Holiday films

• FUN staff
• Published: Nov 7, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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The Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons are always boom times for movie-going, but holiday themes are mostly missing in Hollywood’s upcoming offerings.

Other than the Vince Vaughn- and Reese Witherspoon-starring Four Christmases (opening Nov. 26), end-of-the-year releases resemble a typical non-holiday-season mix of action, comedy, computer-animation, serious drama and a few sci-fi and horror entries.

Event films are in short supply, too. There are no Lord Of The Rings-level fantasy-adventures poised to dominate the box office. There’s no new Harry Potter film because Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince, originally scheduled for release Nov. 21, has been delayed until July 17.

But a few high-profile sequels are opening, including this week’s Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, and next week’s James Bond sequel, Quantum of Solace, starring Daniel Craig in his second appearance as 007.

There’s also the remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic, The Day The Earth Stood Still (opening Dec. 12). The film stars Keanu Reeves as Klaatu, an alien messenger who visits Earth, and Jennifer Connelly.

The season also has some potentially strong dramas, including Frost/Nixon, a behind-the-scenes account of David Frost’s 1977 interview with former President Richard Nixon directed by Ron Howard; Seven Pounds, starring Will Smith as a man who can change lives; and Doubt, Oscar-bait starring previous Oscar-winners Philip Seymour Hoffman and Meryl Strep.

Many of the upcoming movies are listed below. Opening dates may vary from city to city and some films will not play smaller markets.

NOV. 7
The Boy In The Striped Pajamas: In this fictional Holocaust drama, the 8-year-old son of a Nazi commandant befriends an imprisoned Jewish boy. Opens in limited release.

House: A couple haunted by the death of their child check into a strange guest house. Soon the grieving couple and two other guests must fight an evil entity known as the Tin Man.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa: The sequel to 2005’s computer-animated fish-out-of-water comedy, Madagascar, Escape 2 Africa reunites voice talent Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen and Cedric the Entertainer for more animal fun. The precision penguin team returns, too.

Repo! The Genetic Opera: In the year 2056, following an epidemic of organ failures, a corporation called GeneCo comes to the rescue. But buyer beware: GeneCo won’t tolerate missed payments. Helmed by Darren Lynn Bousman, the director of three Saw movies, the cast includes Anthony Head as Nathan the Repo Man and Paris Hilton as Amber Sweet.

Role Models: Under the influence of energy drinks, salesmen played by Seann William Scott and Paul Rudd demolish a company vehicle. The court gives them two choices: Go to jail or do 150 hours of mentorship. But these guys have no business being mentors. Jane Lynch and Elizabeth Banks co-star.

NOV.  14
Quantum of Solace: Having proven himself as James Bond in 2006’s Casino Royale, Daniel Craig stars in his second 007 adventure. The new Bond film is packed with frenetic, athletic action, a smart plot detailing international intrigue and a resourceful new Bond girl (Ukrainian-French actress Olga Kurylenko). The coolly commanding Judi Dench returns as the super spy’s boss lady.

The Road: Following a cataclysmic event, a father and son journey through a post apocalyptic, lifeless landscape. Viggo Mortensen leads the way in this adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.

Soul Men: Samuel L. Jackson and the late Bernie Mac star as a pair of estranged singing partners who reunite for a tribute concert at the Apollo Theatre. But before the big show, they must drive across the country and put their troubled past behind them.

NOV. 21
Bolt: A dog who plays a super dog in a TV show is accidentally shipped to New York City. It’s a rude awakening for Bolt because he believes he has super powers. John Travolta is the voice of the fallen hero and Miley Cyrus is Penny, Blot’s owner and TV co-star.

The Soloist: A newspaper columnist discovers a former musical prodigy on the streets of Los Angeles. Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. star.

Twilight: This modern-day love story between a teenage girl and a vampire is based on the best-selling series of books that has a dedicated fan base eagerly awaiting the movie.