd n and as clever n as any other major 2009 release.

Law Abiding Citizen (D)

Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx star in this unintentionally funny thriller about an upstanding family man (Butler) seeking revenge on the justice system after one of the men who brutally murdered his wife and daughter works out a plea deal with a hot shot D.A. (Foxx).

New Moon (C-)

The next installment of the popular “Twilight” series adds werewolves (yeah!), but still has way too much teen angst for one movie. This is strictly a fans-only experience.

Ninja Assassin (D+)

A slightly comical, but completely ridiculous action film about a secret band of ninjas has enough to appease its target audience n but nothing more.

Old Dogs (F)

One of the great joys of being a film critic is finding a movie that pleasantly exceeds expectations.

“Old Dogs” is not one of those movies.

Here is a comedy even more brutal than its trailer suggests n with a series of mind-numbing attempts at comedy strung together in the slowest 88 minutes of my life.

Planet 51 (D)

This animated tale about an astronaut who lands on a strange new world, lacks the snap of recent films in the genre n making it a rather dreadful exercise in old school animation.