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by Inlander Staff & r & & r & Cars -- Like every one of the six previous features Pixar has delivered, Cars is smart, snappy, entertaining cinema. And like every one of those six previous features, it's grounded in fundamentally strong storytelling -- you know, the kind of thing that's not supposed to matter all that much any more in movies. It's funny, warm and charming, yes -- but it's also wise in a way that's almost enough to make you want to weep. (SR) Rated G





Clerks II -- Kevin Smith returns to the well with this slap to the face for anyone who defended him after Jersey Girl. Dante's life still sucks and he's managed to be demoted to a burger slinger at the fictitious Mooby's. Cameos are cast, lowbrow antics are had and Silent Bob will have just one line. Rated R





Click -- Dude's a workaholic who doesn't have time for anything, least of all his family. Luckily he finds a remote that can control time. Time's the only problem, see -- it's not like his priorities or anything. Kate Beckinsale is even hotter as a mom than as a werewolf hunter. Rated PG-13





The Da Vinci Code -- If there's one thing we like more than sadomasochistic arch-conservative albino assassins, it's sadomasochistic arch-conservative albino assassins trying to cover up Christianity's darkest secret: that Jesus and Mary Magdalene made babies together. Such a bizarre and wonderful coincidence, then, that Dan Brown would write almost that exact book and Ron Howard (breaking from his usual routine of edgeless heartstring-tuggers) would direct the screen adaptation. Rated PG-13





The Devil Wears Prada -- A strong, subtle (but not too subtle) and often comic performance by Meryl Streep as a magazine editor from hell almost saves this biting satire on the fashion industry. But a weak, one-dimensional portrayal of the new kid in town by ever-smiling Anne Hathaway mars the film. The beautiful people sure look good all gussied up in the newest styles, but they're almost all snakes, and there's hardly anyone to root for. (ES) Rated PG-13





Greece: Secrets of the Past -- Continuing their long tradition of making learning fun, the folks at IMAX bring us Greece, wherein you get to "see how the island of Santorini was formed and how the island's volcanic eruption, one of the biggest explosions in Earth's history, occurred. Follow a team of archeologists piecing together the puzzles of ancient history and learn how the field of archeology has progressed. Travel to Athens and see how computer graphic imaging can restore the Parthenon to its original glory. Trace some of our modern society's customs -- democracy, medicine, athletics and theatre back to their roots in the Golden Age of Greece." Unrated





Lady in the Water -- Apologists for M. Night Shyamalan have their work cut out defending yet another cinematic killjoy from the "auteur" whose high box office receipts do not reflect the ineptitude of his filmmaking skills. Inflated from an impromptu "bedtime story" that Shyamalan invented for his children, this is a hackneyed tale about a water nymph who resides at the bottom of a swimming pool. (CS) Rated PG-13





Little Man -- The Wayans Brothers come with their most contrived movie idea yet. Revolving around a relatively new technique that allows CG wizards to put men's heads on the bodies of children, Marlon Wayan's head plays a two-foot tall cat burglar (though he's all man, we can assure you) who has to stash a diamond in a lady's purse to avoid capture by the police. To retrieve it, he must masquerade as a baby placed on the woman's doorstep. Good thing her husband (Keenan Ivory Wayans) shoots blanks. Rated PG-13





Monster House -- This computer-animated film looks like it's for the kiddies, but has moments that are too intense for anyone 5 or younger. Everyone else will likely laugh and scream over the tale of a trio of kids who go up against a truly haunted house. (It has a mind of its own, and it can move.) Spectacular visuals, great performances, excellent accompanying music -- and a story filled not only with surprises but even with a little heart. (ES) Rated PG





My Super Ex-Girlfriend -- Poor Uma Thurman. After Ethan Hawke, she slummed it with nerdy Quentin Tarantino, who crafted a magnum opus for her. It was like watching the prom queen waking up next to the class nerd -- rewarding but ultimately unworkable. She needed to fix her hair and move on. And good on her for choosing the role of a needy, obsessive superhero chick who gets dumped by her ordinary boyfriend.. Rated PG-13





Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest -- Cast, director and writers are back for the midsection of the raucous trilogy about Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), William Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley). This time, everyone is after Sparrow, including the ghostly Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) who wants to, you know, swallow his soul. Great comic acting mixes with big-time adventure. Depp overdoes it to perfection, and all is set up beautifully for next year's conclusion, which will feature Keith Richards as Depp's dad. (ES) Rated PG-13





Superman Returns -- The Man of Steel (Brandon Routh) has been away from Metropolis (and Earth) for five years on a personal journey. When he returns, Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) is still angry that he left without saying goodbye, and Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) is beginning an evil capitalistic plot. Director Bryan Singer (the first two X-Men films) mixes wild, effects-driven action with a story of great emotional proportions. The film, despite a couple of gaffes, is, um, super. (ES) Rated PG-13





Wired to Win -- It's the Tour de France in grand Imax pseudo-scientific fashion. Follow racers through the grueling, 20-plus stage road race and watch, through the magic of computer graphics wizardry, how their brains react. Unrated





You, Me and Dupree -- You, Me and Dupree is a sitcom that subsists on Owen Wilson's ever-boyish projection of an innocence that has overstayed its welcome long into adulthood. As Dupree, Wilson plays the best friend to his pal Carl (played with easy humility by Matt Dillon). Carl and his newlywed wife Molly (Kate Hudson) live under the shadow of her possessive father Mr. Thompson (Michael Douglas), who doubles as Carl's real estate tycoon boss. A hilarious dinner table scene with the four main characters spikes the movie into a stratosphere of humor beyond its otherwise predictable restraints. (CS) Rated PG-13