"I.O.U.S.A." (NR). Timely documentary about the national debt. The film does a good job of explaining government monitary policies that most of us don't fully understand. Grade: B Opens Friday, Nov. 7.

"Role Models" (R). Not reviewed. David Wain directs this comedy starring Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott as troublemakers ordered by a court to be Big Brothers to youngsters. Opens Friday, Nov. 7.

"Soul Men" (R). Not reviewed. Bernie Mac (in his last role) stars with Samuel L. Jackson in this comic drama about two former members of a '70s soul band who reunite for a musical tribute. Opens Friday, Nov. 7.

NOW PLAYING

"Beverly Hills Chihuahua" (PG). Unless you adore movies about talking animals, stay far away from this slight comedy about a pampered L.A. dog lost in Mexico. The voice of Drew Barrymore stars as the dog, along with such human actors as Jamie Lee Curtis and Piper Perabo. Grade: C

"Body of Lies" (R). The slick professionalism of director Ridley Scott, the starring presence of Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe as C.I.A. employees, and the obvious importance of international terrorism somehow don't fully spark a busy spy story that roams the world and yet doesn't go very deep. Grade: B-

"Changeling" (R). Director Clint Eastwood tries to be stately and instead achieves a stilted tone in this true story about a single mother in Los Angeles in the 1920s whose young son goes missing. When he's returned to her, she insists it's not her son. Angelina Jolie's award-courting performance is the most obvious indication of a handsomely produced picture that takes itself very seriously. Grade: B-

"Eagle Eye" (PG-13). The relentless chases, hyperkinetic editing and explosive score amount to noisy bells and whistles masking the fact that this political thriller is skimpy when it comes to characterization and motive. With Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson and Billy Bob Thornton. Grade: C+

"The Haunting of Molly Hartley" (PG-13). Haley Bennett plays a disturbed teen whose hallucinations may be all too real. The movie's scary potential is spoiled by plot developments so extreme that you'll only be haunted by disappointment. Grade: C

"High School Musical 3: Senior Year" (G). Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens finally approach graduation in a wholesome musical comedy that's as easy to watch as it is predictable. There are plans to continue the series, so here's a title the producers may want to consider: "High School Musical 4: GED." Grade: B-

"Lakeview Terrace" (PG-13). Samuel L. Jackson's intense performance as a Los Angeles cop isn't quite enough to carry this thriller about the cop's hostile response to the interracial couple (Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington) who buy the house next to his. Although the script has inconsistent character development, it also provides plenty of diverting jolts. Grade: B-

"Max Payne" (PG-13). Its video game origins account for the superficiality of a mediocre action movie in which Mark Wahlberg merely goes through the violent motions. Grade: C-

"Nick & Nora's Infinite Playlist" (PG-13). Two high school kids (Michael Cera and Kat Dennings) tentatively embark on a romance while visiting hip Manhattan clubs in a single very long night. The film's sweet tone unfortunately encompasses a lot of meandering scenes. Grade: C+

"Pride and Glory" (R). The story about corruption in the New York police department is formulaic and the performances tend to be blustery, but there are several fine scenes with Edward Norton, Jon Voight, Colin Farrell and Noah Emmerich. Grade: B-

"Quarantine" (R). Handheld subjective camerawork is now overused in horror movies, but this one has some effectively jolting moments as it documents how firefighters and the TV news reporter doing a story on them are suddenly placed in quarantine inside an apartment building plagued with a strange virus. Grade: C+

"Rachel Getting Married" (R). Director Jonathan Demme conveys a vivid sense of what it's like for a recovering addict (Anne Hathaway) to return home for her sister's wedding. The handheld camerawork and deliberate pace create a real-time quality that mostly works, but a few scenes are allowed to go on much too long. Grade: B

"RocknRolla" (R). British director Guy Ritchie helms a highly self-conscious gangster movie whose slickness is matched by its emptiness. The pungent cast includes Gerard Butler, Idris Elba, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Strong, Karel Roden, Toby Kebbell, Chris Bridges and Jeremy Piven. Grade: C

"Saw V" (R). It's literally torture watching the fifth installment in a sadistic series that refuses to die. Is this anybody's idea of a movie date? Grade: D-

"The Secret Life of Bees" (PG-13). Based on a bestselling novel and featuring Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson and Queen Latifah, this honey-drenched story about a girl growing up in racially segregated South Carolina in 1964 is easy to like, but its thematic messages are so bluntly delivered that it has a paint-by-number quality. Grade: B-

"Tyler Perry's The Family that Preys" (PG-13). Another comic melodrama from Tyler Perry in which the lapses in script logic are matched by crowd-pleasing elements that can't be denied. With Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodard (a wonderful actor who elevates any movie she's in), Cole Hauser, Tyler Perry, Sanaa Lathan, Rockmond Dunbar, Taraji P. Henson, Robin Givens, Kadee Strickland and Sebastian Siegel. Grade: C+

"W." (PG-13). It's probably inevitable that director Oliver Stone's group biography of President George W. Bush's administration seems like a wax museum come to life. Although Stone mostly scores obvious satirical points, the whole exercise does possess curiosity value. With Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks, Ellen Burstyn, James Cromwell, Richard Dreyfuss, Scott Glenn, Toby Jones, Stacy Keach, Thandie Newton and Jeffrey Wright. Grade: C+

"What Just Happened" (R). Although it's not as consistently hilarious as his media-spoofing "Wag the Dog," director Barry Levinson's satire of the movie industry has its share of sharply funny scenes. It's also sparked by Robert De Niro in top comic form as a movie producer. Also stars Catherine Keener, John Turturro, Michael Wincott, Bruce Willis and Sean Penn. Grade: B

"Zack and Miri Make a Porno" (R). Writer-director Kevin Smith's mostly unsuccessful comedy features Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks as financially desperate friends who decide to make a pornographic movie. The first half of Smith's movie is marred by so much profanity-laced dialogue that it becomes tiresome; and the second half is marred by such a sentimental turn that it seems forced. Grade: C

All capsule reviews and grades are by Mike Giuliano unless otherwise noted. Bookings change on Friday. For showtimes and to confirm listings, call the phone-in number in Screen Scene.

SCREEN SCENE

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

Hunt Valley Cinema 12
Shawan Road,
410-329-9800

Maryland Science Center IMAX Theater
410-685-5225

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

Owings Mills 17
Mill Run Circle,
443-394-0081

Rotunda Cinematheque
711 W. 40th St.,
410-235-4800

R/C's Eastpoint Movies 10
7938 Eastern Blvd.,
410-284-3100

Senator Theatre
5904 York Road,
410-435-8338

Towson Commons 8
York Road at Pennsylvania Avenue,
410-825-5233

Valley Center 9
9616 Reisterstown Road,
410-363-4194

West Nursery 14
Linthicum,
410-850-8999

White Marsh Theatre
White Marsh Boulevard,
410-933-9428

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