Ordinarily, an animated movie about talking, singing cows, which contains the tag line “Bust a moo,” might be udderly (sorry, couldn’t help it) cringe-inducing. But “Home on the Range” is so darn cute, and features such an impressive array of vocal talent, it’s hard not to be lassoed in. As Disney movies go, it’s not extraordinary enough to be deemed an instant classic; the story from the writing-directing duo of Will Finn and John Sanford is weak and the pacing drags a bit in the middle. But kids will enjoy the colorful characters and grown-ups will chuckle at many of the jokes. Featuring the voices of Roseanne Barr, Judi Dench, Jennifer Tilly, Randy Quaid and Steve Buscemi. Rated: PG for brief mild rude humor. Rating: 2 1/2 out of four stars.

– Christy Lemire, AP Entertainment Writer

‘The Prince & Me’

This fluffy romantic comedy, in which Julia Stiles plays an American college student who falls in love with the prince of Denmark, is just begging for “Hamlet” puns. Despite its cliches, which spiral wildly out of control as the film finally approaches its overdue conclusion, “The Prince & Me” doesn’t really deserve to suffer such critical slings and arrows.

That’s mainly because of Stiles’ intelligence and presence and the chemistry she shares with her charismatic co-star, Luke Mably. The two meet cute at the University of Wisconsin, where she’s a serious pre-med student and he’s posing as a party boy named Eddie. Rated: PG for some sex-related material and language. Rating: Two out of four stars.

– Christy Lemire, AP Entertainment Writer


‘Walking Tall’

The Rock’s update of the 1973 vigilante tale is nothing but vicious blood sport. The filmmakers were careful to camouflage the effects of the violence so younger teens will be spared the trauma of knowing the results when a 4-by-4 club of hard wood connects with a skull. But despite its PG-13 rating, the movie carries a spirit of gleeful savagery that is contemptible. The Rock plays a U.S. Special Forces soldier who comes home after eight years to a town overrun by drugs, gambling and corruption. After some run-ins with the hoods in charge, he gets himself elected sheriff, brandishes his big fat club and starts cleaning up the town by busting heads. Rated: PG-13 for sequences of intense violence, sexual content, drug material and language. Rating: One out of four stars.

– David Germain, AP Movie Writer
‘Jersey Girl’

If Kevin Smith was trying to make his minions feel like they were in on the in-jokes with “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,” he must be trying to alienate them entirely with this treacly movie about a single dad (Ben Affleck) raising his daughter (Raquel Castro) after his wife’s death. Such sentimentality would have been totally acceptable if the film had any emotional resonance; instead, it’s all over the place.

“Jersey Girl” features the famous final on-screen pairing of Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, as husband and wife, but they’re not together long enough to cause any “Gigli”-sized damage. George Carlin, though, adds surprising gravitas as Affleck’s father. Rated: PG-13 for language and sexual content including frank dialogue. Rating: 1 1/2 out of 4 stars.

– Christy Lemire, AP Entertainment Writer