Last week brought the first new release of the year, the tepid One Missed Call. This week we get a trio of new releases. None of them look terribly promising, although one definitely looks to be more entertaining than the rest. Like every January, we are off to a slow start. Even with regard to late December Oscar releases it does not seem to be all that exciting. Whatever... things will pick up soon enough. Cloverfield arrives next week!

The Bucket List. (2007, 97 minutes, PG-13, comedy, trailer) The teaming of Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, on paper, would seem to be a match made in heaven. The trailer seems to support that, at least a little bit. The movie looks like fun, it looks like the two of them were having fun. Now, the big question is whether or not the story holds up; time will tell. This looks to be the biggest release for the weekend and the one with the best shot of taking a high ranking position.

First Sunday. (2008, 96 minutes, PG-13, comedy, trailer) This movie looks pretty funny. I don't think it will be a terribly good film, but it looks like fun. It features a good cast with Ice Cube, who always has a good screen presence, Tracy Morgan, whose star is on the rise, and Katt Williams, who I do not know much about but think is funny when I do see him. The story follows a pair of bumbling criminals who decide to rob a church while performing community service.

The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A Veggie Tales Movie. (2008, 85 minutes, G, animated, trailer) The trio of vegetable stars, while working at a pirate themed restaurant are transported back in time where they will have to reach deep inside themselves to rise up against a tyrant. Not my thing, but he kids love these guys, and they do deliver a positive message so how bad could it be? Just don't expect to see my review.