AUGUSTA, GA – The Thanksgiving holiday brings Wednesday openers, and film fans looking to avoid “New Moon”’s teen angst can opt for male mid-life crisis instead by trading in vampires and werewolves for “Old Dogs.” Those noting title and thematic similarities to 2007’s “Wild Hogs” can give themselves a gold star. That film’s director, Walt Becker, and main star, John Travolta, are behind this project as well.

Robin Williams is Travolta’s pal in this flick, where two businessmen end up having to watch a couple of kids, cramping their style and leading to slapstick comic mayhem. The film is a family affair for Travolta whose wife, Kelly Preston, and daughter, Ella Bleu Travolta, also star. Seth Green adds the goofball factor to the cast. Matt Dillon and ’60s icon Ann-Margret also star, along with Bernie Mac, appearing in his final film more than one year after his death. Travolta and Becker are working on a sequel to “Wild Hogs,” which is expected to hit theaters in 2011.

Cormac McCarthy, the writer behind “No Country for Old Men,” has another novel hitting the big screen this week. “The Road” is a Pulitzer Prize-winning story about a man who takes his son on a journey through a ravaged post-apocalyptic society in search of civilization. Along the way, they meet dirty and desperate gangs and folks who have resorted to cannibalism.

Viggo Mortensen (“The Lord of the Rings,” “Eastern Promises”) plays the protagonist in McCarthy’s story, who discovers moments of desperation while protecting his son demand renegade actions. Robert Duvall, Guy Pearce and Charlize Theron are part of the cast of homeless survivors looking for utopia in this socio-psychological thriller where food, shelter and companionship are frightfully scarce.

The title of “Ninja Assassin” leaves little to the imagination, as “V for Vendetta” director James McTeigue explores the upbringing of a talented hitman. A ninja background apparently comes in handy in the killing business, especially when fighting off other angry ninja types.

A limited release opener boasts a surprising bounty of top-notch acting talent. Robin Wright Penn stars as the title character in writer-director Rebecca Miller’s “The Private Lives of Pippa Lee.” Alan Arkin (“Little Miss Sunshine”) plays her much older husband while Keanu Reeves is the mysterious new friend who helps Pippa on her journey of self-discovery and reflection on her past mistakes with sex and drugs. Julianne Moore, Winona Ryder, Maria Bello and “Gossip Girl" lead Blake Lively also star. Brad Pitt serves as one of the flick’s producers. 

Director Richard Linklater (“A Scanner Darkly,” “The School of Rock”) tries out a Depression-era period piece with “High School Musical” pretty boy Zac Efron, also opening in limited release this week. “Me and Orson Welles” finds Efron playing an aspiring actor who works with acting icon Welles at his legendary Mercury Theatre Company while vying for Claire Danes’ attention. Big-screen newcomer Christian McKay has the voice, the look and the attitude down in his role as the egotistical theatrical genius as seen through the eyes of novelist Robert Kaplow.

Kids will be thankful for wider release of the George Clooney-voiced animated adaptation of Roald Dahl’s “Fantastic Mr. Fox.” Director Wes Anderson (“The Royal Tennenbaums”) put his creative stamp on this flick, which also employs the voice talents of Meryl Streep, Bill Murray and Owen Wilson.