Annual Christmas Day Mainstream Movie Outing

Consistently since 2006, we have made the Christmas Day pilgrimage to the local cineplex for our Annual Mainstream Movie Outing. Below is the list of previous outings, ranked in order of quality.

The schedule for Tuesday is out, and here are the candidates, in order of preference:

• "This Is 40" - From Judd Apatow, starring Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann. I think this will have the broadest appeal to our group. I wasn't a fan of "Knocked Up," but I really liked "Funny People," and my hunch is that this will be more like the latter, with the bonus of replacing Adam Sandler with a much more palatable leading man. It's also got Albert Brooks in it (being funny, instead of trying to "act" like in the torturous "Drive"). It opens today, so the big crowds might dissipate a bit by Tuesday. (12:45 p.m.)
• "Les Miserables" - Can we really sit for this for 2 hours 38 minutes? One rule is to keep this relatively short. ("40" runs longer than two hours, but is nearly a half hour shorter.) Also, this will be the film's opening day, so it might be crowded or even sold out. (noon)
• "Silver Linings Playbook" - I really have no strong desire to see this movie. But I could be talked into it. (12:50 p.m.)

FINALLY: I also plan to attend the 7 p.m. screening on Christmas Night of "Saturday Night Fever" at the Guild. This would be our first holiday double-header.

And here's the list of past screenings (with rankings):

•  2004 - The Life Aquatic With Steve Zisou (2)
• 2005 - (None)
• 2006 - Dreamgirls (3) 
• 2007 - Charlie Wilson's War (4)
• 2008 - The Wrestler (6)
• 2009 - Up in the Air (1)
• 2010 - The Fighter (5)
• 2011 - Young Adult (7)