Season's Worst: 5 Potentially Terrible Films of the 2009 Holiday Season

The end of any given year always brings two things when it comes to movies: Oscar hopefuls and holiday trash. Hoping that the spirit of the holidays will somehow liven people up to the point that they no longer care about quality movie studios often dumb some of their more inane and sappy films in December hoping to that they'll catch some cheer. Here's an early warning of what look to be some of worst offenders of this upcoming holiday movie season.

5. Everybody's Fine

The Premise: A widower (Robert De Niro) decides on a whim to travel across the country and reconnect with his grown children. As he spends time with each of them he sees that their personal lives are not going as well as he had let himself believe. Supporting cast includes Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell.

The Problem: The premise is a half and half split between cheesy sentiment and Oscar bait, and trying to go for both could very easily cripple the film. These sorts of family reconciliation films tend to find themselves swimming in cheap sentiment within the first half hour. Also the cast is a bit of a mix. Barrymore is always charming and Rockwell is talented but De Niro seems to have been off his game of late (or perhaps just doesn't care anymore) and Beckinsale has a tendency to just be wooden.

Is There Hope?: Despite some truly amazing films on his resume Robert De Niro has not exactly been showing much interest in quality of late when it's come to picking movie rolls. He's been running the risk of becoming a parody of his formal self for years. However where De Niro has been floundering lately is comedy and this film seems to have a more sincere overall tone than most of his recent work. Also the original Italian film is quite well liked so the source material seems to be solid.

4. It's Complicated

The Premise: Jane (Meryl Streep) and Jake (Alec Baldwin) have been divorced for ten years and have finally managed to achieve a decent relationship with each other. However things go too far when they start sleeping together, despite Jake being remarried and Jane having another male interest in Adam (Steve Martin). Jane is left to try and sort out the mess that she found herself in.

The Problem: While the acting talent of the three leads isn't in question only Streep has had a solid track record of late. While he's had gems in his history Steve Martin's discretion in terms of films to act in has been in question of years. As for Alex Baldwin he hasn't played the movie game in a while (and wasn't doing that well the last few years that he was playing). The film is also clearly aiming for an older demographic which in and of itself is fine so long as it doesn't try to pander (which is what these films tend to do). The overall plot and the vibe coming off the trailers feels more sit com than proper film.

Is There Hope?: Any hope to be had is riding almost entirely on the back of Meryl Streep. The woman never fails to be a delight on screen and generally has good taste in projects. Also writer/director Nancy Meyers is fairly reliable for solid light entertainment so perhaps it will all balance.

3. Did You Hear About the Morgans

The Premise: Paul (Hugh Grant) and Meryl (Sarah Jessica Parker) Morgan are a wealthy couple on the verge of divorce. The pair of them witness a murder and are put into witness protection, together. Forced to spend time with each other in a way that they haven't in years they bicker but then start to rekindle their interest in each other.

The Problem: To call the plot contrived is a bit of an understatement, it's an idea that's frankly been done to death by other films. The notion of forcing two people who don't like each other to spend time together could have comedic potential. But this film looks to be running with the idea that they'll rediscover their love which is at best cheesy and at worst ludicrous. These sorts of films also tend to lend themselves to embarrassment humor which is usually just painful to watch.

Is There Hope?: Well admittedly both the leads in this film have an inherent charm to them that may elevate this over the very generic material. However Parker's track record for things not related to "Sex and the City" is a little spotty. Still if the chemistry is right it could still be enjoyable in spite of itself.

2. Hachiko: A Dog's Story

The Premise: A true story from 1930s Japan is retold set in modern America. Richard Gere stars at the owner of a supremely loyal dog named Hachiko. Every day Hachiko walks his master to the train station and meets him there every afternoon, until the day when his master never came home. For the next nine years Hachiko would continue to go and wait at the station and his presence would touch the lives of the people who would encounter him.

The Problem: The problem here isn't the story, it's that it's being made by Hollywood. When it comes to movies about dogs major studios seem unable to make films that don't fit into one of two categories: the painfully over comedic or the terminally sappy. Some even manage to be both, but very few ever manage to be good films. Hollywood treats films about dogs generally as stuff for kids, and most of the industry has such a low opinion of children that if that's the demographic there isn't much effort to keep the quality up, just to keep things moving so the young ones don't get bored. Given the premise this one is going to lean very heavily towards sap. Any Hollywood movie that claims to be a "heartwarming story" should send up a big red flag.

Is There Hope: There's a little hope, this true story has been a heartwarming part of Japanese history for years, to the point that there is a statue of Hachiko in the Japanese town of Shibuya. However if this is to work at all the makers needed to make it the exception to the funny/sappy dog movie rule. The story is quite sweet as it is and any over emphasis on this will make it saccharine to the point of being painful.

1. Alvin and the Chipmunks 2 The Squeakquel

The Premise: Dave Seville is in the hospital following a mishap at the Chipmunks' Paris concert. While he's recuperating Alvin, Simon and Theodore start attending high school and have to deal with prejudice from all the human students. It isn't long before the trio encounter their female doppelgangers the Chipettes. A resulting love/hate rivalry between the two groups ensues, culminating in a battle of the bands between the two groups of singing rodents.

The Problem: You did read the premise section right? There may be something here for anybody with a lingering nostalgia for Alvin and the Chipmunks and their 80s female counterparts but even for those people it's hard to imagine that enjoyment will be anything but sporadic throughout the film.

Is There Hope: The trailer had the Chipettes singing "Single Ladies" by Beyonce... so no there is no hope. Move along.