Movie Stars

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)

When in Rome There’s actually not a lot of Rome in this movie. And not much creativity or entertainment either. It’s a predictable romantic comedy starring Kristen Bell as an American who disturbs the mojo in an Italian “fountain of love,’’ which invites the advances of suitors ranging from Josh Duhamel to Danny DeVito. Even that sounds a whole lot funnier than it actually is. (91 min., PG-13) (Janice Page)

The White Ribbon The pristine paradise of a small, Protestant village in pre-World War I Germany is beset by all sorts of unspeakable horrors whose culprits continue to go uncaught. The Austrian writer and director Michael Haneke is determined to keep the ends loose. But that lack of closure turns out to be thrilling. Haneke lays his grim fable of a movie and its mysteries at our feet, where we see a picture of future evil develop. (140 min., R) (Wesley Morris)

The Young Victoria A sweet, stodgy historical romance about the difficulties of being a queen and a young woman, not necessarily in that order. Emily Blunt conveys the ardor and ambition of a teenage royal but she can’t convincingly do naivete. The scenes between her and Rupert Friend as Prince Albert are the movie’s strong suit. (104 min., PG) (Ty Burr)

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