The lull before the holidays

The doldrums of the slow movie season are in full swing as we anxiously await the excitement of the holidays.

The fall rarely brings the best of the best, but there is an occasional surprise.

There are three family-friendly films coming out in October. We preview them below and, as always, the Dad and Lad-o-meter is included to tell you our level of excitement (rated out of 5).

In theaters now

"Open Season"

PG

Sony Pictures

Cast: Martin Lawrence, Ashton Kutcher, Debra Messing and Gary Sinise.

Story: A deer buddies up with a domesticated grizzly bear when the two animals are alone in the woods during hunting season. Meanwhile, Beth, a forest ranger who raised the bear, embarks on a desperate search to find her friend.

Outlook: The trailer looks interesting and the duo of Martin Lawrence and Ashton Kutcher could turn out to be quite humorous. In a slow family film month, this may be the pick of the litter.

Dad and Lad-o-meter: 4

Coming soon

"Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker"

Oct. 13

PG

The Weinstein Company

Cast: Alex Pettyfer, Ewan McGregor, Mickey Rourke, Bill Nighy, Sophie Okonedo, Alicia Silverstone, Missi Pyle

Story: When his guardian dies in suspicious circumstances, 14-year-old Alex Rider finds his world turned upside down. Within days he's gone from schoolboy to superspy. Forcibly recruited into MI6, Alex has to take part in grueling SAS training exercises. Then, armed with his own special set of secret gadgets, he's off on his first mission.

Outlook: Sounds like "Cody Banks" meets the "Spy Kids." But both of the first movies in those series were decent so this could be something to look for this fall.

Dad and Lad-o-meter: 3

"Flicka"

Oct. 20

PG

20th Century Fox

Cast: Alison Lohman, Tim McGraw, Maria Bello, Ryan Kwanten, Kaylee DeFer, John O'Brien, Daniel Pino

Story: A young girl adopts a wild mustang she names Flicka, only to see her father sell her now beloved companion. To win back freedom, she secretly schemes to enter a dangerous wild horse race.

Outlook: Can anyone say "Dreamer?" Of course that was a great film so we will be interested to see how this one holds up.

Dad and Lad-o-meter: 2