Movie Stars

December 15, 2009
(Page 4 of 4)

Strongman A sad, affecting documentary, ostensibly about Stanley Pleskun, an aspiring star in the strength entertainment business. But what emerges is a dysfunctional love story between Pleskun and his unhappy-looking girlfriend. (113 min., unrated) (Wesley Morris)

Transylmania A lowbrow vampire spoof in which party-hearty college students sign up for a study-abroad program in Romania with a curriculum straight out of the Universal horror vault. Musty and dull-witted, even for the stoner video game demo it’s aimed for. (92 min, R) (Tom Russo)

The Twilight Saga: New Moon The second installment in Hollywood’s adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s mega-selling vampire romance series is an anemic comedown after the full-blooded swoon of last year’s “Twilight.’’ Director Chris Weitz is stuck with a sequel that’s a morning-after mope-fest, but Taylor Lautner is relaxed and likable as Native American wolfboy Jacob Black. (130 min., PG-13) (Ty Burr)

Up in the Air From Jason Reitman, a warm, smoothly made movie about a man (George Clooney) who spends most of his time firing people. The movie concerns his attempt to settle down. At its very best, it invents new for old Hollywood sophistication. The sequined cocktail parties and crack banter are now happening in the Admirals Club lounge. With Vera Farmiga, Jason Bateman, and Anna Kendrick, who’ll rightly be labeled a discovery. (109 min., R) (Wesley Morris)

An archive of movie reviews can be found at www.boston.com/movies. Theaters are subject to change.

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