Family films offer bees, chipmunks and magic

A magic toy shop? Bees who talk? Singing chipmunks? Yes, parents, all of these films are in your future, and your little ones will probably want some of that accompanying merchandise come holiday season. And moms, if you have teenage girls, well than you both can swoon over Patrick “McDreamy” Dempsey, who stars in the fractured fairytale “Enchanted.” Just cause they’re kids’ movies, doesn’t necessarily mean adults won’t be entertained.

“Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium”
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Jason Bateman, Zach Mills
Director: Zach Helm
Story: Molly Mahoney (Portman) plays the insecure manager of a magical toy store. When her 243-year-old boss, Mr. Magorium (Hoffman), decides to retire, he gives her the store. A buttoned-up accountant (Bateman) doesn’t believe the store is magic. Little does he realize that the Emporium makes its hurt feelings known to those who don’t believe.
Buzz: There is something fantastic and very “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” about the story. However, realize going in that Hoffman speaks with a lisp throughout. He told Entertainment Weekly that he modeled his character’s speech pattern on an ostrich. Uh-oh. There’s no doubt that Hoffman’s a legendary actor, but his potential to go completely over the top here may ultimately be too distracting — except for little kids. Helm (who wrote “Stranger Than Fiction”) makes his directorial debut.
Web site: http://www.magorium.com/
Release date: Nov. 16

“The Bee Movie”

DreamWorks Animation

Starring: Jerry Seinfeld, Renée Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, John Goodman, Chris Rock, Kathy Bates, Alan Arkin, Patrick Warburton
Director: Simon J. Smith, Steve Hickner
Story: Barry B. Benson (Seinfeld) is a worker bee who is tired of the grind. He wants to get out and experience life. But when he does, he breaks one of the cardinal bee rules and talks to a human (Zellweger). He’s shocked to find out that humans steal honey from bee hives and decides to sue the human race for lost proceeds.
Buzz: Seinfeld’s observational humor makes perfect sense for a kids’ film. He has a very kid-like, literal way of looking at the world and questioning it. But a warm-hearted family film is a long way from the “no hugging, no learning” rule of the “Seinfeld” days. Does this mean he’s softened? Zellweger told Entertainment Weekly that Seinfeld would come up with new funny lines for the script almost every day.
Web site: http://www.beemovie.com/
Release date: Nov. 2

“Alvin and the Chipmunks”

20th Century Fox

Starring: Jason Lee, Cameron Richardson, Jane Lynch, David Cross, Ross Bagdasarian Jr.
Director: Tim Hill
Story: Based on the beloved cartoon series, this CGI/live-action film focuses on the origins of the chipmunk singing group. Lee stars as the trio’s human pal Dave, who they manage to drive crazy on a regular basis.
Buzz: Lee must really have a thing for kids’ films. Either that or “My Name Is Earl” just isn’t paying the bills. This film and “Underdog”? Director Hill also brought us “Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties.” Kids will probably enjoy it, but the same can’t be said for the parents who are dragged along.
Web site: http://www.alvinandthechipmunksmovie.com/
Release date: Dec. 14

“Enchanted”

Walt Disney Pictures

Starring: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, Idina Menzel, Rachel Covey, Susan Sarandon
Director: Kevin Lima
Story: Princess Giselle (Adams) is banished from her animated land by an evil queen (Sarandon) and winds up in the very real world of New York City. There she meets a charming divorce lawyer (Dempsey). But the animated Prince Charming (Marsden) follows her into the real world, determined to rescue her. But will she need rescuing?
Buzz: The casting is very fun here. Adams showed she has an innate likeability when she starred in “Junebug,” which makes her perfect for a naïve princess. And “McDreamy” Dempsey already plays a charmer every Thursday night on “Grey’s Anatomy.” Lima is an unproven as a director (“102 Dalmations”), but the concept seems like a fun holiday treat.
Web site: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/enchanted/
Release date: Nov. 21

“The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep”

Columbia Pictures

Starring: Emily Watson, Alex Etel, Ben Chaplin, David Morrissey, Brian Cox
Director: Jay Russell
Story: Angus (Etel) discovers an egg near a loch and befriends the creature that hatches, a mysterious water horse. At first he tries to keep the creature hidden from his mom (Watson). But when he finally releases the creature into Loch Ness, the locals start thinking the water horse is the Loch Ness monster.
Buzz: Author Dick King-Smith (“Babe”) wrote the book this film is based on. It seems like the perfect film for dinosaur-loving little kids, who will also get a sweet message about friendship. Russell also directed the fine kids’ film, “My Dog Skip.”
Web site: http://www.thewaterhorse.com/
Release date: Dec. 25

“Thomas Kinkade's The Christmas Cottage”

Lionsgate

Starring: Jared Padalecki, Peter O'Toole, Marcia Gay Harden
Director: Michael Campus
Story: “Painter of Light” artist Thomas Kinkade gets the biopic treatment here. An aging artist (O’Toole) and an entire community help save Kinkade’s (Padelecki) family home. Of course, this takes place the day before Christmas and inspires Kinkade to start painting.
Buzz: There are some movie premises that just can’t survive the giggle test. And this is one of them. When thinking about this artist, who regularly sells his work on QVC, the words sappy and overly sentimental come to mind. This may be one for the grandparents. Director Campus hasn’t helmed a movie since 1976.
Web site: NA
Release date: TBD

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