There’s something for everyone with new movies hitting the big screen this weekend: The Hobbit, Any Day Now, Save the Date and The Stand Up Guys.

The Hobbit

“The Hobbit” is the prequel to the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, set 60 years before. It was only one short book, but they’re turning it into three movies. It’s all about how Bilbo Baggins joins a group of dwarves on a quest to reclaim their homeland from a dragon. Ian McKellen is back as Gandalf, Martin Freeman plays Bilbo Baggins, and Richard Armitage is the leader of the dwarves, the warrior Thorin Oakenshield. The returning “Lord of the Rings” cast includes Cate Blanchett as Galadriel, Hugo Weaving as Elrond, and Christopher Lee as the wizard Saruman. Even though the One Ring is NOT the focus of this trilogy, this is the movie where Bilbo meets Gollum . . . and ends up in possession of the ring. So Andy Serkis is back as Gollum.
Elijah Wood also appears as Frodo in some flash-forward scenes with the older version of Bilbo, played by Ian Holm. You’ll eventually see Orlando Bloom as Legolas again too, but he doesn’t show up until the third movie. You won’t have to wait too long for your next Hobbit fix. The other two movies will hit theaters over the next two years . . . starting with “The Desolation of Smaug” next December, and “There and Back Again” the summer after that. Also, when they made the village of Hobbiton a decade ago, all the hobbit holes were built out of polystyrene, so when the filming was finished they tore it all down. But when they rebuilt the village this time, they used actual stone, wood and bricks and made them permanent structures that tourists could visit.

The Hobbit got 69% on Rotten Tomatoes

Any Day Now

Alan Cumming and Garrett Dillahunt play a gay couple in the 1970s who take in a teenager with Down syndrome after his junkie mother gets locked up . . . and get custody without revealing that they’re gay. But when the court finds out the truth about their relationship, they face a desperate legal battle to keep their son.

Save the Date

Lizzie Caplan plays a chick panicking about a marriage proposal, who then falls for a DIFFERENT guy right after her break-up. Mark Webber is her rebound lover, and Alison Brie from “Community” plays her sister. .

Silent Night

Al Pacino has just served 28 years for refusing to give up one of his mob buddies. Christopher Walken is a friend who picks him up from prison . . . and who’s also been given the job of killing him before morning. As Walken agonizes over the decision to kill his best friend or not, the two of them team up for one last night on the town with another old gangster, who’s played by Alan Arkin. “ER” minx Julianna Margulies is also in it.
Stand Up Guys got 50% on Rotten Tomatoes