At the Movies

• 'The Avengers'

In this film image released by Disney, Iron Man, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr., left, and Captain America, portrayed by Chris Evans, are shown in a scene from "The Avengers." (AP Photo/Disney)

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AVENGERS

All of Marvel’s super heroes team up to fight a new evil in this new action picture.

When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins. Several are mistrustful of each other and only warily join the team. Included in the super line up are Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow.

The film stars Robert Downey, Jr.; Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson.

“Avengers” will have a special advance showing Thursday at midnight (technically 12:01 am Friday) and opens nationally on Friday, May 4. It is presented in 3D & 2D at alternating show times . 142 minutes.

It is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout and a mild drug reference.

THE FIVE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT

The director and writer/star of Forgetting Sarah Marshall re-team for the irreverent comedy The Five-Year Engagement.

Beginning where most romantic comedies end, this new film from director Nicholas Stoller, producer Judd Apatow (“Knocked Up”, “The 40-Year-Old Virgin”) and Rodney Rothman looks at what happens when an engaged couple, played by Jason Segel and Emily Blunt, keeps getting tripped up on the long walk down the aisle.

“Five-Year Engagement” is held over. 124 minutes. It is rated R for sexual content, and language throughout.

THE PIRATES! BAND OF MISFITS

This animated action comedy features Hugh Grant as the voice of the Pirate Captain.

Grant stars in his first animated role as the bearded Pirate Captain, a boundlessly enthusiastic, if somewhat less-than-successful, terror of the High Seas. With a rag-tag crew at his side and seemingly blind to the impossible odds stacked against him, the Captain has one dream: to beat his bitter rivals Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven) and Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek) to the much coveted Pirate Of The Year Award.

“Pirates! Band of Misfits” is held over. It is presented in 3D & 2D at alternating showtimes. 88 minutes.

It is rated PG for mild action, rude humor and some language.

LUCKY ONE

This romantic drama is based on Nicholas Sparks’ bestselling book and is directed by Academy Awardnominated writer/director Scott Hicks.

U.S. Marine Sgt. Logan Thibault, played by Zac Efron, returns from his third tour of duty in Iraq, with the one thing he credits with keeping him alive — a photograph he found of a woman he doesn’t even know. Learning that her name is Beth (Schilling) and where she lives, he shows up at her door, and ends up taking a job at her familyrun kennel. Despite her initial mistrust and the complications in her life, a romance develops between them, giving Logan hope that Beth could be much more than his good luck charm. The film also stars Taylor Schilling (TV’s “Mercy”) and Blythe Danner. “Lucky One” is held over. 101 minutes. It is rated PG-13 for some sexuality and violence.

THREE STOOGES

The Farrelly brothers (“There’s Something About Mary” and “Dumb and Dumber”), bring back slap-stick fun and mayhem in this new version of the antics of Moe, Larry and Curly.

Left on a nun’s doorstep, Larry, Curly and Moe grow up finger-poking, nyuk-nyuking and woo-woowooing their way to uncharted levels of knuckleheaded misadventure. Out to save the orphanage that was their childhood home, only The Three Stooges could become embroiled in an oddball murder plot...while also stumbling into starring in a phenomenally successful TV reality show. Peter and Bobby Farrelly took on the challenge of directing this new version of the classic stooges in the modern world!

“Three Stooges” is held over. 92 minutes.

It is rated PG for slapstick action violence, some rude and suggestive humor including language.

SAFE

Jason Stratham stars in this suspense thriller.

A second-rate cage fighter on the mixed martial arts circuit, Luke Wright lives a numbing life of routine beatings and chump change ... until the day he blows a rigged fight. Wanting to make an example of him, the Russian Mafia murders his family and banishes him from his life leaving him destitute, haunted by guilt, and tormented by the knowledge that he will always be watched, and anyone he develops a relationship with will also be killed.

But when he witnesses a frightened 12-year-old Chinese girl, Mei, being pursued by the same gangsters who killed his wife, Luke impulsively jumps to action. Mei, he discovers, is no ordinary girl, but an orphaned math prodigy forced to work for the Triads as a “counter.” He discovers she holds in her memory a priceless numerical code that the Triads, the Russian mob and a corrupt faction of the NYPD will kill for.

Realizing he’s the only person Mei can trust, Luke tears a swath through the city’s brutal underworld to save an innocent girl’s life ... and perhaps even redeem his own.

“Safe” opens nationally, including at the Luxury 5 Cinemas, Friday, April 27. 95 minutes.

It is rated R for strong violence throughout, and for language.

AMERICAN REUNION

The original “American “Pie” cast reunites for their 10-year high school reunion in this new comedy.

All the American Pie actors are back for this sequel. In one long-overdue weekend, they will discover what has changed, who hasn’t and that time and distance can’t break the bonds of friendship. Now these lifelong friends have come home as adults to reminisce about — and get inspired by — the hormonal teens who launched a comedy legend.

“American Reunion” is the first feature showing at the Starlite Drive-In Friday and Saturday, May 4 and 5. 113 minutes.

It is rated R for crude and sexual content throughout, nudity, language, brief drug use and teen drinking.

PROJECT X

This new comedy is from producer Todd Phillips, the director of “The Hangover.”

The movie follows three high school seniors, who feel they are anonymous, as they attempt to finally make a name for themselves. Their idea is innocent enough: let’s throw a party that no one will forget. But nothing could prepare them for the way this party turns out.

“Project X” is the second feature showing at the Starlite Drive-In Friday and Saturday, May 4 and 5. 88 minutes.

It is rated R for crude and sexual content throughout, nudity, drugs, drinking, pervasive language, reckless behavior and mayhem — all involving teens.

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