<table> </table> <strong><span class="subhead">&#8216;Role Models&#8217;</span></strong></p><p><strong>When:</strong> Friday</p><p><strong><strong>Starring: </strong></strong>Paul Rudd, Seann William Scott, Elizabeth Banks</p><p><strong><strong>Directed by: </strong></strong>David Wain</p><p><strong><strong>What it is: </strong></strong>Misbehavers are sentenced to community service in a Big Brother-ish mentoring program.</p><p><strong>The buzz: </strong>Crass comedy with a bit of heart from the director of &#8220;Wet Hot American Summer.&#8221;</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">&#8216;Soul Men&#8217;</span></strong></p><p><strong> When: </strong>Friday</p><p><strong>Starring: </strong>Bernie Mac, Samuel L. Jackson, Isaac Hayes</p><p><strong> Directed by: </strong>Malcolm D. Lee</p><p><strong> What it is:</strong> Estranged for decades, a soul-singing duo are reunited for a big charity show at the Apollo Theatre.</p><p><strong> The buzz: </strong>The final film for Mac and Hayes &#8230; maybe some sobs among the laughs?</p><p>&#8216;Four Christmases&#8217;<strong> When: </strong>Nov. 26</p><p><strong> Starring: </strong>Reese Witherspoon, Vince Vaughn, Jon Voight, Jon Favreau, Robert Duvall, Mary Steenburgen, Sissy Spacek</p><p><strong> Directed by: </strong>Seth Gordon</p><p><strong> What it is: </strong> A couple scramble to spread their holiday among their four divorced parents.</p><p><strong> The buzz: </strong>Great cast, and it will be interesting to see how director Gordon &#8212; he scored big with his doc &#8220;The King of Kong&#8221; &#8212; handles a mainstream comedy.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">&#8216;Cadillac Records&#8217;</span></strong></p><p><strong>When: </strong>Dec. 5</p><p><strong>Starring: </strong>Beyonce Knowles, Jeffrey Wright, Adrien Brody, Mos Def, Cedric the Entertainer</p><p><strong>Directed by: </strong>Darnell Martin</p><p><strong>What it is: </strong>The story of Chess Records, where artists like Howlin&#8217; Wolf, Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Etta James and others hit the big time.</p><p><strong>The buzz: </strong>Could go either way but sounds like essential viewing for blues fanatics.</p><p>&#8216;Punisher: War Zone&#8217;<strong>When: </strong>Dec. 5</p><p><strong>Starring: </strong>Ray Stevenson, Dominic West</p><p><strong>Directed by: </strong>Lexi Alexander</p><p><strong>What it is: </strong>Second film in four years based on Marvel&#8217;s vigilante character, but with a new star.</p><p><strong>The buzz: </strong>The 2004 film stank. But this one stars Stevenson, so awesome in HBO&#8217;s &#8220;Rome.&#8221; It&#8217;ll be worth the ticket just to see what he delivers.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">&#8216;Nothing Like the Holidays&#8217;</span></strong></p><p><strong>When: </strong>Dec. 12</p><p><strong>Starring: </strong>John Leguizamo, Debra Messing, Freddy Rodriguez, Alfred Molina, Elizabeth Pena</p><p><strong>Directed by: </strong>Alfredo De Villa</p><p><strong>What it is:</strong> Comedy/drama about Chicago Puerto Rican family that may be facing its last Christmas together.</p><p><strong>The buzz: </strong>Terrific cast &#8230; and the film&#8217;s Hispanic spin is intriguing.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Slumdog Millionaire</span></strong></p><p><strong>When:</strong> Dec. 19</p><p><strong>Starring: </strong>Dev Patel, Mia Drake</p><p><strong>Directed by: </strong>Danny Boyle</p><p><strong>What it is: </strong>To prove his worth to his girl, an impoverished Indian teen gets onto that country&#8217;s version of &#8220;Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?&#8221;</p><p><strong>The buzz: </strong>Advance reviews call it a &#8220;dazzling crowd pleaser&#8221;&#8230; that is, if you can talk the audience into showing up. Could be the season&#8217;s sleeper hit.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">&#8216;The Tale of Despereaux&#8217;</span></strong></p><p><strong>When: </strong>Dec. 19</p><p><strong>Starring: </strong>Voices of Matthew Broderick, Emma Watson, Christopher Lloyd, Dustin Hoffman, Sigourney Weaver, Kevin Kline</p><p><strong>Directed by: </strong>Sam Fell, Robert Stevenhagen</p><p><strong>What it is: </strong>Animated fantasy about a romantically inclined mouse trying to escape from a castle dungeon.</p><p><strong>The buzz: </strong> It&#8217;s based on the popular Newbery-winning novel, and we love the film&#8217;s lush look (like an elaborate children&#8217;s book), but beyond that we&#8217;re in the dark.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">&#8216;Yes Man&#8217;</span></strong></p><p><strong> When: </strong>Dec. 19</p><p><strong>Starring: </strong>Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel, Terence Stamp</p><p><strong>Directed by: </strong>Peyton Reed</p><p><strong>What it is: </strong>Comedy in which Carrey plays a guy who vows to say &#8220;yes&#8221; to everything for an entire year.