Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)

The best parts of this almost winning romantic comedy are Ryan Gosling teaching Steve Carell how to dress and pick up women. Gosling also romances the (Emma) Stone. But Julianne Moore is barely there, and Jonah Bobo, 13, is an annoying sitcom character.

d: Glenn Ficarra and John Requa | imdb.com | trailer | Charlie Rose

The Guard (2011)

Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle play mismatched buddy cops — a smart Irish Archie Bunker and an affluent American FBI agent — familiar archetypes with new chemistry, and John Michael McDonagh directs with bright colors and even brighter dialogue.

d: John Michael McDonagh | imdb.com | trailer
It hurts. | Street value | Disney World | Gaelic

Horrible Bosses (2011)

Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day play regular guy Three Stooges who plot to kill their bosses — Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell and sexual harasser Jennifer Aniston — with deft comic timing, cocaine slapstick and murder consultant Jamie Foxx.

d: Seth Gordon | imdb.com | trailer