Stuart Scotten

Dire warnings of immminent disaster have proven justified, as global destruction begins raining down from purple-hued skies. A Washington family struggles to cope with the advancing armageddon until a lone physicist proposes an unorthodox course of action.

Chain Mail International has had a banner year; the tanking economy is proving an unexpected boon for the firm’s time-honored business — creating and forwarding chain letters. Through the lens of the firm’s holiday party, we get a glimpse into the inner workings of the business, and come to see that as progress moves relentlessly onward, not everyone will be sharing in the group’s success.

Roland “Rolly” Gentry is a hardened private eye who thought he’d seen it all. But when a mysterious woman steps into his office and asks him to have a “talk” with her ex-husband, Rolly is tossed into a seedy world where not even his entire collection of self-help books and CDs can assist him: Suburbia. As he delves ever deeper into the darkest corners of homeowners’ association politics, he faces a threat not only to the façade of stabilty society presents, but to the inner wisdom within his own secret soul.

Up-and-coming politico Robert Soxer is making a last-minute campaign appearance at a small kitchen and bath remodeling shop. The shop’s owner, Leon, is an ardent supporter, and takes Soxer and his entourage on a quick tour. Meanwhile, shop worker Rachael, despondent over her recent breakup with coworker Rick, makes a startling discovery — the candidate is far from what he appears to be, giving new meaning to the term “political machine.” As the group leaves, Rachael tries to convince Rick of what she’s seen, but he misinterprets her warnings. Will Rachael be able to stop Soxer’s ascent to power and redeem herself in Rick’s eyes?

Every Sunday, a group of close friends gets together for a backyard barbecue. But one day, Smitty decides to bring along his new girlfriend — and everyone is shocked to discover that she looks strikingly similar to Samantha, another friend who died several years ago. As the afternoon progresses, each of the friends must not only deal with the new addition to their little circle, but confront the ghosts of their own past relationships — resulting in unplanned revelations.

Ever since he was a child, Reuben knew he was different… and despite all his attempts to fit in with “normal” people, he remains isolated and alone. But a chance encounter with an up-and-coming rock star gives him the spark needed to hone his supernormal skills, to shape himself into a true hero. And then Campbell, a new face in his office, demonstrates abilities comparable to his own, but with a bizarre twist — and nefarious intent. Reuben’s coworkers are oblivious to the danger she represents, and slowly fall under her spell. As Campbell spreads her nefarious influence, Reuben’s friends must decide: Soup… or hero?

Solomon is a genie at the top of his game. But after winning award after award, he decides that the life of a genie just isn’t what it used to be. After discussing his concerns with his otherworldly “boss,” he opts to take an extended sabbatical, choosing a simpler life working in a hardware store (though still performing miracles on a substantially smaller scale). But one afternoon he is approached by a slick-talking “headhunter,” who relentlessly tries to recruit him back into the magical world, promising a substantially improved lifestyle with a new employer…

Kevin can’t seem to catch a break in the romantic arena, and his poker buddies aren’t afraid to let him know it. Over the course of a friendly game, they recount his romantic misadventures, and a pattern emerges — all of Kevin’s concepts of romance derive from 1980s-era films. Which might be all right, except that Kevin can’t seem to execute them the way they come off in the movies. Whether he’s reenacting his favorite scenes from “Pretty in Pink,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Top Gun,” or “Say Anything,” he always manages to end up with egg on his face. That is, until he meets just the right woman…

Sebastian is eager to show off his latest acquisition to a cadre of eccentric — and soon-to-be-jealous — art collectors, even hiring his photographer nephew to capture the unveiling for posterity. But when the “Schlimmer” turns up missing, accusations of theft begin flying, and long-simmering resentments begin to undermine the group’s cohesion.