"Merry Gentleman" (R). Michael Keaton and Kelly Macdonald star in this thematically ponderous story about the friendship between a suicide-prone hit man and a troubled woman. Grade: C+ Opens Friday, June 26.

"My Sister's Keeper" (PG-13). Not reviewed. Abigail Breslin stars in this drama as a young girl who is conceived by mom Cameron Diaz to provide a donor match for her leukemia-stricken sister. Opens Friday, June 26.

"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" (PG-13). Not reviewed. In this sequel, Megan Fox and Shia LaBeouf again battle against evil forces under the direction of Michael Bay. Opens Wednesday, June 24.

NOW PLAYING

"Angels and Demons" (PG-13). Tom Hanks returns for this sequel to "The Da Vinci Code," in which the papal succession plot plunges into preposterous twists. Among the many things to wonder about is how the Hanks character can be an expert on Vatican history and yet be unable to read either Italian or Latin. The frantic story does hold your attention, though, and there are effective supporting performances by Ewan McGregor, Stellan Skarsgard and Armin Mueller-Stahl. Grade: B-

"Drag Me to Hell" (PG-13). Alison Lohman plays a bank loan officer who authorizes the eviction of a gypsy widow from her home, prompting a supernatural curse; and Justin Long plays the bank employee's bewildered boyfriend. Director Sam Raimi ("The Evil Dead," "Spider-Man") deftly mixes screams and laughs in this very enjoyable horror movie. Grade: B

"The Hangover" (R). When several young men hit Las Vegas, crude comedy is sure to ensue. There's no shortage of wild activity, but moviegoers who aren't left laughing are likely to feel like they've got a hangover by the end. Grade: C

"Imagine That" (PG). Mildly amusing comedy with Eddie Murphy as an investment banker whose fortunes improve when he receives coded financial tips from his young daughter's blanket. The well-acted father-daughter connection helps compensate for the formulaic script. Grade: C+

"Land of the Lost" (PG-13). Will Ferrell stars in this deliberately dumb adaptation of the '70s TV show about time travel bringing humans and dinosaurs together. It's entertaining, but strains to keep the story going at feature length. Grade: B-

"Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian" (PG). When his beloved museum display figures are transferred from New York's Museum of Natural History to deep storage at Washington's Smithsonian Institution, former museum guard Ben Stiller takes action to liberate them. The special effects-laden story is slight, but the non-stop action and pop culture jokes will entertain young audiences. Grade: B

"The Proposal" (PG-13). Sandra Bullock plays a Canadian woman whose high-powered New York publishing job will disappear if she is deported; Ryan Reynolds plays the office assistant she coerces into marrying her in order to allow her to remain in America. It's a formulaic romantic comedy, but has a glossy handle on the cliche-ridden scenario. Grade: B-

"Star Trek" (PG-13). The vintage franchise is rebooted in a sleekly paced, emotionally satisfying story about the earliest days of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Chris Pine as Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Spock are among the young actors bringing this old series to new life; only Leonard Nimoy in a supporting role as "Spock Prime" serves as a reminder of the original acting crew. Grade: B

"The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3" (R). This is an effective remake of the 1974 urban thriller about bad guys taking over a New York subway train and holding passengers hostage. Director Tony Scott's slick filmmaking keeps the story moving, but it's superficial and has some plot holes. Grade: B

"Terminator Salvation" (PG-13). Humans, machines and combinations of the two are kept busy in this time-hopping, combat-filled sci fi sequel. It's frantic and noisy in the summer movie tradition. With Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin, Helena Bonham Carter and Jane Alexander. Grade: C+

"Up" (PG). This smile-inducing Pixar animated movie features an elderly balloon salesman (voiced by Ed Asner) whose lifelong dream of going to South America is complicated when a young scout becomes a stowaway for the trip. Although the story becomes more conventional as it goes along, the main characters remain endearing and the terse running time keeps everything in the air. Grade: B

SCREEN SCENE

AMC Security Square 8
1717 Rolling Road, Woodlawn,
410-265-6911

Charles Theatre
1711 N. Charles St.,
410-727-FILM

Maryland Science Center IMAX Theater
410-685-5225

Muvico Egyptian 24
Arundel Mills Boulevard at Route 100,
443-755-8992

R/C Hollywood Cinema
5509 Oregon Ave., Arbutus,
410-242-1188

UA Westview Mall 9
5824 Baltimore National Pike, Baltimore,
410-719-9000

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