Now Playing At The Box Office

District 9

** ( 2 STARS)

$37.5

million

$37.5 million

1 week

Rated: R

Running time: 1:52 minutes

What it's about: A government agent comes to the aid of an alien race (above) forced to live in slumlike conditions on Earth.

Our take: It's mainly a compost of other sci-fi movies, some as old as "RoboCop" and "Aliens," and some as recent as "Cloverfield."

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

** ( 2 STARS)

$22.3

million

$98.5 million

2 weeks

Rated: PG-13

Running time: 1:58 minutes

What it's about: Team leader Duke (Channing Tatum, above) and his elite force must save the world from metal-hungry robots.

Our take: "G.I. Joe" might not be beefier, but it's cheesier and less aggravating than "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," the summer '09 release it most resembles.

The Time Traveler's Wife

** ( 2 STARS)

$18.6

million

$18.6 million

1 week

Rated: PG-13

Running time: 1:47 minutes

What it's about: A Chicago librarian (Eric Bana, above) travels involuntarily through time, complicating his marriage.

Our take: The moviemakers fail to turn their plucky, attractive stars into even a reasonable facsimile of true lovers. They're too busy uncoiling the complicated plot.

Julie & Julia

*** ( 3 STARS)

$12

million

$43.3 million

2 weeks

Rated: PG-13

Running time: 2:03 minutes

What it's about: Meryl Streep (above) plays Julia Child when she was first mastering the art of French cooking.

Our take: Twinning Child's story with that of a contemporary blogger, Julie Powell (Amy Adams), makes for uneven but also wacky and engaging entertainment.

G-Force

** ( 2 STARS)

$6.9

million

$99 million

4 weeks

Rated: PG

Running time: 1:29 minutes

What it's about: A group of guinea pigs (including Tracy Morgan's Blaster, above) are transformed into superspies.

Our take: Loud and crass, this PG animated action picture has the vibe of an R-rated Jerry Bruckheimer headbanger.