With this week's new DVD releases, we get into the big questions that need answering: What's best for Jim Carrey, just how good is The Hoff(man), and why remake "The Day The Earth Stood Still?"

Here as always to help tackle all of this is Videoport Jones.

Yes Man

Videoport Jones: "I like Jim Carrey. His super-spazzy bits were really the only things I liked on 'In Living Color,' I thought the first 'Ace Ventura' was hilarious, and I thought his attempts to branch out into the dreaded comic-branching-out-into-dramatic-parts territory in 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' and 'The Truman Show' was unusually affecting. What can I say - I just like the guy. On the surface, 'Yes Man' seems like an attempt to scurry back to JC's earlier, lucrative wacky comedy safety zone (specifically 'Liar Liar', which I, yes, actually liked), but it's really an attempt to hybridize his two usual genres, with decent, if unspectacular, results. It's actually based on a memoir by a dude who decided to introduce some positivity into his life by answering, well, 'yes' to every question or opportunity that came his way, and that premise forms as surefire a recipe for 'feelgood movie' as ever before. For Carrey, it's not a bad fit, offering him chances for broad and subtle strokes, and it makes for a nice enough movie. Costars like Terrance Stamp and Zooey Deschanel help out ably. I like that Jim Carrey."

Justin: "Sometimes I just can't figure you out Jonesy. You continue to amaze and surprise me. I would have figured you for a candidate for Carrey fatigue. That manic energy and then the dramatic (literally) swing to the serious can really wear people down. I'll be the first to admit that I laugh and do so hard in most of Carey's comedies. There's something about him that draws you in and makes you laugh, even when you don't want to. I didn't want to laugh at 'Bruce Almighty' and wasn't keen on 'Liar, Liar' until I sat down and watched them. But I just have not been able to get in on the drama train with him. I wasn't a fan of 'The Truman Show,' or 'The Majestic.' He tried to make the jump that so many before him have attempted, from planet comedy to planet drama, and in my estimation, did not succeed. As far as 'Yes Man,' I'm willing to give it a shot if you say he brings the funny. And while not enough can be said about co-stars like Stamp and La Deschanel, let's not forget Bradley Cooper and the always hilarious and underrated John Michael Higgins. Still, as a Carrey fan, can you explain or account for 'The Number 23?' What the heck was that?"

Bedtime Stories

VPJ: "On a less successful, yet similar tip, here's Adam Sandler's latest attempt to straddle his usual PG-13 adolescent humor and the lucrative family-friendly market. And, while I actually sort of like Sandler, too, and admire his occasional attempts to bust out and try the drama thing (I loved him in 'Punch Drunk Love,' and the preview for the new Apatow dramedy 'Funny People' looks like money, as usual), but this one is far less successful. As a goofy dad whose bedtime stories to his kids start coming to life, Sandler settles for the mushy middle with this one, a strategy destined to disappoint both of his target audiences. Pretty forgettable. Sorry, Adam, but I'm first in line for 'Funny People.'"

JE: "Are we just gonna hit-up the comedians taking a whack at drama file today? Can we take a run at Robin Williams? I have some seriously unresolved issues over 'What Dreams May Come.' What the hell man? ANYWAY, instead of taking shots at The Sand's dramatic efforts, I'm going to instead give him grief for running with the kids movie cash on this one. We've talked about this before, but I feel Sandler is a special case when it comes to stars headlining in kids movies. Sandler has his own style - that as some would say can be adolescent - so when he shows up in a flick like this it just doesn't feel right to me. I'd rather see him do another flick like 'Big Daddy,' which was hilarious and played to kids and adults, in my opinion. Of course I could be completely off base, but then again, I think the man should be scolded for 'Zohan.'"

Doubt

VPJ: "When your top four actors all get nominated for Oscars, that's probably a good sign that you're doing something right, so kudos to John Patrick Shanley who directed this adaptation of his own award-winning play. It's a four-character chamber piece about possible clergy-child shenanigans at a Catholic school, with nice guy priest Philip Seymour Hoffman running afoul of dragonish nun Meryl Streep, with Amy Adams and Viola Davis along for the upsetting-yet-riveting ride. My significant awesome, the lovely Emily S. Customer, saw this and assures me that it's just as great and painful as it seems, and, with the Hoff and the Streep facing off, I'm confident I'm gonna love it, and perhaps hate people. Plus, Emily is never, ever, wrong... (Oh, and to the Catholic groups who protested that this film was 'out to get your religion,' well, try going a year or so without iron-clad evidence of a massive criminal conspiracy to protect child-molesting priests at the cost of thousands of destroyed innocents, and I'll listen to you with a little more tolerance)."

JE: "ZING! Ouch man. Spare the rod, spoil the protest groups, eh? Back on top, I don't think there is anything I can say to detract from, or further entice people to see this movie. It's just too airtight. Gold star cast in the leads, a gripping story from a great playwright, and for the folks who need it, a commentary on the Catholic church. All good things to consider. Also, The. Hoff. Not the sideshow, trainwreck former 80s star. No, the definitive Hoff. Rent it."

The Day the Earth Stood Still

VPJ: "Keanu Reeves is an expressionless alien. He also made this movie. (See what I did there?) Yup, he's the space-y mouthpiece for an alien race determined to save us earthlings from ourselves, even if it means wiping us all out in the process (gee, thanks) in this utterly perfunctory and unnecessary remake of the 50's original. Sure, it's just like the original, except with more loud noises and shiny things (and a few halfway decent actors like Jennifer Connelly, John Cleese, James Hong, and Jon Hamm picking up a check), but the original, a more thoughtful, and odd, bird (starring the eternally-formidable Patricia Neal) can still be found next to it in the sci fi section at Videoport, thankfully. Klaatu Barada Nothanks..."

JE: "Rimshot! Thank you, he'll be here all week! Next up his Charles Nelson Reilly impersonation! But in all seriousness, of all the remakes, of all the classics, of all the actors...this combo just felt like a non-starter. And take it from someone who still finds 'Point Break' mesmerizing, it's difficult to watch Keanu in just about anything. But more than that, why did this need to be remade? Other than providing another vehicle for Jon Hamm, I'm not seeing anything redeeming about this piece. As always, Jonesy is right, take the original. You'll be grateful."

The Tale of Desperaux

VPJ: "Check out the voice cast of this rat-centric CGI animated adventure: Matthew Broderick, Dustin Hoffman, Frank Langella, Richard Jenkins, Emma Watson, Kevin Kline, William H. Macy, Stanley Tucci, Robbie Coltrane, Tracey Ullman. Damn. And yet nobody went to see it. Well, I'm sure that doesn't mean anything... They should just stamp 'NOT PIXAR' on movies like this."

JE: "Now let's just hold on a second there. I'm not going to completely blow this one out of the water because the story and animation is not up to the Pixar Standard (or Videoport Jones Standard - VJS as it is known). Sure I've done that plenty of times before, but let's consider how many bad or just plain weird supposed kids/family movies we've talked about over the course of many Tuesdays. As adapted from the kids books, 'Desperaux' does seem to flirt with familiar fairy tale themes, but manages to make something unique. Plus it stars a cute, adventurous mouse voiced by Ferris Bueller. Now if they make 'Desperaux's Day Off,' then you'll have me interested. Someone get Alan Ruck on the phone NOW."

Not Easily Broken

VPJ:

JE: "I'll agree with you in principle, but I think at some point we're going to have to have a full out discussion on this. Think about it, have all the black cast/black directed films led to more opportunities and more commercial success? More than that, have the films been met with any mainstream success, or at the least garnered mainstream appeal and not seen as anything other than 'black movies?' Not to get all soapboxy, but it's something I think about from time to time. Sure, it's great Tyler Perry has created his own empire, but is that leading to something other than more opportunities for Tyler Perry?"

Parting Questions:

- What's your opinion on Jim Carrey?
- Best example of a comedic actor succeeding in a dramatic role, or family movie?
- Seriously, why remake "The Day The Earth Stood Still?" And with Keanu?

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