Holiday Movie Scorecard 2015

Critics Consensus: In some respects, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip is a marginal improvement over prior installments, although this in no way qualifies as a recommendation.

Synopsis: Music manager Dave is not only enjoying a burgeoning career, but a blossoming romance with Samantha, a beautiful doctor who works in the emergency room.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jason Lee, Tony Hale, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Josh Green

Directed By: Walt Becker

Critics Consensus: Love the Coopers has a talented cast and a uniquely bittersweet blend of holiday cheer in its better moments, but they're all let down by a script content to settle for cloying smarm.

Synopsis: For their annual Christmas Eve celebration, Sam Cooper (John Goodman) and his wife Charlotte (Diane Keaton) welcome four generations of extended family, including son Hank... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Ed Helms, Diane Keaton

Directed By: Jessie Nelson

Critics Consensus: A re-imagining without the imagining, Victor Frankenstein plays at providing a fresh perspective on an oft-told tale, but ultimately offers little of interest that viewers haven't already seen in superior Frankenstein films.

Synopsis: While searching for animal body parts at a London circus, radical scientist Victor Frankenstein (James McAvoy) meets gifted surgeon Igor Strausman (Daniel Radcliffe). Not only... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy, Jessica Brown Findlay, Andrew Scott

Directed By: Paul McGuigan

Critics Consensus: The Letters tries to honor Mother Teresa with an unstintingly positive portrayal of her life and works, but ends up smothering a fascinating real-life story under a bland hagiography.

Synopsis: On Sept. 10, 1946, Mother Teresa (Juliet Stevenson) receives a message from God that tells her to help the poor, the sick and the downtrodden.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Juliet Stevenson, Max von Sydow, Rutger Hauer, Priya Darshini

Directed By: William Riead

Critics Consensus: Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg have proven comedic chemistry, but Daddy's Home suffers from a dearth of genuinely funny ideas - and lacks enough guts or imagination to explore the satirical possibilities of its premise.

Synopsis: Brad Whitaker (Will Ferrell) is a kindhearted radio executive who wants to be the best possible stepfather to his wife's (Linda Cardellini) two children. When... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini, Thomas Haden Church

Directed By: Sean Anders

Critics Consensus: By the Sea may intrigue celebrity voyeurs or fans of a certain type of arthouse cinema, but for most viewers, its beauty won't be enough to offset its narrative inertia.

Synopsis: A troubled American couple (Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie Pitt) befriend young newlyweds and local villagers while staying at French seaside resort.

Starring: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Mélanie Laurent, Melvil Poupaud

Directed By: Angelina Jolie

Critics Consensus: My All American has a genuinely moving real-life story to tell, but writer-director Angelo Pizzo fumbles it into manipulative, melodramatic tearjerker territory.

Synopsis: Awarded a scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin, small but scrappy Freddie Steinmark gets a chance to play football for coach Darrell Royal... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Finn Wittrock, Robin Tunney, Sarah Bolger

Directed By: Angelo Pizzo

Critics Consensus: Secret in Their Eyes wastes its incredible cast on a remake that fails to improve upon -- or even make a compelling case for its own existence in addition to -- the remarkable original.

Synopsis: Rising FBI investigators Ray (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Jess (Julia Roberts), along with Claire (Nicole Kidman), their district-attorney supervisor, are suddenly torn apart following the brutal... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Dean Norris

Directed By: Billy Ray

Critics Consensus: The 33 offers an appropriately inspirational account of real-life heroism, but its stirring story and solid performances are undermined by a flawed focus and an overreliance on formula.

Synopsis: Disaster strikes on Aug. 5, 2010, as a copper and gold mine collapses in Chile, trapping 33 men underground. With more than 2,000 feet of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Antonio Banderas, Rodrigo Santoro, Juliette Binoche, Gabriel Byrne

Directed By: Patricia Riggen