John Leguizamo

The Christmas dramedy Nothing Like the Holidays really is like a fruitcake: Seasonal, obligatory and cliche. It's unoriginal in its presentation, but then again, it is the holidays and someone put in the effort to make it, so a part of you appreciates it a little. You just don't want to taste it ever again. And maybe another part of you is the teeniest bit resentful that you were given something so forgettable.

Having said all that, there are some refreshing aspects to this particular sweet-sour overbaked good. The plot relies heavily on that tiresome declaration of "look how totally wacky and loud we are but we are also so loving!" But at least this time it's a Puerto Rican-American family, an ethnic group that's pretty severely underrepresented in mainstream film. The adult children in the Rodriguez family are gathering together at their parents' Chicago home for Christmas, including big-time New York City lawyer Mauricio (John Leguizamo) and his Jewish fish-out-of-water wife Sarah (Debra Messing), aspiring Hollywood actress Roxanna (Vanessa Ferlito), and soldier Jesse (Freddy Rodriguez) who is just now returning from Iraq. A circle of extra players surrounds the group: cousin Johnny (Luis Guzmán), family friend with a history of gangster life Ozzy (Jay Hernandez), and Jesse's old flame (the one that got away) Marissa (Melonie Diaz) — along with her son and new boyfriend. For more on why there's just nothing like the holidays, read more

Sure, when I first saw the poster and description for Nothing Like the Holidays, I kinda groaned inside. Nothing like another reheated family holiday flick! And yet, now that I've watched the trailer, I'm charmed by this new take on an old genre.

For one thing, the film focuses on a Latino family, which is unusual (embarrassingly so) in both film and television. For another thing, the cast is fantastic. John Leguizamo has already won me over (being one of my favorite actors ever helps), as has another favorite of mine, Alfred Molina. In addition there's the lovable Debra Messing and (ready, Getty Girls?) the winsome Freddy Rodriguez.

The movie's description goes like this: "A Puerto Rican family living in the area of Humboldt Park in west Chicago face what may be their last Christmas together." It starts out seeming tamely cute/funny, and then moves into some more poignant territory. Nothing Like the Holidays opens Nov. 21, and to watch the trailer, read more

The best part of going to see The Happening was getting to watch the X-Files movie trailer — which is way more chilling on the big screen than it is on YouTube. Can't wait for that one! As for M. Night Shyamalan's latest spookfest, well, as Alec Baldwin's character Bob Barrenger remarks after a car crash in State and Main, "So. . . That happened."

The movie has been getting poor reviews, and even Shyamalan himself is calling it "the best B-movie you'll see," so I didn't go into the screening with the assumption that The Happening would be a masterpiece. And it's not that bad; it's no Jumper, say. It just gives us nothing whatsoever to care about. At all. It's empty and kinda silly and the acting is not good. There's a mystery to solve, which is interesting for a short time, but when it gets solved, the explanation for the mystery is pretty freaking lame. For more on this, read more

Awesomely, a teaser trailer has arrived for the highly anticipated crime thriller Righteous Kill, which has brought together Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino for the first time since they starred together in Heat (1995). Both men look grizzled and tired, which works quite well for the weathered old cops they're portraying. The two are veteran NYC policemen trying to hunt down a serial killer who targets recently acquitted criminals. Though it's just a teaser trailer, it's still totally exciting to see these two powerhouses onscreen together. Righteous Kill is scheduled to open September 12. To check out the teaser, read more

Sarah Michelle Gellar is the latest celebrity to join Minnie Driver, Dave Navarro and this guess who sexy starlet in baring all for Vaseline's "skin is amazing" campaign. Amanda Bynes is also a part of the act and she joined SMG last night in NYC to celebrate the portraits of the beautiful stars which are also available on eBay where the money raised will benefit The Coalition of Skin Diseases. Amanda looks age appropriate and adorable as always while Sarah Michelle is scaring us a little. Her smoky eyes and tight hair might have been meant to be sexy but it comes across as a bit harsh. We love the light hearted SMG but perhaps Freddie likes this feisty version.

To see more of SMG, Amanda and others just read more

Adrien, Petra, and Chloë were all out in NYC last night for the premiere of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Petra looked like she was ready for the cabaret, while Adrien was all about quietly slipping his hand into his girlfriend's dress. Scandalous. I guess he was content to let her be the metallic one for the night. Chloë kept her usually daring fashion sense pretty low key last night, and while the color of her dress is nothing to scoff at, we all know what she is capable of. Seriously though, while Petra is one of the few girls who can pull off a fedora, she shouldn't be encouraging people like that.

For lots more including Benjamin Bratt, Petra and Adrien just read more

• Danny Glover will play a love interest for Sally Field's character on "Brothers & Sisters" next season, says Hollywood Reporter.
• Variety reports that John Leguizamo has been cast in M. Night Shyamalan's next project, The Happening, also starring Zooey Deschanel.
• TV Guide reports that news from the CBS presentations at the TCA press tour includes an episode of "Cold Case" with an all-Nirvana soundtrack and a lot of remarks about Mandy Patinkin quitting "Criminal Minds."
• ComingSoon says Ron Howard is on board to direct The Emperor's Children, a kind of Cruel Intentions-type story for 30-somethings.




• Never fear, Starbuck fans: Despite her conspicuous absence from a "Bionic Woman" event on Tuesday, "Battlestar Galactica" star Katee Sackhoff has signed a deal to continue appearing on "Bionic."

• According to Zap2It, there will be a third Ace Ventura movie, this time focusing on the pet detective's son who will be played by Josh Flitter.
• Victoria Beckham will "host" NBC's Thursday comedy lineup this week, promoting a 10 p.m. re-airing of her "Coming to America" special, the Futon Critic reports.
• Universal has canceled the release of Evan Almighty in Japan on account of the movie's meager draw so far and the fact that "there aren't that many Christians in Japan," says Variety.

Source