While on break, it is impossible to see all of the movies that come out, whether it be an adaptation of Hollywood’s most famous ape or the latest comedy from America’s favorite “Friend.” For everyone who is still catching up on the movies they missed, here are the picks and pans of films released over the holiday break.

Picks

King Kong Peter Jackson’s first film since “The Lord of the Rings,” “King Kong” proves the Hollywood mantra “If it ain’t broke, then it could definitely use some new special effects.” The film that tells the story of Carl Denham (Jack Black), a weasel film director, and his journey to create a masterpiece film on an uncharted island. Naomi Watts comes along for the ride as Ann Darrow, or the damsel in distress. The hunky Adrien Brody, as the hero Jack Driscoll, just can’t help but fall for Ann’s womanly charms. Of course, this tale of romance is complicated by the fact that they end up on an island surrounded by weird natives, dinosaurs and, of course, by Ann’s relationship with the real leading man, King Kong. The film is a solid action film that could have been shortened. On the exotic island, Jackson does a remake of “Jurassic Park” just to prove that Steven Spielberg has nothing on this “king” of epic special effects. The film also raises the question: Just how close were Ann and King Kong, when the two engage in dates watching the sunset, skating in Central Park and, of course, the all time best date of going to the top of the Empire State Building (without using the stairs or the elevator)?

Fun with Dick and Jane This film is a remake of the 1977 “Fun with Dick and Jane” telling the same story of a couple who turn to crime in order to pay the bills. In the updated version, Dick Harper (the wacky Jim Carrey) plays a corporate climber who falls off the ladder when his company goes bankrupt and puts the blame on him. Out of absolute desperation to keep up the American image, Dick and Jane (Tea Leoni) become robbers. The film has some classic funny moments, especially in the area of their Spanish-speaking son. Most importantly, the film speaks to the culture of America that demands that if your neighbor has a Mercedes then you must have one too. Without a doubt, the best thing it does is place the blame on all the corporations in past years that have sold out their employees to increase profits or shirk blame.

Syriana “Syriana” is yet another film along the lines of “Traffic” or “Crash” that uses multiple story lines. At the end it is all connected by oil. In the case of “Syriana” there are so many story lines and complex things happening that it will make you wish you had read the book “See No Evil: The True Story of a Ground Soldier in the CIA’s War on Terrorism,” on which the film was based. The main point is Bob (George Clooney) is a member of the CIA who does the dirty job of removing terrorists. Branching off from this, the rest of the stories cover a lawyer for an oil company, an energy analyst, a terrorist, and a Prince who owns most of the oil fields in an Arab emirate. Although you may not understand exactly what happens in “Syriana,” there is no denying the powerful filmmaking truly captures the essence of humanity at its best and worst.

Pans!

The Family Stone It is the opposite of “Meet the Parents,” minus the comedy. The cast is filled with amazing big names including America’s favorite sex columnist, Sarah Jessica Parker. The problem with “The Family Stone” is that Thomas Bezucha, who sets out to tell the story of an awkward woman getting accepted into an eccentric family, ends up abandoning his goal halfway through. Instead of making the characters more complicated and interesting, Bezucha just keeps adding more characters to the mix. The only reason this film even slightly works is because of the amazing casting agent who brought together the talented cast. Despite that, the film still has the awkward feel of a green writer and director.

Rumor Has It… The film plays entirely off the success of “The Graduate” and audiences’ willingness to watch grade B movies staring Jennifer Aniston. The story is simple. A girl discovers her family is the actual family of “The Graduate” and, to complicate it more, she sleeps with the man who started it all (Benjamin in “The Graduate”). There are almost no funny moments in the film and most of the time you will spend checking your cell phone counting down the minutes until it is over. It proves finally that Jennifer Aniston was only funny when surrounded by the cast of “Friends.”

Cheaper by the Dozen 2 Tom Baker (Steve Martin) and wife Kate (Bonnie Hunt) attempt to bring their family closer in the sequel to 2003’s original. They take their children, all 12 of them, on a memorable summer vacation to the scenic Lake Winnetka, where they compete against a rival family that has 8 kids, headed by “American Pie’s” Eugene Levy. Family comedy doesn’t always mean family fun. Martin has done one too many family flicks and most of the jokes fall flat. Watching 12 children run around screaming is one thing, but add eight more and it gets nauseating.