BOUNCE -- Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow star in Don Roos' dramedy about a hip L.A. ad man (Affleck) who switches plane tickets with another man. After the plane crashes, the surviving ad exec visits the widow (Paltrow) and a romance blossoms. As moviemade lovers, look for Affleck and Paltrow to provide plenty of celebrity wattage. -- Steve Ramos (Rated PG-13.) No screening.

CINCINNATI FILM SOCIETY PRESENTS: NEW CINEMA FROM EASTERN EUROPE -- The CFS celebrates contemporary world cinema with Russian director Yuri Mamin's 1994 comedy, Window to Paris, a comic fantasy about an apartment with a secret doorway to the west. 7:30 Saturday at the Scripps Newsreel Theater, Cincinnati Museum Center. -- SR (Unrated.)

DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS -- No amount of bells, whistles, gizmos and amusement park-like sets can breathe much-needed, childhood wonder into this bloated and unfunny adaptation of Theodor S. Geisel's aka Dr. Seuss' children's classic.

Jim Carrey brings Dr Seuss' celebrated Grinch alive courtesy of a stunning green Grinch suit created by make-up-effects tech Rich Baker. You can't recognize Carrey in the green fur, but you are aware of his trademark manic style. Granted, Carrey has a few, funny moments. But it's not long before Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas overwhelms Carrey's clownish performance with its clunky storytelling.

The film's core story is familiar: The Grinch is determined to keep the residents of Whoville from celebrating their favorite holiday. But director/producer Ron Howard tweaks the 1957 book into a surprisingly adult direction. The film sheds some light on the Grinch's unpleasant childhood. We learn more about the Whos. None of it ultimately matters in a film that's exchanged a classic story for elaborate sets and special effects. -- SR (Rated PG.)

CityBeat grade: D.

LITTLE NICKY -- Adam Sandler brings to life Little Nicky, the youngest son of the Price of Darkness. It's a fitting setting, because sitting through this atrocity is a living hell. It's like Sandler and writing partner Tim Herlihy forgot to add jokes to the already foolish plot. Passing for laughs in Little Nicky are references to dog sex and a running gag about Hitler getting a daily pineapple enema.

They even manage to screw up good bits. When Little Nicky's brethren ascend upon New York and begin wreaking havoc, they begin by lowering the drinking age to 10. Watching kids enthusiastically run for the nearest bar is mildly funny. Watching them throw up upon exiting is not.

Sandler never unleashes the acerbic wit that made him great on Saturday Night Live. Instead, all that's left is Sandler sporting a bad haircut and a worse speech impediment. Only a handful of nice cameos and a nice homage to Chris Farley save this film from burning in hell for all eternity. -- Rodger Pille (Rated R.)

CityBeat grade: D.

THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS -- The Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington, returns in the re-release of animator Henry Selick's stunning 1993 fantasy about the invasion of Christmas Town by Jack and his Halloween monsters. Unlike the dull Grinch, The Nightmare Before Christmas is a family classic worth watching again and again. -- SR (Rated PG.)

CityBeat grade: A.

RED PLANET -- Carrie-Ann Moss is the one surprise in this lackluster adventure about America's first manned trip to Mars. As Commander Kate Bowman, Moss sees plenty of action. Unfortunately, Red Planet never manages to build any credible suspense around Moss' sci-fi heroics.

Val Kilmer delivers his trademark grunts, groans and facial grimaces as a member of Bowman's crew. He even finds time to develop a romance with the pretty commander. Still, Red Planet is supposed to be a space adventure about converting the Martian landscape into a hospitable colony. Telling such a story requires some element of suspense. Of course, suspense is the one thing that Red Planet sorely lacks. -- SR (Rated PG-13.)

CityBeat grade: D.

RUGRATS IN PARIS -- The Pickles and Finster babies go to the City of Lights for this clever and heartfelt adaptation of the popular Nickelodeon series. Director Paul Demeyer and Stig Berggvist bring back all the popular Rugrats characters: Angelica, Phil, Lil, Dil, Tommy and Chuckie. For the sake of merchandising, a Rugrat named Kimi is also introduced. Still, buying another toy doll is a small price to pay for a family cartoon as funny as Rugrats in Paris. -- SR (Rated G.)

CityBeat grade: B.

THE SIXTH DAY -- Big Ahh-nold Schwarzenegger looks to jump-start his action hero status with this sci-fi thriller about a family man who discovers he's been replaced by a clone. The problem is his wife (Wendy Crewson) can't tell the difference. Of course, getting his life back will require plenty of outrageous stunts and explosions. That's just Big Ahh-nold's way. -- SR (Rated PG-13.) No screening.

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