CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If you're looking for something brand new at the movies this week, forget it. Hollywood is steering clear of the holiday weekend as holdover blockbusters "Rogue One" and "Sing" compete with New Year's Eve parties and football.

For this week's "Movie Minute," we're going the "In case you missed it" route and focus on just one film: the brilliant, bubbly musical "La La Land."

The movie, starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as a couple of Hollywood dreamers and directed by Damien Chazelle ("Whiplash"), came out on Christmas, but perhaps you were too busy opening presents or drinking egg nog to notice. So, here are five reasons to catch one of the most critically-acclaimed movies of the year -- it's nominated for seven Golden Globes -- before you head back to work or school.

1. THE MUSIC

"I don't like jazz," Stone's character, Mia, tells Gosling's Sebastian early on in the film. While she may very well be speaking for many in the audience, composer Justin Hurwitz's songs defy that kind of strict categorization. From the beautifully melancholy "City of Stars" to the magical instrumental "Planetarium," you'd have to be dead inside to not leave the theater with a song in your heart and a bounce in your step.

2. IT'S BEAUTIFULLY SHOT

Chazelle and cinematographer Linus Sandgren ("American Hustle") have created a truly gorgeous film. The bright technicolor palette evokes the old-school movies "La La Land" is paying tribute to, allowing the story to shift between reality and fantasy seamlessly. Many of the choreographed numbers are filmed as long continuous shots, making you wonder in amazement how in the heck they did it.

3. THE STARS

This is the third movie Gosling and Stone have starred opposite each other and, if it was up to us, they'd be in every movie together. Individually, they're very good. Together, they're great. Gosling is charming and optimistic as jazz pianist Seb. Stone's big blue eyes evoke both hope and frustration as aspiring actress Mia. Neither is the best singer or dancer in the world, but they're earnest performers and that's part of their charm.

4. THEY DON'T MAKE MOVIES LIKE THIS ANYMORE

"La La Land" has been called "Singin' in the Rain" for the 21st century. It's a good comparison, both in style and story. The movie is all at once fantastically whimsical and full of energy, unabashedly idealistic and, yet, a reflection of the current times. The movie also passes the "good musical" test by making singing and dancing to express one's feelings seem completely normal.

5. THE ENDING

Normally, the words "five years later" onscreen after a movie's climactic scene spells trouble, but in the case of "La La Land," we're treated to an ending that is both truthful to the characters and satisfying to the audience. To reveal anymore would spoil it.

"La La Land" is rated PG-13 and now playing at area theaters.