There's more comedy than action coming to a theater near your, even though James Bond and Jean-Claude Van Damme are back. The pre-Thanksgiving holiday movie season officially kicks off with a sure-fire blockbuster and some comic relief to go with it.

Directed by Marc Forster, Daniel Craig returns for his second round starring as James Bond in Quantum of Solace, taking off right where Bond left off in 2006’s Casino Royale: Bond is much darker and more dangerous now and this time he’s out for revenge. Betrayed and alone, Bond is left in a puzzling maze, struggling to avenge the death of his love interest, Vesper, and to recover the stolen casino winnings she was blackmailed into taking. The plot deepens as Bond discovers the complexity of the organization behind this evil plot. This breathtaking action thriller is a must see for Bond completists; viewers should expect packed theatres and arrive early.   Quantum of Solace is rated PG-13 for intense action and violence.

Movie goers who like a bit of comedy sprinkled into their action should consider JCVD, short for Jean-Claude Van Damme, the film's eponymous star. Directed by Mabrouk El Mechri, JCVD stars Van Damme as himself:  A forty-seven-year-old movie star who can’t get a job and keeps losing work to Steven Seagal. Having spent all of his money on drugs and cheap women, Van Damme is fighting for custody of his daughter.  In an attempt to relocate and start afresh he returns to his home town where he is thrown into a real-life hostage situation where he finds himself in the media spotlight.  JCVD is rated R for strong language, and violence.

Dostana, a relationship comedy from Bollywood but set in Miami, is directed by Tarun Mansukhani, and stars Abhishek, in the role of Sameer, and John Abraham, who plays Kunal, two bachelors who coincidentally meet apartment hunting and end up wanting the same apartment. The landlord has other plans: He wants to rent to females, because his single niece also lives in an apartment, so he turns the two men away. Sameer and Kunal devise a plan to pose as gay lovers, and it works. But it's not long before both Sameer and Kunal are in love with their landlord’s niece, Neha, played by Priyanka Chopra, whose character is beautiful and intelligent yet also slightly naïve, landing her in trouble at times.  Sameer and Kunal always come to her rescue. Dostana Rated PG-13, for sexual humor.

A Christmas Tale (Un Conte de Noel), isn’t exactly a perfect and cheery holiday fairytale, but more of a dark dramatic comedy. The movie is about a dysfunctional family who ultimately discovers the importance of family unity over the holiday season.  Directed by Arnaud Desplechin, A Christmas Tale is the story of a married couple, Abel and his wife Junan, who have two children, Elizabeth and Joseph. The boy becomes terminally ill, and his only hope is a bone marrow transplant. But his parents and sister are incompatible, as is baby brother Henri, conceived in the hope of saving Joseph, who then dies at the age of 7. The family is left devastated and can’t seem to get over it.  Doesn’t sound funny? Dark comedy comes through many years later as the family's relationships are as strained as ever. A Christmas Tale is not yet rated.

—Christina Mennella