Seen and reviewed (Oct. 2)

New films in theaters this week:

– “Bright Star” (rated PG), a dramatization of the relationship between poet John Keats and his muse, Fanny Brawne.
– “Capitalism: A Love Story” (rated R), Michael Moore’s documentary about the current financial crisis.
– “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell” (rated R), a comedy based on Tucker Max’s popular blog and book.
– “The Invention of Lying” (rated PG-13), a comic fantasy co-written by, co-directed by and starring Ricky Gervais.
– “No Impact Man” (not rated), a documentary feature about an environmentally friendly “social project.”
– “Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3D” (rated G), the beloved 1995 and 1999 Pixar features, shown in 3D.
– “Whip It” (rated PG-13), a comedy about women’s roller derby, starring Ellen Page and directed by Drew Barrymore.
– “Zombieland” (rated R), a violent horror-comedy starring Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson.

Neither “I Hope They Serve Beer” nor “Invention of Lying” were pre-screened locally. The former is getting bad notices, while word of mouth for the latter is mixed.

And both the documentaries “No Impact Man” and “Capitalism” have their chest-thumping, heavy-handed moments. They’re not uninteresting, but they won’t convert any new followers, though.

And some big laughs help both “Whip It” and “Zombieland” get through some rough patches. The films might be acquired tastes, but they’re more fun than you might expect.

Poster art courtesy Apparition

Sadness permeates the gentle, surprisingly chaste and beautifully filmed “Bright Star” and Keats fans will know how this story turns out. Abbie Cornish, who plays Fanny Brawne, is terrific.

Poster art courtesy Walt Disney Pictures

As expected, the week’s best release is the “Toy Story” double-feature. It’s fun to see these beloved films again, and the 3D isn’t intrusive or too gimmicky. A fun intermission features trivia, outtakes and other surprises.

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