FILM hIGhLIGhTs
New year’s eve
The Croods (2013)
BBC1, 10.55am
Animation, with the voices of Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds and Emma Stone. A family of cavemen, led by their overlycautious father Grug, have their home destroyed by an unexpected natural disaster. Now they must try to find a new place to live, leading to an adventure in which they meet young inventive caveman Guy.
InTo The Woods (2014)
BBC2, 8pm
Disney’s fantasy drama, based on the musical by Stephen Sondheim, starring Anna Kendrick, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt (right) and Chris Pine. A baker and his wife are tasked with finding a number of magical relics by a witch. In return, she will lift the curse on their family. Along the way, they encounter a number of characters from classic fairy tales, and must band together if they are to make it to the end of their story.
sherloCk holmes (2009)
ITV2, 9pm
Guy Ritchie’s take on Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic detective drama, starring Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Rachel McAdams and Mark Strong.
The sleuth takes down occult criminal Lord Blackwood, only for the villain to seemingly return from beyond the grave. Now Holmes and his associate Dr Watson must find a way to stop the unpredictable rogue, while also dealing with the perplexing behaviour of femme fatale Irene Adler.
neW Year’s eve (2011)
RTE2, 12.10am
Romantic comedy, with an ensemble cast that features Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Biel, Ashton Kutcher and Zac
Efron. It’s the last day of the year in New York City, when the lives of several very different people — some connected, some not at all — are brought together in heartwarming ways. Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro and Halle Berry also star.
New year’s Day
shrek Forever aFTer (2010)
BBC1, 2.05pm
Animated sequel, starring Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz and Eddie Murphy.
The ogre makes a deal with the devious Rumpelstiltskin to return to a simpler time when he didn’t have a family. However, the trickster sends him to a world where ogres are hunted, and Rumpel is royalty. He must find a way to convince the alternative versions of himself to help him find a way back to his reality.
maleFICenT (2014)
BBC1, 5pm
Disney’s fantasy drama, starring Angelina Jolie. A magical young woman finds herself betrayed by the treacherous king she thought she could trust. In order to get revenge, she places a curse on his young child, but she comes to doubt her actions as the girl grows into an innocent soul.
PITCh PerFeCT 2 (2015)
Channel 4, 9pm
Comedy, starring Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson.
A cappella group the Barden Bellas is left humiliated after a blunder during a high-profile performance. In order to reclaim their status, they decide to enter an international competition, one that no American group has ever won.
horrIble bosses 2 (2014)
RTE2, 9pm
Comedy, starring Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day. Dale, Nick and Kurt are fed up with working under nasty superiors, so decide to go into business for themselves. However, they are swindled by a dodgy investor. Desperate, they decide to kidnap the corrupt businessman’s adult son and hold him to ransom. However, things end up unravelling quickly.
TUesDay
Flushed aWaY (2006)
3e, 3pm
Animation, with the voices of Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet and Ian McKellen. Privileged pet rat Roddy finds himself on a wild adventure in the sewers when he is flushed down the toilet. An encounter with the villainous Toad complicates his trip home.
suPerman (1978)
RTE2, 3.30pm
Superhero action, starring Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder and Gene Hackman. An infant from an alien world is sent to live on Earth after his planet dies. There he is taught right from wrong by a human couple, and he grows up to become a mighty hero. However, he is about to face his greatest challenge yet in the form of a manipulative villain.
revoluTIonarY road (2008)
TG4, 10.35pm
Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are reunited in Sam Mendes’ romantic drama.
Frank and April’s marriage seems perfect from the outside, but the 1950s’ household faces daily internal conflicts over the lives they live. He is an office worker who hates his position, she is a housewife who dreams of being an actress and. They must learn to trust each other again if they are to make it through this difficult crossroads.
weDNesDay
are We There YeT? (2005)
RTE2, 4.20pm
Comedy, starring Ice Cube and Nia Long. Selfish Nick meets businesswoman Suzanne and the two hit it off. Everything seems to be going well, until she gets stuck in Vancouver over the New Year holiday period. So it is up to Nick to transport her two trouble-making children, Lindsey and Kevin, to the airport. However, when they miss their flight and all other opportunities to head to Vancouver, it is up to the irritated Nick to drive them all the way there.
sherloCk holmes: a Game oF shadoWs (2011)
ITV2, 9pm
Guy Ritchie’s action-packed sequel, starring Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Jared Harris
and Noomi Rapace. Although Dr Watson is eager to enjoy some time alone with new wife Mary, he unwillingly ends up on another adventure with his detective companion. Together they must outthink the dastardly genius of Professor Moriarty.
PreTTY Woman (1990)
BBC1, 10.45pm
Romantic comedy, starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. Businessman Edward travels to Los Angeles to carry out a deal. During his time there he realises he needs some company for social events, and decides to hire friendly hooker Vivian for the role. However, things get complicated when they begin to develop feelings for each other.
ThUrsDay
dIe hard 4.0 (2007)
TV3, 9pm
Action, starring Bruce Willis, Justin Long and Timothy Olyphant. Nononsense veteran cop John McClane is asked for assistance by the FBI after a cyber attack in Washington DC. It is up to him to keep a hacker safe, while evading the deadly team behind the attack.
22 JumP sTreeT (2014)
ITV2, 9pm
Comedy sequel, starring Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube and Peter Stormare.
Cops Schmidt and Jenko are back in action, this time going undercover at a college to unravel the trade of a new deadly drug on the market. However, their new identities upset their bromance and they will have to learn how to work together again if they are to get to the bottom of this latest case.
FrIDay
FasT & FurIous 6 (2013)
E4, 9pm
Action, starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson. Hobbs asks Dom and Brian for one last favour, in exchange for full pardons — their help in bringing down dangerous criminal mastermind Shaw. However, things get complicated when Dom finds out that his old flame Letty, whom he thought was dead, is helping the villain.
PrIde & PreJudICe (2005)
More4, 9pm
Joe Wright’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel, starring Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen and Brenda Blethyn.
Stubborn young woman Elizabeth Bennet, who believes that she should not marry for the sake of social standing, falls for the handsome Mr Darcy. However, he has his own mysteries that need to be unwrapped if she is to be happy.
saTUrDay
hoTel TransYlvanIa (2012)
ITV2, 4.55pm
Animation, with the voices of Adam Sandler, Kevin James and Andy Samberg.
Dracula, who runs a resort for monsters to holiday in peace from humans, gets overprotective when a boy stumbles across the hotel and falls for his teenage daughter.
The leGo movIe (2014)
RTE1, 6.35pm
Animation, with the voices of Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell and Elizabeth Banks.
Construction worker Emmet finds himself on a journey across the many worlds of Lego when he discovers that he is ‘the Special’ — a being of great power who is destined to stop the tyranny of the evil Lord Business. Along the way, and with the help of the fiery Wildstyle and heroes including Batman, he must find the courage to stop the villain’s dastardly plot.