MOVIES

"50/50" THREE STARS (R; 1:39) • Joseph Gordon-Levitt shines as a meek young man with cancer, with unconventional support from best friend Seth Rogen and inexperienced therapist Anna Kendrick. Based on the experiences of screenwriter Will Reiser, this affable comedy is a healthy alternative to a tearjerker. (Joe Williams)

"Real Steel" TWO STARS (PG-13; 2:07) • In a "Rocky" for the Wii generation, ne'er-do-well dad Hugh Jackman is the keypad controller for an underdog robot boxer circa 2020. There's mechanized mayhem for "Transformers" fans and an overkill of product placements, but this big-screen version of Rock'em Sock'em Robots lacks a believable human element. (JW)

"The Whistleblower" TWO AND A HALF STARS (R; 1:52) • Rachel Weisz ("The Constant Gardener") is back in lone-crusader mode as a naïve Nebraska cop-turned-U.N. peacekeeper who uncovers a sex-trafficking ring in Bosnia. It's a well-meaning indictment of corporate corruption, but the mix of sugar-coated melodrama and bloody abuse is tough to stomach. (JW)

Coming Jan. 31

"The Big Year," "Drive," "The Thing"

TELEVISION

"Ancient Aliens," Season 3

"Buck Rogers in the 25th Century," Season 1

"Kojak: The Complete Movie Collection"

"Mannix," Season 6

"Meet the Browns," Season 4