MORE THANKSGIVING WEEK MOVIES

Director: ‘Four Christmases’ endearing

In “Four Christmases,” Vince Vaughn stars with Reese Witherspoon as a happily unmarried couple who are forced to spend Christmas Day with each other’s extended families.

“I think it’s a really fresh concept, the notion that a contemporary modern couple hasn’t met each other’s families,” director Seth Gordon said. “They inevitably learn a lot about each other being forced to go through this day —- some of which is endearing and some of which is surprising.”

Gordon earned acclaim last year for “The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters,” his documentary chronicling Steve Wiebe’s attempt to take the world’s highest score for the Donkey Kong arcade game from champion Billy Mitchell.

“Four Christmases” reunited Vaughn with “Swingers” co-star Jon Favreau, who plays his brother.

“It’s just electric,” Gordon said of their scenes together. “You put a couple of cameras on them and it’s just amazing what they come up with.”

Also appearing in the film is executive producer Peter Billingsley, who is best known as Ralphie from the 1983 yuletide classic “A Christmas Story.” Although Gordon is mum as to who Billingsley plays, he does admit his character is involved in “the most important plot point in the movie.”

—- Susan King, Los Angeles Times

“Milk”

Sean Penn plays Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office in California; Josh Brolin plays disturbed San Francisco City Councilman Dan White, a homophobic foe of Milk’s who assassinated him in 1978. Director Gus Van Sant vividly portrays the struggles of the gay rights movement and reportedly examines Milk’s untidy private life, with love scenes between Penn and James Franco, Emile Hirsch and Diego Luna.

“I’ve Loved You So Long”

A woman returns to live with her younger sister after being imprisoned for 15 years. With Kristin Scott Thomas and Elsa Zylberstein. In French, with English subtitles.

“Transporter 3”

Jason Statham returns for “Transporter 3,” as the world’s most lethal delivery man finds a little romance while escorting a Ukrainian official’s daughter.

—- News services

Special movie section

Thanksgiving week movies are opening in theaters on Wednesday. Catch the reviews in a special movie section in Thursday’s paper.