Capsule reviews for Nov. 11

Almost Christmas

Heartfelt as it may be, this ensemble holiday comedy comes right off the assembly line. It chronicles the efforts of a widower (Danny Glover) to reunite his extended family at his suburban home for Christmas, in part to honor the recent passing of the beloved family matriarch. But it’s not long before arguments and repressed hostility replace gift-giving and good cheer. There are some scattered laughs along the way, although the formulaic screenplay by director David Talbert (Baggage Claim) functions as a checklist of dysfunctional family clichés with eye-rolling contrivances and an aggressive push for seasonal sentimentality. The cast includes Gabrielle Union, Romany Malco and Mo’Nique. (Rated PG-13, 112 minutes).

Elle

Much more than a simple revenge drama or female-empowerment fantasy, this French thriller from director Paul Verhoeven (Basic Instinct) is a riveting examination of a sexually triggered midlife crisis anchored by a ferocious performance by Isabelle Huppert (The Piano Teacher). She plays a ruthless executive whose outlook changes when she’s brutally attacked and assaulted at home, leading to a confrontation with the perpetrator that has dangerous physical and psychological consequences on both sides. Although it stretches credibility, the twisty screenplay is both subversive and provocative, and even perversely humorous as it pushes boundaries and genre conventions. It’s not always pleasant, but it’s certainly never boring. (Rated R, 131 minutes).

The Monster

A mother and daughter become stranded in the woods, and you can pretty much guess what happens next in this horror film that begins with insecure teenager Lizzy (Ella Ballentine) hitting the road with her abusive mother (Zoe Kazan). Their car breaks down on a remote highway, at night, in the rain, and strange things start happening. That includes a visit from a nocturnal flesh-eating creature, who unwittingly unites the bickering duo in a fight for survival. While the script by director Bryan Bertino (The Strangers) hints at greater ambition considering genre conventions, the film’s flat characters and predictable twists greatly diminish the suspense. (Rated R, 91 minutes).