New Releases to Crave: Fairy Tales & Faster Drugs

By Chris Kavan - 11/23/10 at 11:25 AM CT

Since Thanksgiving is the week, it looks like Wednesday is the new Friday for new movies this week. There are plenty of new releases, but I still think they all face an uphill battle to dethrone Harry Potter from the top spot.

1) The #1 contender to bleed off Potter fans would be Disney's updated Rapunzel story, Tangled. With a feisty heroine and awkward love story, it's sure to hit close to tween girls hearts, but even with Disney retooling the trailers to focus on the thief instead of the princess, I can't imagine it will appeal as much to the guys (young or old). We'll see if it can pass muster or at least do a better than Princess and the Frog.

2) Although I won't touch it with a 10-foot pole, Burlesque looks to be taking the Moulin Rouge musical route mixing some old school talent with modern artists and hoping to reach both audiences. I honestly don't get the appeal, but if it's your cup of tea, have fun with it.

3) Trying once again to lift the romantic comedy out of the morass it has been in all year is Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal in Love and Other Drugs. I can't say anything I've seen makes me think this will buck the trend, but I've tended to like both actors in their respective films so I wish them the best of luck.

4) Looking for something with a bit more kick? Then let Dwayne Johnson be your guide in Faster. It looks like a typical pissed-off-guy-getting-revenge movie but if you want anger, action and don't want to be bogged down by an overly complicated plot, this is the movie for you.

5) This one doesn't come out until Friday, but since I'm doing the releases early I better mention that sure Oscar-bet The King's Speech is also going to come out. With critics hailing the film at each turn, I'm certain this will turn out as hit... amongst critics. The public? Even with the buzz I can't see this making huge waves, but we'll see.

That's it - enjoy the holiday break, eat hearty, watch some football, give thanks - all the usual fun.