Gone In Sixty Seconds

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: June 9, 2000

DVD Release Date: November 28, 2000

Plot 411: Fifty hot cars are stolen in one night to prevent a murder.

Review: Nicholas Cage stars as Memphis, a former car thief who is forced out of retirement when his kid brother Kip's (Giovanni Ribisi) life is threatened. After a botched job for crime pen Calitri (Christopher Eccleston), Kip, Memphs and their old crews must steal 50 cars to fulfill the contract. To avoid capture, they decide to steal them all in one night. The crews - which includes Sway (Angelina Jolie), Otto (Robert Duvall), Sphinx (Vinnie Jones), Tumbler (Scott Caan) and others - stake out all the high-end, hard-to-get vehicles and plot their heist. Hot on their trail are two of LA's finest - Castlebeck (Delroy Lindo) and Drycoff (Timothy Olyphant). This is fast-paced heist film that's captivating because of the things that are being stolen. Rather than jewels or money, cars are the centerpiece of this movie. The ways in which the car theives boost the vehicles are interesting, especially if you're not of that world. Who would've thought it'd be so easy to do? Cage performs as he normally does in these action-type movies. No surprises there. Jolie does okay as the sole female in the bunch, even with her blonde hair. She was definitely young in this film. Will Scott Caan ever be able to avoid being typecasted? He's always a thug, an obnoxious jock or some other miscreant. Overall, it's an action-packed movie that'll let you escape for a couple of hours from your ho-hum life. Isn't that all most of us ask for?

Watch It: If you're a car enthusiast since some sweet rides get stolen.

Skip It: If you're a real car enthusiast because I'm sure all the engine and revving sound effects probably don't match the vehicles accurately.

Four Christmases

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: November 26, 2008

DVD Release Date: November 24, 2009

Plot 411: When all outgoing flights are canceled, Brad and Kate must spend Christmas visiting each of their divorced parents.

Review: Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) have had a tradition of vacationing somewhere tropical during the holidays ever since they first met. The long-time couple both agree that avoiding their respective families is the best for everyone. By doing so, they do not need to experience the chaotic and sometimes embarrassing scenes that occur during the holidays. However, when a thick fog cancels all flights out of San Francisco, they are forced to visit their families and endure a day of four Christmas celebrations. The continuous family time and holiday cheer affects each of them differently and in the end, they learn more about themselves than they ever thought possible. This is a cute film to enjoy during the holidays. It makes you realize that your own family isn't quite as nuts as you thought they were. Vaughn and Witherspoon are okay as a couple, but I think the chemistry between Jennifer Aniston and Vaughn in The Breakup was a lot more real (probably because it was real). Despite this, I think there were a ton of laughs in this movie that came with all the family drama that Brad and Kate have been trying to avoid. Everyone can relate to the craziness of the holidays, and this film seems to capitalize on this concept. I really loved the San Francisco background and liked that the families didn't live within the city like the couple did. Rarely is the surrounding areas of a large city featured in movies so this is a good chance to advertise the suburbs and towns around the Bay area. Brad and Kate's parents are played by Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Jon Voight and Mary Steenburgen. Jon Favreau also makes an appearance as Brad's brother. He is hilarious as always.

Watch It: With a cup of hot chocolate in your hands and thank the lord your family is "normal."

Skip It: Because Vaughn is looking quite chunky in this movie. Is that the price of success?