No sooner did I throw out the Halloween Jack O'Lanterns than I was assaulted with the annual onslaught of Christmas decorations slapped all over Rodeo Drive and carols piped into every elevator. I made it through November, Grinch-free, and the American holiday of Thanksgiving...still managing to stave off giving in to the early-bird's call of Christmas Present. I did purchase some gift-wrapping paper, but that was more to benefit my niece Merryn's school fundraising drive than it was because I was anxious to start the Yuletide gifting.

Fred Claus opened and performed well at the box office. Maybe because I get to see movies in advance of their general release, it didn't work its intended magic on me and make me haul out the holly. (Unlike last year's God-awful "The Holiday" which would make Kris Kringle turn into Ebeneezer Scrooge!) Still numb to the Ho-Ho-Ho'ing. Will the hard-sell of a proposed TV classic, "Shrek the Halls" get me amped up to hang the stockings by the chimney with care? Doubtful.

Enchanted isn't a designated Christmas picture, but it definitely has that vibe as evidenced by its blockbuster opening performance at the US Box Office. Susan Sarandon may not go down in history as one of the great "Wicked Stepmothers" in screen history but it's a good bit of fun, family fare. Beowulf is a rip-roaring good time, especially if you opt for the 3-D version. It could put the Hollywood personal trainers out of business though, once you witness what computer generated imagery can do for your pecs and abs!

I'm looking forward to I Am Legend. Will Smith is always watchable and the premise is very interesting. The original 1971 screenplay was written by the husband & wife team of John and Joyce Corrington whose reputation was based primarily on their soap opera work and some forgettable flicks like "Killer Bees" and "Battle for the Planet of the Apes."

Margot at the Wedding was a huge disappointment. Nothing Christmas-y here. Talented cast, clever writing but it dragged on and on (and on!) without ever really grabbing the audience. Jack Black and young Zane Pais are especially good but even they can't manage to keep it stimulating enough for 91 minutes. Nicole Kidman has had a long string of film let-downs and Tinseltown's collective fingers are crossed that her upcoming "Australia" and "The Reader" will put her back on top of the Hollywood heap where she belongs!

In other movie news, we're waiting to see if Universal Pictures is going to be able to replace one A list'er with another, filling in the Brad Pitt vacancy in the political drama "State of Play" with Russell Crowe. I'd love to see Rusty star alongside Dame Helen Mirren and Ed Norton, wouldn't you? Maybe that news would finally get me into the holiday spirit!