Opening wide this week are Spike Jonze's "Where the Wild Things Are," F. Gary Gray's "Law Abiding Citizen" with Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler; and "The Stepfather" with Dylan Walsh and Sela Ward.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE (by Spike Jonze)

Synopsis: It follows the adventure of Max (Max Records), a mischievous young boy who is sent to his room after rebelling against his mother (Catherine Keener). Max's imagination is free to roam, and it soon transports him to a thriving forest bordering a vast sea.

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Joe Wright, director of "Pride & Prejudice" and "Atonement," returns with "The Soloist," a drama starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. The film follows a journalist who accidentally runs into a homeless musical genius in Los Angeles, and here is what the Web's critics have to say about the flick:

• CinemaBlend's Katey Rich: "'The Soloist' relies on its main character so much that liking him is the key to the entire film, and despite the immense bonus of being played by Robert Downey Jr., Steve Lopez is not a character worth spending an entire movie with."

• Matt Goldberg at Collider: "Wright's problem is that he's trying to carry this film all by himself rather than do what a director should and bring all the elements together to make a thoughtful film that will resonate with viewers after the end credits roll."

• Joblo's Chris Bumbray: "Sure- it’s a safe, inspirational film, but it’s an exceedingly well crafted one, and that’s not represented at all in the promotional materials."

• Ron Henriques at LatinoReview: "Downey as always is full of passion and it’s a great pleasure to see that spark in his eye when something enlightens him."

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This week, we're looking at four wide releases: Joe Wright's "The Soloist" with Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx; Steve Shill's "Obsessed" with Beyoncé Knowles and Ali Larter; "Fighting" with Channing Tatum and Terrence Howard; and Disney's documentary "Earth," which starts Wednesday:

THE SOLOIST

Synopsis: In "The Soloist," an emotionally soaring drama about the redemptive power of music, journalist Steve Lopez discovers Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, a former classical music prodigy, playing his violin on the streets of L.A. As Lopez endeavors to help the homeless man find his way back, a unique friendship is formed, one that transforms both their lives.

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