Weekend Movie Trailers and Reviews: 'Joyful Noise' Battles 'Contraband' and 'Beauty and the Beast 3D'

The new year is off to a slow start in terms of big releases, but a pretty good start in terms of earnings: last week saw the poorly reviewed "The Devil Inside" as the only wide release, but the movie brought in nearly $35 million.

This weekend will be much more crowded in theaters, as a number of wide releases are hitting. Three of them are likely to be the highest earners (and you can learn about them below), but one more, "The Iron Lady," should be buzzworthy due to the performance of Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher.

As for the others, get your trailers and reviews below:

"Beauty and the Beast 3D"

Rated G, 84 mins.

After the rousing success that "The Lion King 3D" turned out to be, Disney can now go full speed ahead with their plans to release other classics, like "The Little Mermaid" and "Finding Nemo" in 3D. "Beauty and the Beast" is the next one up, and while there won't be a scene like the wildebeest stampede to really show off the 3D, the depth of field in the movie should still offer some fun.

Rotten Tomatoes has "Beauty and the Beast 3D" at 91% among critics. You probably know what to expect.

See it if: You want to feel like they're asking YOU to be their guest!

"Contraband"

Rated R, 109 mins.

January tends to be a time for the action thrillers that didn't quite make the Christmas cut, so you can imagine where "Contraband" falls. Once you hear that it's about a former criminal (Mark Wahlberg) who has to do "just one last job" to get his brother out of trouble by assembling a crack team and performing a near-impossible mission, you'll start thinking "haven't I seen that before?"

Rotten Tomatoes has "Contraband" at 46% among critics, who are calling it by-the-numbers but still enjoyable to a point. Don't expect anything original, but don't expect anything awful either.

See it if: You get a sense of comfort from the familiar. And explosions.

"Joyful Noise"

Rated PG-13, 118 mins.

Musical numbers? Check. Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah? Check. "Glee"-like plotline? Check. "Joyful Noise" has all those things, as the movie centers on a church choir aiming to win a national choir competition to lift the spirits of their town. Or something. I dunno, people sing in it. Are you really that concerned with the rest of it?

Rotten Tomatoes has "Joyful Noise" at 39% among critics. While the musical numbers are entertaining, there isn't much else to this movie... so if it's singing and dancing you want, you're in the right place. Just be ready to sit through some story that you don't much care about.

See it if: You think "Glee" could use a little more church in it.