The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Adventureland (Miramax)
A sensitive but downbeat coming-of-age tale, set in 1987 Pittsburgh, is generally restrained in its presentation of sexuality. But director Greg Mottola's wryly nostalgic romance takes a benign view of its characters' frequent indulgence in marijuana and reaches a morally unacceptable conclusion. Nongraphic adulterous and premarital sexual activity, brief partial nudity, repeated drug use, some sexual and fleeting scatological humor, pervasive rough and crude language, and a few uses of profanity. (L, R)

Duplicity (Universal/Relativity)
Writer-director Tony Gilroy's sophisticated romantic caper is a tartly clever globe-trotting thriller, which boasts all the complexity of a master chess match, and explores the paranoia produced by corporate greed and the redeeming potential of the love between its cynically untrusting lead characters, though their affection is expressed in an intense unwedded affair. Brief, nongraphic, premarital sexual activity; some sexual humor and references; occasional crude and crass language; and at least a dozen profanities. (A-III, PG-13)

Fast & Furious (Universal/Relativity)
This overheated, morally swerving action sequel is no more than an excuse for long sequences of reckless racing, while the characters move from one side of the law to the other as it suits them. Vigilantism, brief nongraphic sexual activity, partial nudity, cohabitation, occasional rough language and profanity. (L, PG-13)

The Great Buck Howard (Magnolia)
A charming show biz comedy about a road manager for a once-famed but now washed-up mentalist is sustained by John Malkovich's masterly characterization. Writer-director Sean McGinly's gentle spoof offers a valentine to perseverance along with a sendup of celebrity culture, though the central romance becomes sexual after mere acquaintance. A premarital relationship and some mildly sexual humor. (A-III, PG)

The Haunting in Connecticut (Lionsgate/Gold Circle)
While this allegedly fact-based chiller's efforts to place supernatural goings-on within a larger spiritual and religious context may draw mixed reactions, director Peter Cornwell's old-fashioned spook story is reasonably effective, understated and, though at times unsettling, largely free of bloodletting. Disturbing images, including charred and gory corpses, and a couple of profanities. (A-II, PG-13)

I Love You, Man (DreamWorks)
A morally positive wrap-up and Paul Rudd's gift for delivering creatively contorted wordplay fail to prevent director John Hamburg's buddy comedy from foundering in blue language, tasteless jokes and indiscriminate sexual values. Premarital cohabitation, a promiscuous gay character, much sexual and some gross-out humor, pervasive rough and crude language, and at least one profanity. (O, R)

Knowing (Summit)
Director Alex Proyas' vastly ambitious, genre-melding drama begins as a horror tale but becomes, by its spectacular though sobering climax, a haunting meditation on faith, sacrifice and family unity. Disturbingly realistic catastrophe scenes, brief sexual humor and a few instances of crude language. (A-II, PG-13)

Monsters vs. Aliens (Paramount)
In this affable animated comedy-adventure, co-directors Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon create a lavish 3-D homage to 1950s-era sci-fi B-movies that also celebrates friendship, teamwork and the heroic potential of everyday people. Moderate action violence and a bit of vaguely sexual and slightly crude humor. (A-II, PG)

Super Capers (Roadside)
A well-intentioned, but tediously unfunny genre (superhero) satire, it wastes the potentially intriguing idea that its protagonist's special gift is prayer. Brief sexual and mildly irreverent humor, and about a dozen crass words. (A-III, PG)

---CNS

USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classifications: A-I --- general patronage; A-II --- adults and adolescents; A-III --- adults; L --- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling; O --- morally offensive.