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September 21, 2006 12:50 am

HH ACCEPTED (PG-13) This is a moderately funny tale of a young slacker (Justin Long) who fails to get into a college, so he makes one up. Smarter than the average teen comedy, it offers some creatively funny moments. Rated PG-13 for language, sexual material and drug content. [RA]

HH BARNYARD: THE ORIGINAL PARTY ANIMALS (PG) It shouldn't be that much of a big deal, but this whimsical cartoon of a film won't be received well by farm kids. They know that there are no male cows, especially ones with udders. But as cartoons go, this is a pretty innocuous and sometimes funny one, with everything from boy-tipping to bovines playing golf. Rated PG for some mild peril and rude humor. [RA, M]

HH THE COVENANT (PG-13) This spin down witchcraft lane isn't hard to figure out: Take a bunch of kids who seem to be straight from "Dawson's Creek" and set them down into a tale of witchcraft and families who found a way to escape persecution over the centuries. It sounds a little fishy, but with veteran director Renny Harlin at the helm, it grabs your attention and doesn't let go. There are also some neat special effects and a script that keeps the story moving. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some disturbing images, sexual content, partial nudity and language. [RF, RA, M]

HH CRANK (R) Not as good as Jason Statham's "Transporter" movies, this film takes the cheap way to thrills in the tale of a guy who is injected with drugs that will kill him if he stops producing adrenaline. Statham is still fun to watch, but instead of the fun special effects and the ultimate good-guy image of those "Transporter" films, this one takes the low road, mixing in nasty violence that includes the lopping off of hands and fingers and murderous mayhem any time viewers' adrenaline threatens to drop. Add to that a tale of murder and revenge that's as forgettable as they come. Statham needs to pick a better project the next time out. Rated R for strong violence, pervasive language, sexuality, nudity and drug use. [RA, M]

HH HOLLYWOODLAND (R) Some may find this look at the death of TV Superman George Reeves ultimately unsatisfying because the film doesn't provide pat answers to what happened. But with the engaging Adrien Brody as a downcast private detective who questions the police's conclusion that Reeves killed himself, the film becomes an interesting, dark and stylish look at the world Reeves and other actors moved through in yesterday's Hollywood. As we follow Brody's character pursuing a list of things that don't add up in Reeves' death, snippets of flashbacks are sprinkled in to show Reeves (Ben Affleck) as he began a downward spiral. The film is also brightened by such stars as Diane Lane and Bob Hoskins. Rated R for language, some violence and sexual content. [RF]

HHH THE ILLUSIONIST (PG-13) This taut drama about a master illusionist is one of the best things out so far this year, largely because of a great performance by Edward Norton as master illusionist Eisenheim. Aided by great outings by Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel and Rufus Sewell, the film is a tale of young love and its lasting magic, of absolute power and of the power of doing what's right. Appearances are everything in this story of a young boy who falls for a beautiful young royal (Biel), then leaves her to see the world. He returns dozens of years later as a master illusionist, only to find her trapped in an empty and dangerous arranged marriage with a young prince (Sewell). Before long, the performances and conjuring the illusionist undertakes are part of a plan to help find happiness with the woman he loves--a plan that may kill them both if he doesn't get help from a local inspector (Giamatti). Rated PG-13 for some sexuality and violence. [RF, RA]

HHINVINCIBLE (PG) Mark Wahlberg is convincing as a down-on-his-luck bartender, Vince Papale, who gets a shot at the big time through a mass tryout for his beloved professional football team, the Philadelphia Eagles. Wahlberg makes Papale just one of the guys, except for the fact that he's lightning fast, and in the mud-lot games the guys play, he's the one whom nobody can ever tackle. He makes the team and then some in this story that's told in a straightforward and believable way, given more power by details and footage of the real Papale at film's end. Rated PG for sports action and some mild language. [RF, RA, M]

HHH LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE (R) This tale about a family forced to confront its odd personalities on a road trip works because it has a sweet, loving core to it. Yes, Grandpa says inappropriate things, Dad is fixated on a money scheme, Mom is worried about her odd children and Brother has just quit talking. But when Sister, cute Abigail Breslin as Olive, learns she's become a beauty pageant finalist, the family takes a hilariously dysfunctional trip to Los Angeles. Alan Arkin, Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette and Steve Carell are all a scream. Rated R for language, some sex and drug content. [RF]

HHH TALLADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY (PG-13) With Will Ferrell at the top of his game , this is a silly farce that will keep you chuckling long after the credits and outtakes roll. The story is simple : A young Ricky Bobby is born wanting to go fast, an aim he makes his mantra after his disappearing daddy tells him that winning is everything. Soon enough, he's a NASCAR star and living a life based on that belief. Gary Cole, Jane Lynch, Michael Clarke Duncan and John C. Reilly are all strong as Bobby's father, mother, crew chief and best friend, respectively. Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language, drug references and brief comic violence. [RF]

HH WICKER MAN (PG-13) This tale that promises witchcraft but never really delivers is an odd choice for Nicolas Cage's latest outing, but he manages to create tension and interest until the ending, which you don't see coming. He plays a motorcycle policeman who travels to investigate the missing daughter of a lost love, only to be sucked into a strange society in the Pacific Northwest. Ellen Burstyn is fun in her role as the priestess of sorts on the island. Decorated for an island rite, she's never looked better. Rated PG-13 for disturbing images and violence, language and thematic issues. [RA]