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

X-Men: First Class (2011)

Matthew Vaughn directs the “X-Men” prequel, the sort of corny comic book movie that he satirized so well in last year’s “Kick-Ass.” This time, Vaughn provides the fodder, including hackneyed dialogue and 12 mutants who rewrite the Cuban Missile Crisis.

d: Matthew Vaughn | imdb.com | trailer | Training montage

Footloose (1984)

Serious execution problems: There isn’t enough dancing, and the music isn’t good enough. Kevin Bacon, the new kid in a town where dancing and rock and roll are banned, needs more dirt under his fingernails. Yet there’s a good idea for a film in there somewhere.

d: Herbert Ross | imdb.com | trailer | “Holding Out for a Hero”