Christmas Movies 2015: What to See in the Theater
Here's a recap of how well various movies have been reviewed.
— -- Christmas is all about spending time with friends and family, and for many, going to the movies.
Every year, hordes of people head to the movie theater on Christmas Day, all of them asking each other the same question: "What should we see?"
Below is a list of the latest titles, along with the ABC News review of the film.
In some cases, if ABC News' movie critic David Blaustein did not review the movie, the aggregate review from Rotten Tomatoes has been substituted.
"Sisters": While it’s impossible to underplay the contributions of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to women in comedy in particular, I prefer to think of them as two of the funniest people on the planet, period. They’re unbelievably talented gifts to comedy. Which is why I’m so bothered by just how mediocre "Sisters" is. (Three out of five stars)
"Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip": "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip" is terrible for adults, and exposing your kids to this money-grab will not make them any smarter. (One-and-a-half stars out of five stars)
"In the Heart of the Sea": "In the Heart of the Sea" is a technical marvel, demonstrating that Ron Howard is still a master of making movies look and sound stunning. Unfortunately, the screenplay was lost at sea. (Two-and-a-half out of five stars)
"Krampus": This is a gifted cast with a solid writer/director in Michael Dougherty, but with a run time of one hour and 38 minutes, "Krampus" seemed a lot longer. The humor works better than the horror here -- indeed, any seasoned viewer of horror movies won’t find this remotely frightening. Still, "Krampus" is entertaining, with a decent message and a solid ending. (Three out of five stars)
"Concussion": Will Smith and director/co-writer Peter Landesman do a terrific job telling a story that needs to not only be told, but heard, seen and -- most importantly -- felt. If you’re being honest with yourself, you’ll feel "Concussion," and it will and should be painful. (Four out of five stars)
"Daddy's Home: There are some laugh-out-loud moments in "Daddy’s Home," but there are more scenes that will have you rolling your eyes so much, you might give yourself a headache. (Two-and-a-half out of five stars)
"Star Wars: The Force Awakens: Rotten Tomatoes gave the latest installment a 94 percent rating. "Packed with action and populated by both familiar faces and fresh blood, 'The Force Awakens' successfully recalls the series' former glory while injecting it with renewed energy," the website reads.
"Joy": Rotten Tomatoes gave the Joy Magnano biopic a 57 percent rating. "'Joy' is anchored by a strong performance from Jennifer Lawrence, although director David O. Russell's uncertain approach to its fascinating fact-based tale only sporadically sparks bursts of the titular emotion," the site reads.
"The Revenant": Rotten Tomatoes gave "The Revenant" an 81 percent rating. "As starkly beautiful as it is harshly uncompromising, 'The Revenant' uses Leonardo DiCaprio's committed performance as fuel for an absorbing drama that offers punishing challenges -- and rich rewards," the website reads.
"The Hateful Eight": Rotten Tomatoes gave "The Hateful Eight" a 75 percent rating. "'The Hateful Eight' offers another well-aimed round from Quentin Tarantino's signature blend of action, humor, and over-the-top violence -- all while demonstrating an even stronger grip on his filmmaking craft," the website reads.
