By Jane Louise Boursaw

A dreamer, a tiny mouse, and a few bedtime stories are hitting theaters in December. Here’s a sneak peek:

DELGO

Rated PG for sequences of fantasy action violence. Ok for kids 6+. In theaters 12/12.

Anne Bancroft, Val Kilmer, Freddie Prinze, Jr., Jennifer Love Hewitt, Burt Reynolds, and Kelly Ripa are just a few of the star voices populating this animated movie about an adventurous dreamer who must rally others to protect their world. A thoughtful film about working together for the common good.

NOTHING LIKE THE HOLIDAYS

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, including some sexual dialogue, and brief drug references. Ok for kids 14+. In theaters 12/12.

Every Christmas needs a dysfunctional family movie, and this one is it. The story follows a family reunion during the holidays in the Chicago neighborhood of Humboldt Park. For Jesse (Freddy Rodriguez), coming home has rekindled feelings for an old flame, although she hasn’t forgiven him for leaving. His older sister Roxanna, a struggling actress, has been chasing her Hollywood dreams for years with little to show for it. And much to the dismay of their mother Anna (Elizabeth Peña), eldest brother Mauricio (John Leguizamo) brings home a high-powered executive wife (Debra Messing) who’d rather raise capital than a child. Topping things off is Anna’s announcement that she’s divorcing the kids’ dad, Eduardo (Alfred Molina).

THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX

Not yet rated, likely PG.  Ok for kids 6+. In theaters 12/19.

The fates of three unlikely heroes -- a misfit mouse who prefers reading books to eating them, an unhappy rat who schemes to leave the darkness of the dungeon, and a bumbling servant girl with cauliflower ears – are intertwined with that of a castle's princess. This animated fairy tale features the voices of Emma Watson, Matthew Broderick, Dustin Hoffman, Sigourney Weaver, and plenty of other stars. It’s a tale of bravery, forgiveness and redemption that shows kids how one tiny creature can  teach a kingdom something about looking beyond the surface.

BEDTIME STORIES

Not yet rated, likely PG. In theaters 12/25.

This adventure comedy stars Adam Sandler as Skeeter Bronson, a hotel handyman whose life is changed forever when the bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew start to mysteriously come true. He decides to take advantage of the phenomenon, incorporating his own wishes into one outlandish tale after another. But it’s the kids' unexpected contributions that turn Skeeter's life upside down. While not rated at press time, this looks like a fun movie for kids tween-aged and older.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

Rated PG-13 for brief war violence, sexual content, language and smoking. Ok for kids 13+. In theaters 12/25.

"I was born under unusual circumstances." So begins this adaptation of the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man (Brad Pitt) who’s born in his eighties and ages backwards. The story begins in New Orleans in 1918 and continues through the 21st century, following the not-so-ordinary man and the people and places he discovers along the way, the loves he finds, the joys of life and sadness of death, and what lasts beyond time. Also stars Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, and Julia Ormond.

MARLEY AND ME

Not yet rated. Ok for kids 12+. In theaters 12/25.

Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Alan Arkin, Eric Dane, and Kathleen Turner head up the cast of this heartwarming movie about a family in the making and the wondrously neurotic dog who teaches them what really matters in life. Based on the memoir by John Grogan.

Jane Louise Boursaw is a freelance writer specializing in the movie and television industries. Visit her online at www.filmgecko.com and www.ReelLifeWithJane.com, or email jboursaw@charter.net.