November 3, 2011 | 3890 views
There are days that you simply can’t, must not, do not want to stay home. For those days, well, that’s what our weekender guides are for. 
But how about those times that taking a step out of your house seems like the biggest waste of energy ever? Once in a blue moon, the social butterfly in you just wants to hide in a cocoon: you just want to lie around all day, indulge in total lethargy, and stuff yourself silly with whatever grub’s lying around in the refrigerator. While, of course, watching whatever’s showing on the idiot box.
Do know, however, that you have a choice—a choice to give your poor remote control a break, and take it easy on all that channel surfing you’ve been doing. Lucky for you, HBO has got you covered this November, as the movie channel premieres topnotch animated features, action and comedy flicks and the last season of their hit series, Entourage.
1) Despicable Me (Universal Pictures, 2010)
Catch it on: Saturday, November 5, 8pm on HBO
Starring: Steve Carrell, Jason Segel, and Russell Brand
What to expect: Gru, a dastardly, super-villain in the same mold as Dr. Evil devises his most despicable plan yet, and attempts to steal the moon. Like most super-villains, he has his very own secret lair (hidden right under his house), an army of minions (deadly as they are cute), and high-tech weapons (the freeze gun being a favorite). All is in order until he decides to take three little orphan girls in his care, which forces Gru to undertake his most challenging task to date: balancing super-villainy and fatherhood.
2) How To Train Your Dragon (Paramount, 2010)
Catch it on: Saturday, November 12, 8pm on HBO
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Fergusson
What to expect: Hiccup is a teenager raised in a clan of Vikings—dragon-hating Vikings, to be exact. In this society, glory is measured by the number of dragons you take down, eviscerate and murder. Eager as he is to please his chieftain father, Stoick the Vast, Hiccup isn’t exactly a paragon of Viking musculature and ferocity, and doesn’t measure up all that well with the other teenage dragon-hunters-in-training. Things only get more complicated when he encounters and befriends an injured dragon, which ultimately leads to events that shake the very essence of his tribe.
NEXT: Bruce Willis, Emma Stone, and a whole lot of Ari Gold
3) Red (Warner Bros. 2010)
Catch it on: Sunday, November 20 at 10pm on HBO
Starring: Bruce Willis, Mary Louise Parker, Morgan Freeman
What to expect: General Bruce Willis badassery. In this one, Bruce plays the role of Frank Moses, a retired black-ops CIA agent, who is now trying to lead a more peaceful life. It was all peaches and flowers and lazy afternoons until a hi-tech assassin shows up with ill intent. Despite being a little rusty, Moses survives. With his identity compromised, and his love interest in jeopardy, Moses reassembles his old team, and sets out to discover who wants him dead. Hey, Bruce Willis ain’t called die hard for nothing.
4) Easy A (Screen Gems, 2010)
Catch it on: Sunday, November 27, 10pm on HBO
Starring: Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes
What to expect: Emma Stone in her sexiest role to date. She plays the role of Olive Penderghast, a clean cut high school girl who’s smart and sharp enough to stand for herself. She’s one of those girls in high school who’s cute but never really stands out in a crowd. That is until she lies about losing her virginity to some college dude. Suddenly, she’s the school tramp, a reputation which she milks for all it is worth. Things spiral out of control, and she is forced to come up with a way to set things right.
5) Entourage (Season 8)
Catch it on: Wednesday, November 2 at 10pm on HBO Signature. New episodes air weekly at the same time.
Starring: Kevin Connolly, Adrian Grenier, Kevin Dillon
What to expect: If you have to ask, it’s best if you check out this stellar series’ earlier seasons, and avert your eyes from the spoilers ahead. Vince, as most young, talented Hollywood actors tend to do in their careers, has been sent to rehab, and it is in this season that we see his return to normal life. Of course, ‘normal life’ has a different definition for celebrities such as Vince, and things are soon back at a devilish pace as he prepares for his new pet project. The same can be said for Vince’s peers. Super-agent Ari Gold has separated with his wife. Eric is busy running his own management company. Drama is shooting an animated series. And Turtle is occupied with his business ventures. How will it all end for Vince and the troops? We’ll just have to watch and find out.
