Coming to Theaters Near You: '13 Hours,' 'Norm of the North,' 'Ride Along 2,' and More

– By Beau Behan, Film Critic

Looking for something new at the movie theater? Here are this week’s new releases:

· “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi”

· “400 Days”

· “Anomalisa”

· “Norm of the North”

· “Ride Along 2”

· “The Benefactor”

· “The Lady in the Van”

· “Youth”

And here’s what they’re all about:

“13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi” (Nationwide, Jan. 15)

WATCH the above movie trailer.

R, 144 min, Action, Drama, Thriller

Director: Michael Bay

Writers: Chuck Hogan (screenplay), Mitchell Zukoff (book)

Stars: John Krasinski, Pablo Schreiber, James Badge

The film is based on the book “13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi.” – Paramount Pictures

“400 Days” (Limited, Jan. 15)

WATCH the above movie trailer.

Unrated, 91 min, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Director: Matt Osterman

Writers: Matt Osterman

Stars: Brandon Routh, Dane Cook, Caity Lotz

This psychological sci-fi film centers on four astronauts who are sent on a simulated mission to a distant planet to test the psychological effects of deep space travel. Locked away for 400 days, the crew’s mental state begins to deteriorate when they lose all communication with the outside world. Forced to exit the ship, they discover that this mission may not have been a simulation after all. – New Artists Alliance

“Anomalisa” (Nationwide, Jan. 15)

WATCH the above movie trailer.

R, 90 min, Animation, Comedy, Drama

Directors: Duke Johnson, Charlie Kaufman

Writer: Charlie Kaufman

Stars: David Thewlis, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Noonan

A beautifully tender and absurdly humorous dreamscape, from the brilliant minds of Charlie Kaufman (“Synecdoche,” “New York”) and Duke Johnson (“Community” episode, “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas”), “Anomalisa” features the vocal cast of Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Noonan and David Thewlis and a stirring strings-based score by Carter Burwell. This stop-motion animation wonder is the darkly comedic and surreal stop-motion journey of a man’s long night of the soul. – Paramount Pictures

“Norm of the North” (Nationwide, Jan. 15)

WATCH the above movie trailer.

PG, 86 min, Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Director: Trevor Wall

Writers: Daniel Altiere, Steven Altiere

Stars: Rob Schneider, Heather Graham, Ken Jeong

A polar bear of many words, Norm’s greatest gripe is simple: there is no room for tourists in the Arctic. But when a maniacal developer threatens to build luxury condos in his own backyard, Norm does what all normal polar bears would do...he heads to New York City to stop it. With a cast of ragtag lemmings at his side, Norm takes on the big apple, big business and a big identity crisis to save the day. – Lionsgate

“Ride Along 2” (Nationwide, Jan. 15)

WATCH the above movie trailer.

PG - 13, 101 min, Action, Comedy

Director: Tim Story

Writers: Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi

Stars: Ice Cube, Kevin Hart

Kevin Hart and Ice Cube lead the returning lineup of “Ride Along 2,” the sequel to the blockbuster action-comedy that gave us last year’s most popular comedy duo. Joining Hart and Cube for the next chapter of the series are director Tim Story, as well as Cube’s fellow producers-Will Packer, Matt Alvarez and Larry Brezner. – Universal Pictures

“The Benefactor” (Limited, Jan. 15)

WATCH the above movie trailer.

Unrated, 90 min, Drama

Director: Andrew Renzi

Writer: Andrew Renzi

Stars: Richard Gere, Dakota Fanning, Theo James

A newly married couple (Dakota Fanning and Theo James) are forced to navigate the all-consuming interest of a powerful, mysterious, and possessive philanthropist (Richard Gere). – Samuel Goldwyn Films

“The Lady in the Van” (Limited, Jan. 15)

WATCH the above movie trailer.

PG - 13, 104 min, Biography, Comedy, Drama

Director: Nicholas Hytner

Writer: Alan Bennett

Stars: Maggie Smith, Alex Jennings, Jim Broadbent

This film tells the true story of the relationship between Alan Bennett and the singular Miss Shepherd, a woman of uncertain origins who ‘temporarily’ parked her van in Bennett’s London driveway and proceeded to live there for 15 years. – Sony Pictures Classics

“Youth” (Limited, Jan. 15)

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R, 118 min, Drama

Director: Paolo Sorrentino

Writers: Paolo Sorrentino

Stars: Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel, Rachel Weisz

“Youth” is about two longtime friends vacationing in the Swiss Alps. Oscar winning actor Michael Caine plays Fred, an acclaimed composer and conductor, brings along his daughter (Rachel Weisz) and best friend Mick (Harvey Keitel), a renowned filmmaker. While Mick scrambles to finish the screenplay for what he imagines will be his last important film, Fred has no intention of resuming his musical career. The two men reflect on their past, each finding that some of the most important experiences can come later in life. – Fox Searchlight

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