Abigail M. Schilling

So by now you're Christmas-movie-d out, right? And you're thinking, Hmmmm, I don't have the patience for Australia and that Adam Sandler movie doesn't come out for another week. What am I going to watch?

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
I know, the title is a little too hipster as is the concept (hipsters spend all night trying to find the secret show of their favorite band), but it turns out it's just about some really sweet high schoolers who know that they should know what makes them happy and they actually try. They're way more mature than actual high schoolers which is why I can actually enjoy this (as opposed to Laguna Beach which makes me cringe). Plus, there's that funny New York warp thing where parents let you stay out all night.

Ghost Town
Greg Kinnear is a ghost wearing a tuxedo with unfinished business in New York. Ricky Gervais is a cranky, mean dentist who has a special gift: he can see ghosts. What will he do with this gift? Hint: there is a redemption story line involving Tea Leoni and a very cute dog. Bonus: Carter/Rick Sammler plays a social justice lawyer. He's even hotter than when he was a divorced architect or an wife-stealing, alcoholic magazine editor.

Charlie Bartlett
Oh man. Genius. I don't know why no one has been telling me to see this movie. See this movie! This kid, Charlie, wants to be popular. Since he's a genius, he knows how to be popular. But get this: he's not an asshole. He is sweet and perfect. In fact, every character in this movie is sweet and perfect. Not in a Prince and Me way (I can't even talk about how awful that movie was), but in an all-the-struggles-are-internal way. This movie is like Ferris Bueller but smarter and warmer and cleverer. See, Charlie has a knack for psychology. And unlike most of us non-professionals, I don't think he abuses it.

So, get thee to Blockbuster or reorganize your Netflix queue. Pronto.