At the theaters 12/23/05

New at the theaters

'Cheaper by the Dozen 2'

Starring Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt and Eugene Levy. Tom Baker and his wife, Kate, head to Lake Winnetka with their 12 kids for a family vacation. But their time off becomes anything but relaxing after they engage in a competition with rival dad Jimmy Murtaugh. Rated PG for some crude humor and language, running time 94 minutes. (Town Plaza Cinema)

'Memoirs of a Geisha'

Starring Ziyi Zhang, Ken Watanabe and Gong Li. Just prior to World War II, a young Japanese girl is taken from her impoverished family to work in a geisha house. Sayuri rises through the ranks to become one of the country's most famous geisha. But all the while, she's haunted by memories of a man she met in her youth. Rated PG-13 for mature subject matter and some sexual content, running time 144 minutes. (Town Plaza Cinema)

'The Ringer'

Starring Johnny Knoxville, Brian Cox and Katherine Heigl. With a dead-end job and a pile of debt, Steve Barker decides that the best way to get ahead is to pretend to be mentally disabled so he can fix the Special Olympics. When his fellow Olympians realize he's a fake, they recruit Steve to help them take down the reigning champion. Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language and some drug references, running time 94 minutes. (Cape West Cine)

'Rumor Has It'

Starring Jennifer Aniston, Shirley MacLaine and Mark Ruffalo. Sarah agrees to marry her boyfriend, even though she's not sure it's the right thing to do. Meanwhile, her career has hit the skids, leaving her writing obituaries at "The New York Times." At her sister's wedding, Sarah meets Internet millionaire Beau, who has a secret connection to her family. Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, sexual content, crude humor and a drug reference, running time 97 minutes. Starts Sunday. (Town Plaza Cinema)

'Wolf Creek'

Starring John Jarratt, Cassandra Magrath and Andy McPhee. A trio of twentysomthing backpackers take a trip through the Australian Outback to explore Wolf Creek National Park and its infamous crater. When they return, their car won't start and they're forced to bum a ride from a stranger, who seems intent on keeping the coeds there, forever. Rated R for strong sadistic violence and language, running time 99 minutes. Starts Sunday. (Town Plaza Cinema)

Still in theaters

'Chicken Little'

Starring the voices of Zach Braff, Joan Cusack and Garry Marshall. When an acorn falls to the ground, a young chicken thinks the sky is falling and causes widespread panic by spreading the inaccurate news to the rest of his animal friends. Later, after his reputation is ruined, the chicken is clobbered by a real piece of the sky as it falls to Earth. Rated G; running time 81 minutes. Ends Saturday, starts Sunday at Cape West Cine. (Town Plaza Cinema)

'The Chronicles of Narnia'

Starring Tilda Swinton, Rupert Everett and Dawn French. Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are separated from their parents in London during the German air raids of World War II. They are sent to the country for safety and find a magic wardrobe that transports them to the mystical world of Narnia. Rated PG for battle sequences and frightening scenes, running time 132 minutes. (Cape West Cine)

'The Family Stone'

Starring Diane Keaton, Sarah Jessica Parker and Dermot Mulroney. The son of the Stone family returns home with his prissy girlfriend. The family's response to the girlfriend is decidedly less-than-tepid, so she calls her sister to come and support her. Rated PG-13 for some sexual content including dialogue, and drug references, running time 102 minutes. (Cape West Cine)

'Fun with Dick and Jane'

Starring Jim Carrey, TŽa Leoni and Angie Harmon. After losing their high-paying jobs, Jane and Dick Harper turn to crime to keep up their standard of living. Rated PG-13 for brief language, some sexual humor and occasional humorous drug references, running time 90 minutes. Starts Wednesday. (Cape West Cine)

'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'

Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. In his fourth year at Hogwarts, Harry is selected under mysterious circumstances as a contestant a tournament to compete against the best young wizards from schools all over Europe. But signs begin to point to the return of Lord Voldemort. Before long, Harry is playing not just for the Cup, but for his life. Rated PG-13 for sequences of fantasy violence and frightening images; running time 157 minutes. (Cape West Cine)

'Just Friends'

Starring Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart and Chris Klein. A womanizing music exec, who became a player after the girl he longed for in high school told him she just wanted to be friends, reconnects with the woman as an adult and is determined to win her over. Rated PG-13 for sexual content and dialogue; running time 94 minutes. Ends Saturday. (Town Plaza Cinema)

'King Kong'

Starring Naomi Watts, Jack Black and Adrien Brody. A gigantic ape is discovered on an isolated piece of land called Skull Island by a documentary filmmaker. The director manages to capture the creature, known as King Kong, and bring him back to New York City, where Kong escapes and runs amok, finally climbing the Empire State Building. Rated PG-13 for frightening adventure violence and some disturbing images, running time 187 minutes. (Cape West Cine)

'Syriana'

Starring George Clooney, Matt Damon and Amanda Peet. This political thriller is set in the Cold War era during a global fight for control over the world's oil supply. The stories of a CIA operative, an up-and-coming oil broker, a prince and a corporate lawyer collide as the fighting for the world's most valuable resource heats up. Rated R for violence and language, runing time 126 minutes. (Cape West Cine)

'Walk the Line'

Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon and Robert Patrick. This biopic about Johnny Cash, the legendary country icon, focuses on the singer's early career in Memphis, including his struggles with drug addiction. Rated PG-13 for some language, thematic material and depiction of drug dependency; running time 135 minutes. (Cape West Cine)

'Yours, Mine and Ours'

Starring Dennis Quaid, Rene Russo and Sean Faris. A widowed Coast Guard Admiral and a widow handbag designer fall in love and marry, much to the dismay of her 10 and his 8 children. Rated PG for some mild crude humor; running time 90 minutes. (Cape West Cine)

-- From staff reports