Four Christmases **

Less than amusing tale of a couple's holiday visits to their four divorced parents. Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn, who also produced, must have thought they had a sure thing here, and the parents are top drawer old school: Sissy Spacek, Robert Duval, Jon Voight, Mary Steenburgen. But the script is weak and the direction is weaker. Vince Vaughn fares better than Witherspoon, but he's more in his element in this would-be update of the holiday movie that forgoes the schmaltz, but doesn't really find a substitute in familial weirdness.

Rated PG-13. 82 minutes. Seth Gordon - Director, Matt R. Allen - Writer (screenplay) (story), Caleb Wilson - Writer (screenplay) (story), Jon Lucas - Writer (screenplay), Scott Moore - Writer (screenplay), Gary Barber - Producer, Roger Birnbaum - Producer, Jonathan Glickman - Producer, Vince Vaughn - Producer, Reese Witherspoon - Producer, Jeffrey L. Kimball - Cinematographer, Alex Wurman - Composer, Shepherd Frankel - Production Designer, Mark Helfrich - Editor, Melissa Kent - Editor.

Principal actors: Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, Jon Favreau, Mary Steenburgen, Dwight Yoakam, Tim McGraw, Kristin Chenoweth, Jon Voight, and Sissy Spacek.

Milk *****

"Milk" is a superb biographical drama deftly mixed with documentary footage about the tragically short career of the nation's first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk. In one of his most accessible features Gus Van Sant captures the man, the moment, and the movement at a time in the '70's when Anita Bryant was leading a national crusade to deny homosexuals protection from discrimination. The cast delivers outstanding work, including Sean Penn as Milk, Emile Hirsch as campaign manager Cleve Jones, and James Franco as Milk's partner Scott Smith. In limited release now, but expanding in December with an eye on the prizes of Oscar time.

Rated R. 128 minutes. Gus Van Sant - Director, Dustin Lance Black - Writer, Bruce Cohen - Producer, Dan Jinks - Producer, Michael London - Producer, Harris Savides - Cinematographer, Danny Elfman - Composer, Bill Groom - Production Designer, Elliot Graham - Editor. Produced and distributed by Focus Features.

Principal actors: Sean Penn, James Franco, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, Victor Garber, and Denis O'Hare, Stephen Spinella.

Role Models **

Mildly amusing, predictable big brother comedy that is heavy on the foul-mouthed kid shtick and homo jokes, with good performances by the leads and kids, and a wonderful double-talking turn by Jane Lynch as the founder of the charity where the boys are sentenced to serve the community.

Rated R. 99 minutes. David Wain - Director / Writer (screenplay), Paul Rudd - Writer (screenplay), Ken Marino - Writer (screenplay), Timothy Dowling - Writer (screenplay) (story), William Blake Herron - Writer (story), Luke Greenfield - Producer, Mary Parent - Producer, Matthew Seigel - Producer, Scott Stuber - Producer, Russ T. Alsobrook - Cinematographer, Craig Wedren - Composer, Stephen J. Lineweaver - Production Designer, Eric Kissack - Editor. Distributed by Universal Pictures.

Principle actors: Seann William Scott, Paul Rudd, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jane Lynch, Bobb'e J.Thompson, and Elizabeth Banks.

Quantum of Solace ***

Heavy on superb action sequences, believable high tech, and pretty women, the tough and still-sexy Daniel Craig leads us hurtling through a breathless world-wide chase of something no one ever heard of. The movie benefits from great editing, suitably pulsing sound track, and interesting, exotic locations. It's a commendable sequel, and introduces a new villainous conspiracy that can serve as Bond's nemesis for years to come.

Rated PG-13. 106 minutes. Marc Forster - Director, Paul Haggis - Writer, Neal Purvis - Writer, Robert Wade - Writer, Barbara Broccoli - Producer, Michael G. Wilson - Producer, Roberto Schaefer - Cinematographer, David Arnold - Composer, Dennis Gassner - Production Designer, Matt Chesse - Editor, Richard Pearson - Editor.

Principal actors: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric, Judi Dench, Gemma Arterton, Jeffrey Wright, Jesper Christensen, and Joaquin Cosio.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa ****

A delightful sequel suitable for all, with lots of laughs, drama, wit and surprises. See it in IMAX if you can.

Rated PG. 89 minutes. Eric Darnell - Director, Tom McGrath - Director, Etan Cohen - Writer, Mireille Soria - Producer, Mark Swift - Producer, Hans Zimmer - Composer. Produced by DreamWorks Animation. Distributed by DreamWorks Distribution.

Principal actors (voices): Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer, Andy Richter, and Bernie Mac.