Seen and reviewed (Oct. 3)

New films this week:

– “An American Carol” (rated PG-13), a spoof of Charles Dickens, as well as documentary filmmaker Michael Moore.
– “Appaloosa” (rated R), an adaptation of the Robert Parker western, starring Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen
– “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” (rated PG), a live-action kids comedy featuring talking pooches.
– “Blindness” (rated R), the already-controversial science-fiction thriller about a blindness “epidemic.”
– “Flash of Genius” (rated PG-13), a drama based on a true story about automotive technology, starring Greg Kinnear.
– “How to Lose Friends & Alienate People” (rated R), a darkly comic vehicle for British actor Simon Pegg.
– “Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist” (rated PG-13), a teen romance tale starring Michael Cera and Kat Dennings.
– “Religulous” (rated R), comedian/pundit Bill Maher’s documentary examining religious beliefs.

Due to some health concerns, I was unable to see either “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” or “Blindness.” The word of mouth isn’t very good for these two movies, though. And “An American Carol” was not pre-screened for critics.

“How to Lose Friends” tests the theory that Pegg can make everything he’s in better. The film is awful, and so is his charmless performance. And despite its good cast, “Flash of Genius” is emotionally flat and is pretty dull.

Those who find the smug Maher insufferable won’t be swayed by the heavy-handed “Religulous,” which features a brief sequence shot in Utah. (He takes cheap potshots at members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)

Chemistry drives the week’s best films. Cera and Dennings help “Nick & Norah” overcome some too-cute moments, while “Appaloosa’s” Mortensen-and-Harris pairing may remind a few of the Robert Redford-Paul Newman duo, circa “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.”

Which, if any, of these movies figure into your weekend plans?