By BETSY PICKLE, Scripps Howard News Service

Box-office figures prove that American moviegoers so far haven't been interested in feature films dealing with the Iraq War or antiterrorism efforts. Maybe that's because people go to the multiplexes for escape, and even a fictional depiction of war seems too real.

"Funny Games" is less an entertainment than a battle of wills between Austrian writer-director Michael Haneke and viewers, who may find themselves, a few minutes into the movie, asking the musical question, "Should I stay or should I go?"

Sean Faris is ready for a fight. His new film, "Never Back Down," is opening against some big competition." 'Horton Hears a Who!' -- I got a little story for you," says Faris. "It's called ' "Never Back Down's" Coming Knocking on Your Door.'

If "The Karate Kid" hooked up with "Step Up 2 The Streets," "Never Back Down" would be their love child.

Any movie that plays T. Rex's "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" over the opening credits gives the expectation of a certain level of sexy brazenness. "The Bank Job" might have been served more accurately by Ringo Starr's "It Don't Come Easy."

"Penelope" earns its fairy-tale stripes not through its portrayal of a princesslike central character and her travails but by imagining a world that's far more genial and good-hearted than the real one.

James McAvoy doesn't mind if people describe his latest film, "Penelope," as a "chick flick.""I think it's a bit of a chick flick," McAvoy says. "It's a good ol' film to take the kids, especially the female kids. I do think young guys, there's something in it for them."

For "Semi-Pro," Will Ferrell grew out his own naturally curly hair to try to evoke the look of such ABA players as Julius Erving and Darnell Hillman."That's really my hair," says the former "Saturday Night Live" standout. "My hair actually does that when not cut for six months."

Edgar Ramirez might have made a name for himself as a diplomat, but instead he's becoming internationally known as an actor on the rise.

In the tradition of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," "Charlie Bartlett" finds the essence of cool in someone who really isn't.