High School Musical 3 (U)
Peter Barsocchini's paper-thin plot does not dampen this enthusiastic and energetic musical. Teen idol Zac Efron and Vanessa Anne Hudgens are the star crossed lovers in a show lifted by its musical numbers.
On general release
The UK Jewish Film Festival
The biggest celebration of Jewish cinema opens tomorrow with a screening of Eran Riklis' powerful Israeli drama, The Lemon Tree. The festival runs for 13 days, showing almost 50 films from around the world at 12 venues in London. A national tour follows in January.
From November 8-20, various venues. Visit www.ukjewishfilmfestival.org.uk. (Gala night report and reviews on page 33)
Ghost Town (12A)
Ricky Gervais is superbly cast as misanthropic Manhattan dentist Bertram Pincus in this engaging fantasy comedy. After dying for seven seconds on the operating table, Pincus returns to life with the unfortunate capacity to see and be seen by the dead.
Now on general release.
Sheffield Doc/ Fest
Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival will showcase more than 100 films from the hottest directors around the world. Look out for Z32 by Avi Mograbi, an Israeli director.
November 5-9. For more information, visit www.sheffdocfest.com
City of Ember (PG)
Lina, charmingly played by Saoirse Ronan, is the teenage heroine of this fantasy set in the eponymous post-apocalyptic underground city. When the massive generator that powers Ember starts to fail, Lina sets out to save the city. A thoroughly entertaining family adventure.
On general release
The House Of Bunny (12A)
Discarded Playboy Bunny, Shelley, finds a new life as house mother to the socially challenged girls of a failing college sorority. Anna Faris gives an her endearing performance. Adam Sandler co-produced this cheerfully course comedy.
On general release
How To Lose Friends And Alienate People (15)
Celebrity obsessed British journalist Sidney Young (Simon Pegg) is offered a job by the editor of Sharps magazine in New York. Cue a hilarious succession of comic faux pas and social catastrophes. Based on Toby Young's bestselling memoir, with good casting, directing and a sound screenplay, it's good, clean and sometimes enjoyably dirty fun.
On general release
Brideshead Revisited (12)
Director Julian Jarrold's film is lighter than the landmark 1980s ITV mini-series but is perhaps more faithful to Evelyn Waugh's classic 1945 novel. Undergraduate Charles Ryder (Matthew Goode) is befriended by louche young aristocrat Sebastian Flyte (Ben Wishaw) who draws him into his privileged home life.
On general release
The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas (12A)
The story of a child concentration camp inmate who befriends the eight-year-old son of a Nazi officer through the fence of the camp slightly stretches credibility. If you can get over the improbability of such a friendship developing, director-screenwriter Mark Herman's adaptation of John Boyne's successful novel is a worthy attempt to inform younger people about the Holocaust.
On general release