The Simpsons Movie
***
After 18 seasons as one of America’s shining television staples, “The Simpsons” attempt their jump to the big screen, and thankfully stick the landing. Creators James L. Brooks and Matt Groening promised it wouldn’t simply be three TV episodes strung together, but it is, and all the better for that. PG-13; 80 minutes. Michael Booth
Stardust
***1/2
Standing with her sisters of a certain age — 5,000 years, give or take — Lamia, the deliciously wicked witch of “Stardust,” ingests the remnants of a delicacy needed to become young: the heart of a fallen star. Claire Danes plays Yvain, the earthbound star sought by a parade of characters: from Charlie Cox’s appealing hero, Tristan; to Lamia (Michelle Pfeiffer); to Septimus, a lethal heir to the crown of Stormhold. “Stardust” is a nimble pleasure. It’s not for us to report whether the beloveds escape the clutches of Septimus and Lamia. But we can tell you this: Director Matthew Vaughn has done wonders to guarantee your own pure escapism. PG-13; 126 minutes. Lisa Kennedy
Balls of Fury
**1/2
Former child pingpong phenom Randy Daytona (Dan Fogler), now in his 20s and grown pudgy, is discovered in Vegas by Rodriguez (George Lopez), an FBI agent who wants him to get back into training so he can compete undercover in an illegal global pingpong and martial arts tournament run by the evil criminal weapons dealer Mr. Feng (Christopher Walken). Co-starring James Hong as blind Master Wong and Maggie Q as his niece, who act as Daytona’s coaches. PG-13; 90 minutes. Roger Ebert
